Jewish temple support for Gazans

[Anonymous]

What can local Jews do through/with their synagogues to relieve the suffering of Gazans?

In the news this week, basic food aid isn't safely reaching people in Gaza.

[Anonymous]

I agree with what's already been said. Also consider a donation to World Food Kitchen - I'm not sure why they are able to operate in Gaza when it seems like so few others can do it, but assuming that it's all truthful, they are at least feeding some people there:
https://wck.org/relief/middle-east-2023

[Anonymous]

I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

+1. I don't think it is necessary for individuals to look to their synagogues to funnel support to Gaza. Too divisive. If you want to do something, do it as an individual and tell others what you are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

This is a good post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

This is a good post.

More are doing this than social media would have you think.

[Anonymous]

OP you have now asked this at least two other times
Agenda much?

The PP post is a good one read it and move on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

This is a good post.

More are doing this than social media would have you think.

Ffs. Is social media being controlled by a shadowy cabal, perhaps? What else do THEY not want us to know?

Seriously. Find another outlet. You are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I was the author of the post people have been responding to positively (thanks) — I do think it's important to point out that this isn't, like, some radical stance to take within the Jewish community, either, and the reason I haven't tried to funnel donations for Palestine through my synagogue is because it seems utterly unnecessary, not because I don't think it'd be well received.

My synagogue is also taking a solidarity trip to Israel in April (that I'm not going on) that will include meetings with Palestinians in East Jerusalem to talk about the West Bank, and it's hosted multiple events by Israeli groups that are actively working to change the direction of Israeli politics. The vast majority of American Jews support a Palestinian state and an end to the occupation, with polls often finding more support for those ideas among Jews than among non-Jews in the U.S.

So since I'm not the only one who detected an edge of aggression in OP's question, I figured I'd mention that plenty of "local Jews" also fervently want to see an end to suffering in Gaza (and a release of hostages held there by Hamas, who are surely suffering as well).

[Anonymous]

Great thread, thank you.
I can only hope there’s a ceasefire ASAP.
The madness has to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great thread, thank you.
I can only hope there’s a ceasefire ASAP.
The madness has to stop.

It would be good for the madness to stop. But be clear that a prominent feature of the madness is hostage-taking, continuing terrorist violence, and the literal promise to rape, burn, and seize hostages again and again forever until Israel is destroyed. A ceasefire that leaves Hamas in power would leave all of those parts of the madness to continue. This is no situation for naive idealists.

[Anonymous]

I think you could write to Congress members to push for a ceasefire so that there is no suffering to give aid to. Post on social media to change the hearts of those who believe genocide is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have donated to Gaza support campaigns through World Central Kitchen and Doctors Without Borders, and I don't feel the need to try to funnel that through my synagogue. I've also given to an Israel NGO that (before the war) drove Palestinians from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical care and to another that's trying to build a grassroots network of Israelis and Palestinians together to oppose the occupation and make peace. (My synagogue also hosted that group for a talk.) And I also gave to Magen David Adom and to HIAS, both of which are helping to resettle Israeli refugees displaced by the Hamas attacks and by the war.

I don't know if the point of this original post here was to try to imply that American Jews bear more collective responsibility for the situation on the ground in Gaza, which is sort of what it reads like. But it's just as easy for American Jews to give to NGOs that are trying to alleviate the suffering among innocent Palestinians as it is for anyone else, no need to involve synagogues at all.

This is a good post.

More are doing this than social media would have you think.

Ffs. Is social media being controlled by a shadowy cabal, perhaps? What else do THEY not want us to know?

Seriously. Find another outlet. You are ridiculous.

Clearly you misunderstood my meaning.
Sorry it elicited such a visceral response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you could write to Congress members to push for a ceasefire so that there is no suffering to give aid to. Post on social media to change the hearts of those who believe genocide is the answer.

If there's one thing I'm sure about it's that posting on social media is not going to be the key to unlocking a solution to this war.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, I was the author of the post people have been responding to positively (thanks) — I do think it's important to point out that this isn't, like, some radical stance to take within the Jewish community, either, and the reason I haven't tried to funnel donations for Palestine through my synagogue is because it seems utterly unnecessary, not because I don't think it'd be well received.

My synagogue is also taking a solidarity trip to Israel in April (that I'm not going on) that will include meetings with Palestinians in East Jerusalem to talk about the West Bank, and it's hosted multiple events by Israeli groups that are actively working to change the direction of Israeli politics. The vast majority of American Jews support a Palestinian state and an end to the occupation, with polls often finding more support for those ideas among Jews than among non-Jews in the U.S.

So since I'm not the only one who detected an edge of aggression in OP's question, I figured I'd mention that plenty of "local Jews" also fervently want to see an end to suffering in Gaza (and a release of hostages held there by Hamas, who are surely suffering as well).

As a Palestinian, I just want to thank you for this post, OP. And I agree with you, it’s not a radical stance. I have many Jewish friends who share the same stance as you do. Many blessings to you!