The government of Israel has indicated that the best way to support Israel is through monetary contributions. The government expressly does not want individuals to send supplies. There is only one group, the Friends of the IDF that is authorized by the government to organize supplies, and a link to that group is below. We suggest for this moment, donating to the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles is most effective.  Links to organizations that are accepting monetary donations for Israel are listed below.

Save a life in Israel from thousands of miles away. Your donation ensures Magen David Adom's 33,000 paramedics, EMTS, first responders, and first-aid providers -- volunteers and staff -- have the training, equipment, and medical supplies they need to treat all injured and ill people in Israel. As always, the men and women of Magen David Adom are risking their lives to save the lives of others. Lend your support. Click here to DONATE to Magen David Adom.

Israeli soldiers need you more than ever as Israelis are enduring the worst massacre they have ever seen in their history. Tens of thousands of soldiers and reservists are on the front lines, facing an unprecedented and harrowing conflict, making our support for them more critical than ever. FIDF is the sole organization designated by the IDF in the United States to collect donations for its soldiers. As their true and only partners, help FIDF respond to their urgent requests for humanitarian support. Click here to DONATE to Friends of the IDF.

 

The Jewish Federation is mobilizing to create an emergency Israel fund through which your contributions will be directed where they are needed most in Israel. Whenever and wherever there have been threats to Jewish life, the Federation and our partners — the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel — are there to provide vital aid and help those in peril relocate out of harm’s way.  Click here to SUPPORT The Jewish Federation of LA

Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is a Jewish relief organization based in New York City. Since 1914 the organization has supported Jewish people living in Israel and throughout the world. Click here to DONATE to the Joint Distribution Committee

News is coming fast, "hot takes" are plentiful and largely unhelpful, and you may be processing a tremendous amount of information.  We recommend these two news sources. First, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy which is one of the premier think tanks on Israel and the Middle East. It is expressly non-partisan. Experts such as Dennis Ross and David Makovsky provide incisive analysis. Second, the Times of Israel, which is an online English-language newspaper that offers up-to-date news and analysis. Times of Israel is completely independent and as close to unbiased as possible.  There are other very good, English language newspapers online, but many lean one way or the other.  You may want to consider the Forward, Haaretz or the Jerusalem Post. Education is the key to combating disinformation.  Here are some key sources worth exploring. Some may be behind a paywall, but others are widely available during this time.

• An article by Rabbi Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman Institute.  Jewish Forward
• Simon Sebag Montifiore, The Atlantic, Decolonization Narrative is Dangerous
• Information on increase in antisemitism, ADL-Increase in Antisemitism
• Articles By Yossi Klein Halevi
• Articles by Thomas Friedman
• Tablet Magazine has taken down their paywall for coverage of the crisis in Israel.  
• Washington Institute for Near East Studies offers reporting on the crisis from a more scholarly perspective; probably the best in-depth, non-partisan analysis available
• For Heaven's Sake Podcast sponsored by the Shalom Hartman Institute

Israel advocacy groups have alerted us that Members of Congress are currently receiving many calls urging them to abandon Israel in their war against Hamas. We need to make sure they are also hearing from our Jewish voices in support of Israel.

What to say: Thank Senators and Representatives for their public vocal support of Israel these past two weeks and urge them to do four things:

1. Continue to stand with our ally Israel as it defends its citizens and works to defeat Hamas. America’s leaders must provide Israel the time and diplomatic support needed to protect its families and drive Hamas out of Gaza.
   
2. Support the emergency security assistance package to Israel.
   
3. Oppose calls for a “ceasefire” with Hamas. As State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Monday, “Any ceasefire would give Hamas the ability to rest, to refit, and to get ready to continue launching terrorist attacks against Israel. You can understand clearly why that’s an intolerable situation for Israel.”
4. Protect U.S. citizens against rising antisemitism.  

Where to reach out: 
Senator Alex Padilla: DC - (202) 224-3553  |  LA - (310) 231-4494
Senator Laphonza Butler: Tel: (202) 224-3841 | Facebook | Instagram
CLICK HERE for a complete list of US representatives and their phone numbers.

How to reach out: Please take a moment to call your Senators and House members. If you are not able to speak to an assistant, please leave a message. If the voicemail is full, please try again a little later since it is very important that you do leave messages. Emails can also be sent through the respective webpages of the senators but we’re being told that calls are the focus at the moment.