Israel at War: Recordings and Videos

In the wake of October 7, our community stepped up in a huge way, giving generously to the Emergency Fund for Israel and sending both immediate and ongoing aid to our partner communities that were most affected by the violent attack. Here is a video our partners in Israel produced to thank you for your continued support, all made possible by your gift to the UJA Annual Campaign.

Hear from family members of hostages as they tell their stories of anguish and frustration, share their hopes on how we as a global Jewish community can bring them home, and answer your questions.

Speakers include:

• Sharon Lifshitz, daughter of Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz. Yocheved was freed on October 23, Oded is still captive. 
• Rachel Goldberg & Jon Polin, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin
• Tamar Reshef, Community Shlicha 

An estimated 240 people were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. More than 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza.

Adam Teitelbaum, JFNA’s Associate Vice President for Public Affairs and Executive Director of the Israel Action Network, joined Linda Scherzer, Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater MetroWest, for a conversation about how to talk with our neighbors about Israel. They shared background information to help Jewish community members understand the false accusations being made by anti-Israel voices and data about what messages are effective.

For a list of recommended resources shared during the program, click here.

On November 14, 2023, more than 2,000 Greater MetroWest community members marched alongside more than 290,000 people in our nation’s capital, along with 250,000 livestream viewers – making the #MarchforIsrael the largest pro-Israel gathering in history.

See photos

A panel of our friends from each of Greater MetroWest’s partner communities in Israel (Kibbutz Erez, Ofakim, Merchavim, Arad, Rishon LeZion, and Hurfeish) will share their perspectives and lived experiences of the war to protect Israel.

A panel discussion with Jewish college students and communal professionals about the impact of the war in Israel on Jewish life on campus.

• Rebekah Adelson, Director, Hillel of Greater MetroWest
• Lisa Harris Glass, Chief Executive Officer, Rutgers Hillel
• Linda Scherzer, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

Federation EVP/CEO Dov Ben-Shimon in conversation with Israeli television and print journalist Alon Ben-David about the current situation in Israel. Ben-David is the senior defense correspondent for Israel’s Channel 13, specializing in defense and military issues, and will share his analysis as Israel faces this crisis.

A special briefing with an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson on the situation on the ground in real time.

Federation EVP/CEO Dov Ben-Shimon arrives in Israel to meet with evacuees from Kibbutz Erez in Mitzpe Ramon.

Federation’s Community Security team provide an update with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP). The OHSP analyst provides an intelligence briefing on the current threat landscape in New Jersey as it relates to Israel’s war with Hamas. After the briefing, Federation’s Chief Security Officer Thomas “Chip” Michaels reviews best security practices and takes your questions.

Panel discussion with Jewish college students and communal professionals about the impact of the war in Israel on Jewish life on campus.

• Rebekah Adelson, Director, Hillel of Greater MetroWest
• Lisa Harris Glass, Chief Executive Officer, Rutgers Hillel
• Linda Scherzer, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

On Friday, October 13, at 12 p.m. (ET) Jewish Federation held a Zoom briefing including personal accounts from the war in Israel and ways that the Greater MetroWest community can step up to help. Leaders sharing information included:

Cory Booker, U.S. Senator for New Jersey
Dov Ben-Shimon, Jewish Federation EVP/CEO
Michal Zur, Greater MetroWest’s Israel Director
Tamar Reshef, Senior Community Shlicha
Deborah Jacob, Women’s Philanthropy President, Jewish Federation

On Wednesday, October 11, more than 300 people gathered at Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael and online to stand together with Israel in the face of evil and hatred. Participating in the service were Rabbi Adrienne Rubin, Rabbi Chaim Marcus, Cantor Jason Rosenman, Lesley Brooks, Harris Laufer, Bill Lipkin, Sandi Newman, Faith Racusin, and Lea Rajs.

On Sunday, October 8, at 8:30 p.m. nearly 2,000 Federation and your Greater MetroWest community members gathered at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills for a Solidarity with Israel Rally sponsored by local synagogues and organizations.

Sunday, October 8, at 12 p.m. (ET) Jewish Federations of North America hosted a webinar to provide the latest update on the situation in Israel.