Shabbat Shalom from Israel!
I happily and proudly landed here a week ago on behalf of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ to begin a three-part visit: first, participating in the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Board of Governors meeting; next, embarking on a learning tour of our partnership regions in the South to deepen my understanding of our shared work; and finally, joining our Women’s Mission, which arrives on Monday. It has been a fascinating visit on so many levels rich with experiences, insights, and countless stories to share.
One theme has consistently stood out: Federation always responds.
On both sides of the ocean this week, I have been reminded of the importance of Federation being fully present in each moment ensuring that we care for the most vulnerable among us. In every twist and turn of the complex post–October 7 landscape, our Federation has ensured that our support remains not only unwavering but also meaningful and responsive to the moment.
Even before I departed for Israel, our thoughts were focused on the growing concerns within our own community, particularly for those affected by the government shutdown and the loss of SNAP benefits. We have also become increasingly aware of the steeply rising needs of our Holocaust survivors, who are living longer and facing more complex challenges.
At our Federation Board meeting this week, I am proud to share that we approved $200,000 in emergency funding for Jewish Family Services of MetroWest and Central New Jersey to help address these immediate needs. In addition, we approved another $200,000 as a fundraising match to support our Holocaust Survivor Fund. In the coming years, we anticipate costs of approximately $1 million annually to ensure that our survivors can live their final years with comfort and dignity, and we are fully committed to raising the dollars necessary to care for them.
How we care for our most vulnerable is the true measure of a compassionate and responsible community, and we are certainly both.
Here in Israel, I have seen firsthand the many forms that compassion takes. From providing low-interest loans to help businesses and families stay afloat during wartime, to supporting mental health needs born of trauma, to rebuilding social and physical infrastructure for our Israeli partners—our dollars are on the ground every single day, ensuring that those in need are never forgotten.
There are countless stories from this visit, but for this Shabbat, one stands out indelibly etched on my heart.
Last Monday, we traveled to the Druze village of Hurfeish to learn about the impact of the war with Lebanon on the northern border. Greater MetroWest has had a longstanding partnership with Hurfeish, formed in response to the 2006 Lebanon War. We learned more about our important work in this tiny minority community, whose members are deeply tied to the land of Israel. The Druze are loyal citizens and Zionists who have long stood with the State of Israel.
Lunch brought us to a lovely courtyard, where a Druze woman runs a restaurant out of her home, which is a business we have supported through small business loans and grants. The peaceful, warm atmosphere, and delicious food made us all feel welcome. After lunch, as we sipped Druze tea and coffee and enjoyed sweet treats, we met Duah and her son, Rajuan, who had come from the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights.
Unlike the Druze villages of the Galilee, Majdal Shams has not historically shared as strong of a connection with Israel. The village became part of the State of Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War, and many families found themselves divided between Israel and Syria. Unlike other Druze communities, where men routinely serve in the IDF, military service is not as common in Majdal Shams, and for many residents, their sense of fate and identity has been more complex than that of Druze living in the Galilee.
Rajuan sat cross-legged in a round wicker chair with a large mauve cushion, clutching a prized possession, a small lucite plaque. His mother, Duah, painfully shared the story of the day a Hezbollah missile from Lebanon landed on the soccer field in her village, where Rajuan and his friends were playing. That day, twelve of his friends were killed, and over forty others, including Rajuan, were injured, some severely. Majdal Shams will never be the same. Through the Jewish Agency for Israel, we immediately mobilized to support the community and those most acutely affected, like Rajuan.
Duah’s mother lives across the street from the field. That day, though the air was tense because of the war in Lebanon, Rajuan went to play soccer with his friends as usual. When the first red alert sounded in a neighboring town, Duah had a terrible feeling. Moments later that sense was realized when the alert sounded in Majdal Shams. The children ran toward a nearby mobile shelter placed there for proximity and safety, but the missile came too fast. Many were struck as they ran toward the shelter.
Running purely on instinct and adrenaline, Duah sprinted to the field, terrified that her son had been killed. The scene was chaotic and heartbreaking. Though injured, Rajuan had the presence of mind to gather his friends who could still run and lead them to the shelter, fearing another missile might follow. When Duah finally found him, covered in blood, the scene was chaotic, and there were not enough ambulances and EMTs to treat all of the wounded. Duah rushed Rajuan into her car and began speeding toward Ziv Hospital in Tzfat, where her husband is a doctor. Along the way, she met an ambulance that took Rajuan to safety.
As Duah recounted the harrowing events, I couldn’t help but think of the countless soccer games I’d watched my own sons play with the privilege of never having to think about red alerts, mobile bomb shellers, and missile launches. Watching Rajuan’s gentle, innocent eyes, I tried to imagine the weight he carries. He is a remarkably brave young boy.
For his courage, Rajuan was awarded the Ofir Libstein Award, given by the Jewish Agency for Israel to honor children and youth who demonstrate exceptional resilience. The award is named in memory of Ofir Libstein, the mayor of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council who was killed on October 7 on Kibbutz Kfar Aza, along with his son, Nitzan.
Twenty-six children were honored at the first ceremony in April 2025, each receiving a scholarship, a video tribute, a digital book, and a lucite plaque—the one that Rajuan carries in his backpack wherever he goes and shows with great pride. It’s a small token with the deepest meaning that has helped turn fear and trauma into a source of strength.
There are so many stories like this one, and there are so many because we are ready to respond in every moment: whether addressing hunger, caring for our Holocaust survivors, supporting our partners in Israel, or standing with a Druze family who might never have known the strength of the Jewish world behind them. Duah shared that she and her community have never felt more connected to Israel than they have since that fateful day. While she wishes it had never happened, she is deeply grateful to know that Israel—and Jews around the world—stand with her and her neighbors in solidarity.
It has been a true honor and privilege to travel to Israel on behalf of Federation and to receive so much gratitude for our community’s compassion, support, and responsiveness. I share that deep appreciation with all of you who make our work possible so that we can respond, always, on your behalf.
May this Shabbat bring comfort and strength, knowing that Israel is stronger because of us—and we are stronger because of Israel.