As a Jewish fundraising consultant and entrepreneur, Israel is extremely important to me and my family. As the only Jewish country on earth, Israel is a unique haven against hatred (toward Jews) and antisemitism.
That does not mean I support every policy or politician.
Similarly, I do not support every policy or politician in the USA. The United States is not perfect (far from it), and Israel is not perfect either.
No, Israel is Not Perfect
It is not a secret that the Israeli government is abusive, racist, and cruel toward the people of Gaza. Unfortunately, many people in Gaza would like to abolish Israel and the Jewish people. It is a vicious cycle — one without an easy solution.
That said, nothing (nothing!) justifies this week’s terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel. What took place on Saturday was an extreme act of terrorism against Israel. It can be compared with the 9/11 attacks in terms of its scope and scale.
Thousands of innocent civilians — including women and children — have been killed and kidnapped. It’s reprehensible!
Israel will retaliate against Hamas in the coming days and weeks and that will further negatively impact innocent people in Gaza. When that happens, there will inevitably be a backlash against Israel. Please remember our response to 9/11 before criticizing Israel for a swift and severe response.
Israel Deserves Our Support: 4 Ways You Can Help
We cannot sit idly by when Hamas has kidnapped over a hundred women and children. Here’s what I’m doing to support Israel this week. I’m asking you to help too.
1. Spread the Word
Tell friends and family (on social media and in-person) that you stand with Israel. Help others understand why it’s so important to stand with Israel against such a heinous act of terrorism (as I am doing in this post).
2. Educate Yourself
Learn more about what’s going on in this part of the world. You can read updates on the current situation at the Stand with Us situation room.
3. Hear Out Both Sides
If you are only seeing pro-Palestine posts in your social feed, actively seek out information on the other side and open your heart and mind to other perspectives. No one benefits from living a bubble.
4. Donate
Here are two trusted organizations where you can contribute monetarily to help:
Additionally, Jewish Funders Network has a list of other trusted charities on their site.
Share Your Comment Below
Please add a comment below to share your perspective and any words of support.
And if you disagree with this post, simply close the page and move on with your day. No need to comment. This is a personal post — one which I’m entitled to share on my own blogging platform. I will not be publishing any comments peppered with hatred or vitriol.
Well said, Amy. It is beyond heartbreaking and scary to watch what has unfolded in the past few days. Thanks for using your platform to call attention to this horrible situation and offer resources for all of us.
Well said, Amy. And, given the small population of Israel, the magnitude of the number of deaths is overwhelming (on a percentage basis, it equates to 30,000 deaths in the United States). We also must not couch this horrific act in religious garb — the attack was against all Israelis, not just Jews. Thanks for highlighting the issues and options through which to do something.
Amy, Thanks for your comments. As a Christian, I too stand with Israel and am not only horrified by the attacks by Hamas on Saturday, but also the backlash by BLM and Pro-Palestine demonstrations on college campuses.
Don’t people know EVIL when they see it?
I stand with Jews around the world in fighting antisemitism. I can’t stand with Israeli government and the extreme violence both before and after the Hamas’ horrific attack. Thousands of people, including children, have been killed, with far more Palestinians than Israelis. Both groups are violent.
And nothing justifies the rise of antisemitism around the world and I am committed to speaking out against it.
Thank you for taking a stand on this important issue. Collectively we are too accustomed to reading about violence and then moving on. This situation deserves the time and attention you are encouraging through reading additional sources and taking further action.
Amy, thank you so much for this important post. I will be donating today.
THANK YOU!!
Amy, Thank you very much for using your platform to share your views. I especially appreciate your comments about the behavior of those who think that Hamas’ actions were justifiable because of the inability of Israelis and Palestinians to find peace together. This terrorism will never be justifiable!
The attacks have shaken me more than I care to admit and I am dreading more awful news. It has been more than a half-century since I was in Hebrew school and we learned about hostility toward Israel from its neighbors. Then there was the Yom Kippur War, demonstrating that truth. And it’s not just in Israel that we have well-founded concerns. My daughter works for a Jewish social services agency in the US. I’m relieved that they have implemented additional security measures, though sad that they are necessary.
A dear friend of mine who lives in Israel works for an organization that provides humanitarian medical services on the ground. If people are so inclined, I’d ask that they visit israelrescue.org to learn more.
Amy, I was so grateful to see your post. Thank you for using your platform in this way. I stand for Israel! I will never attempt to be an expert on the Israeli/Gaza conflict but I do know right from wrong and what is occurring is so wrong. Israel does not want to obliterate Palestinians. Many Israelis and Palestinians live side by side. It is the extreme terrorist groups such as Hamas that want to wipe out Israel and all Jews. This is a humanitarian crisis and we all need to stand for those being viciously murdered.
As always, thoughtful and powerful ideas with which I agree 100%. Thanks for posting them
Amy, I would add one additional way to help. Pray and recite Psalms. I know it might not be politically correct, but I believe the situation calls for turning to heaven for help. As a Christian fundraiser who has worked tirelessly to support and fund Israel for more than 25 years, my heart, too, has been ripped to shreds. So many innocent lives were brutally butchered for no reason other than they are Jewish. The hatred must stop. Thank you for publicly standing with Israel, even if it might be unpopular! Am Yisrael Chai!!!
Bravo, Amy.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful and helpful post. Your suggestions are excellent. I too stand with Israel. I will do as you suggest!
Amy, thank you for your thoughtful and courageous post. It is indeed time to stand with Israel.
Amy, thank you for your insightful post.
As you said this is now more than just a Jewish issue, it’s a humanitarian concern. The horrors inflicted by Hamas harken back to Nazi Germany, and 9/11 in a different context. Your “ to do” list is spot on and I appreciate that you took the time to craft this post.
How courageous of you to support Israel when it’s not the popular thing to do. There’s one line you wrote that I do take issue with: “It is not a secret that the Israeli government is abusive, racist, and cruel toward the people of Gaza. ” That is false. The leadership of Hamas in Gaza is cruel and abusive to their own people. They have taken all resources intended for humanitarian aid and used them to build bombs to launch into Israel. They are self-governing. Hamas builds bunkers and stores weaponry in schools and hospitals intentionally.
Israel–in an action that is unprecedented by any other military throughout history–warns civilians when they are targeting Hamas through fliers and phone calls. I’d be happy to share more information or resources if you are interested.
Thank you again for your open support of Israel and the links for contributing. God bless!