Page 2 - The Jewish Voice - August '21

Page 2, The Jewish Voice
Local Residents Visit Israel on Solidarity Mission

In June, 10 dedicated community volunteers visited Israel
on a mission of solidarity for the people of Israel. Led by Jewish
Federation of Palm Beach County, this has been among a
handful of Federation-solidarity trips to launch in the U.S., and
one of a small number of tourist groups allowed into Israel amid
its COVID-19-related limited travel permits.
The following is a letter from participant and community
leader Lynn Peseckis, sharing her experiences after returning
from Israel. Mrs. Peseckis is Vice Chair of Federation’s Board of
Directors and Chair of its Jewish Community Relations Council.
In Lynn’s words:
Earlier this summer, I returned home with nine other
community leaders from Jewish Palm Beach from Federation’s
Solidarity Mission to Israel. This unforgettable trip to the Jewish Kiryat Gat Absorption Center Rabbi Leonid Feldman of Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach
homeland was like none other that I had taken. at the Ashkelon wreckage
We saw and felt the trauma that people in Israel are Although it is devastating to witness the effects of terror and
experiencing, and learned about the layers of complexity that violence in Israel and Gaza, I was proud to show our unwavering
Israel’s society faces. And yet, I feel inspired and hopeful. support for the people of Israel, and heartened after seeing the
critical services Federation and our partners provide.
We visited a man named Edward, whose apartment was
Volunteers Assemble 6,000+ Backpacks from page 1 hit directly by a Hamas rocket that targeted civilians in Israel.
Although this attack upended the lives of Edward, his wife, and
books, which will be their two young children, he shared with us how grateful he is
given to students to to know he is not alone. His family survived and is beginning
help them grow their to recover through financial assistance, housing and counseling
personal library. from The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israel Trauma
“Every child Coalition, two of Federation’s partners on the ground.
deserves to have a new During a conversation with government and community
backpack and school leaders, we reflected on the violence that erupted on the city
supplies so they can of Lod’s streets between Arabs and Jews just days prior to our
begin the school year visit and discussed the complex social challenges that demand
proud and excited to groundbreaking thinking and creativity.
walk through their We took pride in visiting Hackaveret, an innovation lab, and
school hallways, and meeting Tomer, a social entrepreneur who founded the Sign Group meets with Grisha Yakubovich in Gaza
have the necessary Now app – a collaboration between Israeli Arabs and Jews – that
academic tools to allows the hearing impaired to communicate virtually. This app When we travel to Israel, it helps the people there feel the
succeed,” shared Melissa Hudson, director of the Jewish provided access to services for vulnerable people in both Israel embrace and support of the American Jewish community. For
Volunteer Center at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach and Gaza during Operation Guardian of the Walls. Our partner information about our community mission in April 2023 to
County. “It’s an honor to expand this effort through the the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary, contact Ronit Chia at ronit.
Jewish Volunteer Center and Education Foundation, with established this innovation hub three years ago. chia@jewishpalmbeach.org.
our network of partners to support those in our community The influx of olim (immigrants) to Israel has not slowed On behalf of every person we met on our recent journey
who need it most.” despite these difficult times, and The Jewish Agency increased and our Palm Beach delegation, I thank you for continuing to
Through this initiative, JVC also partnered with a new its trauma support during the recent crisis, especially focusing stand up and care for the people of Israel during this difficult
organization called Amy’s Army, created this summer by a on recent olim who live in absorption centers such as the one we time – and always.
group of friends to honor local resident and mom Amy Russell, visited in Kiryat Gat. Here, we were introduced to Solomon, who To see more photos from our mission, visit Federation’s
who passed away in 2020 after a vigilant fight with leukemia. made aliyah from Ethiopia about six months ago. Solomon lives Facebook page at facebook.com/jewishpalmbeach. I also
Amy’s Army collected backpacks and school supplies for in and is being provided support through the Absorption Center’s encourage you to follow the page to stay current on our Jewish
area nonprofits, including 28 loaded backpacks for Family temporary quarters. This ambitious 20-year-old is pursuing his community, ways to get involved, and resources to help keep
Promise, 30 loaded backpacks for Extended Hands Community college education in engineering and is employed in Israel’s you informed.
Outreach (ECHO), and a large quantity of additional school technology sector. Olim such as Solomon are not deterred from A special note: The issues of the conflict in Israel and the
supplies also to ECHO. the grueling past month and bolster Israel’s resilience. rise of antisemitism in the U.S. are on the minds of many of us
As we heard these inspiring stories, we were reminded of the at this time. Jewish Federation has compiled a list of resources
role that the Jewish Palm Beach community plays in supporting to help you understand and discuss this complicated situation as
the people of Israel. Federation’s Annual Campaign fuels the well as how to best respond to antisemitism when you encounter
work of our global partners. it. Visit jewishpb.org/ standuptohate.

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