We Stand with Israel: Resources
and Actions

Temple Emanuel affirms its profound solidarity with the people of Israel and offers prayers to those defending the State. We’ve created this dedicated page to coordinate our efforts in supporting our Israeli cousins during this crisis, and to help you navigate heartbreak and grief during this uncertain time. It will serve as a central hub, providing information on how you can stay informed, access essential resources and contribute. Continue to check back regularly for updates.

Statements of Support

• The Moment We Are In, The Future We Pray For (1/30/24), a statement from the Union of Reform Judaism
• Temple Emanuel Clergy and Leadership Response to Proposal to Fly a Palestinian flag on the North Andover Town Common (11/8/23)
• Video message from the Honorable Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative, 6th Congressional District, Massachusetts (11/6/23)
• Temple Emanuel Clergy and Leadership Response (10/7/23)
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)
• Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)

How to Stay Informed

These trusted sources include comprehensive coverage, analysis and first-hand accounts, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of the situation.

• CJP’s Israel Daily News Roundup
• I24 News
• Times of Israel
• Haaretz
• Mosaic Magazine
• AJC
• ADL
• Web Series with David Horovitz, founding editor of the online newspaper, The Times of Israel. Mondays November 13, January 22, March 11 and May 13 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
• Israel at War: the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI)’s Inside Analysis. Webinars every Monday and Thursday from 11:00-11:30 ET.  Sponsored by Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency
• We Will Defend Ourselves, Tablet Magazine

Resources and Programs To Help You and your Children, Teens and College Students

• Web series with David Horowitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel; Next session:May 15, 2024 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
• CJP’s Israel UPdate with Col. (Ret.) Miri Eisen, Tuesday, April 16 at 8:00 am (online).
• Jewish Federations of America April 14 Update on Situation in Israel; watch the recording
• CJP’s Face Jewish Hate Website and Center to Combat Antisemitism
• Weekly Israel Emergency Update, Wednesdays at 12:00 pm via Zoom, hosted by the Jewish National Fund.
• The Abraham Accords Post October 7, March 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Ambassador Ido Aharoni explores the history of Israeli-Arab normalization and the latest chapter of the Abraham Accords that includes UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
• Through Women’s Eyes: Antisemitism in America, March 14, 2024 at 7:30 pm via Zoom. Award-winning author, Professor Pamela Nadell of American University, discusses American Jewish women in the past facing antisemitism, how it affected their lives, and how they responded.
• Why is the World Against the Jews? How to Repond in a Time of War, March 13, 2024 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. A mixture of history, politics and parenting, this discussion is designed to give you tools to respond to complex statements and engage in a productive way.
• Challenges of Wartime Investigative Journalism, March 11 at 1:00 pm online. Hosted by Brandeis University’s  Schusterman Center for Israel Studies.
• The Pulse and Mood of Israel, Wednesday, February 28, 7:00-8:00 pm via Zoom. Ambassador Ido Aharoni will provide an update from Isael focused on the social and political undercurrents in Israeli society and explore what may emerge from the Israel-Hamas War. Organized by the Lappin Foundation.
• Antisemitism to Zionism: the As to Zs of the world of the Jewish people today and its history. Thursdays, February 15 and 22 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Taught by Temple Emanuel’s Rabbi Jessica Spitalnic Mates in conjunction with the “Thursday Temple Teaching” adult education series.
• Conflict Conversation and Community, Thursdays:  2/8, 2/15, 2/29, 3/17 & 3/14, 7:00 – 9:00 pm via Zoom. Rabbi Natan Margalit will share what Jewish tradition says about how to engage, disagree and remain friends with people with different perspects. Course fee: $225
• A Reporter’s Notebook: From the Frontlines in Israel, Thursday, February 8, 7:30 pm, at Congregation Shirat Hayam, Swampscott and via Zoom.  An eye witness report from Steven Rosenberg, editor and publisher of The Jewish Journal, on his reflections and experiences from his recent trip to Israel. Register by Feburary 7.
• Exploring the History & Politics of the West Bank & Gaza, Thursday, February 1, 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Zoom. Ido Haroni, Israeli diplomat, lecturer, consultant and writer will present and overview Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the background on the Israel-Hamas War. Presented by the Lappin Foundation.
• Israel’s Healing Music, Sunday, January 28 at 1:00 pm, online. Josh Shron, Israeli music expert and radio host, will offer a deep dive into the songs released in Israel the weeks after October 7. Hosted by the Lappin Foundation.
• Navigating Myths: Humanitarian Law & Urban Warfare in the Israel-Hamas War, January 24 at 1:00 pm ET, sponsored by the Jewish Federations of North America
• Answering Tough Questions About Israel, Antisemitism and Jewish Identity Sunday, November 5, 1:00 p.m., Temple Emanuel (in person). A conversation for Temple Emanuel teens and parents with Charlotte Korchak, International Senior Educator, StandWithUs. You’ll receive timely, relevant information to help you respond to the tough questions about current events unfolding in Israel and around the world.
• Navigating Difficult Times: Israel, Gaza, Antisemitism and our Community: A Panel Discussion with Experts from ADL, Facing History and Community Leaders, Monday, November 6, 7:30 p.m., Temple Emanuel (in person and on Zoom). Access the recording of the program here.
• Current Events in Israel: Context and Conversation with Yotam Wolk of Root One and the iCenter for Jewish education, Wednesday, November 8, 8:00 – 9:00 p.m., online.
• On Allyship, Amidst Polarization Monday November 13, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Lehrhaus, Somerville
• Dr. Rachel Fish and Jeremy Burton on Navigating Conversations about Israel, Thursday, November 16, 10:00 –11:00 a.m., via Zoom, discussing recent decisions by universities regarding Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace as official student groups, allyship, and the hard and uncomfortable ethical questions we are all asking as this war continues. Sponsored by Jewish Community Relations Council.
• The Rise of Anti-Israel Activities and Antisemitism on College Campuses: What’s Going On and What We Can Do About It, Tuesday, November 21, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., via Zoom, featuring an update with Jacob Baime, CEO of Israel on Campus Coalition. Sponsored by the Lappin Foundation, Temple Emanuel, American Jewish Committee, Israeli-American Council, Jewish Community Relations Council and TribeTalk.
• Making Connections: Exploring Antisemitism in United States History, Thursday, December 7, 4:00 p.m., via Zoom. Presented by the ADL.
• A conversation with Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Tuesday, November 28, 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Presented by Men of Reform Judaism
• Antisemitism and Its Impacts (Facing History and Ourselves)
• We Stand with Israel: Actions to Take to Support Jewish Students on College Campuses (ADL)
• PJ Library’s Israel Hub, including how to talk to kids, support for parents and more
• How to Talk to Kids About What’s Happening in Israel Right Now (Kveller)
• What to Tell Kids When the News is Scary (NPR)
• How to Talk to Your Children about Conflict and War (UNICEF)
• Resources in Response to the War in Israel (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
• 6 Tips for Supporting Jewish Students in the Classroom (ADL)
• Colleges Must Support Their Jewish Students without Equivocation (Newsweek)

Solidarity Programs and Action Initiatives

• Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Donations are directed towards advancing all necessary efforts through diplomatic, medical and legal channels and towards raising public awareness to the hostage crisis by creating campaigns in Israel and abroad.
• One Minute a Day (oneminaday.com). Take one minute of each day to contact your  government representatives to voice your appeal and apply pressure to prioritize the return all 240 civilian hostages in Gaza to their loved ones. Click the link for quick access to your representative’s phone numbers.
• Tell your Senators to Call for the Immediate Release of all Hostages in Gaza. Access tools and scripts to join the ADL in urging your senators to support a resolution demanding Hamas immediately releases all hostages
• Demand the United Nations and Red Cross Work to Release the Hostages in Gaza Now. Join ADL in urging the International Committee of the Red Cross and the U.N. to take concrete steps to help the hostages in Gaza
• Save an Seat at Your Shabbat Table for a Hostage Held by Hamas, organized by National Council of Jewish Women
• March for Israel in Washington, DC, Tuesday, November 14, 1:00-3:00 p.m. We’re coming together as a united Jewish community — with leaders, clergy, friends, allies, and loved ones from across North America — to stand together, loudly and proudly (organized by Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents). Register to participate with the Union of Reform Judaism here. Or sign up to participate with CJP (by 11/9 at 5:00 p.m.) and learn more about options for bus and chartered flight transportation to/from Boston and lodging.
• Planet of Tears, video plea by mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, to release hostages
• Blue Ribbons for Israel, a global unity symbol in solidarity with hostages and their families
• Fighting Hate from Home: Bring the Hostages Home, November 7, 2:30 PM, online, hosted by the ADL, National Council of Jewish Women and the Israeli American Counsel (IAC)
• Community Rally for Israel – Sunday, November 5, 1:00–4:00 p.m., Brookline
• #KidnappedFromIsrael awareness project

Workplace Toolkits

• Navigating the Hamas Attacks + Supporting Your Jewish Employees (ADL)
• Workplace Pledge to Fight Antisemitism (ADL)

How to Donate

• The Reform Movement is partnering with the Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) Operation: Swords of Iron campaign to support victims of terror, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by these horrific attacks. Make a donation here.
• International Committee of the Red Cross. The Red Cross is working tirelessly to provide lifesaving medical care on both sides of the Gaza border. In conflict situations, the ICRC takes a lead role and directs the work of its partners — in this case the Israeli Magen David Adom and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
• Magen David Adom. Non-government funded emergency medical services in Israel. Donations ensure the organization’s 33,000 paramedics, EMTS, first responders, and first-aid providers have the training, equipment and medical supplies they need to treat all injured and ill people in Israel.
• Physicians for Human Rights Israel’s Emergency Response. Israeli organization addressing urgent medical needs both for Israelis and foreign workers in Israel as well as for Gazans.
• Stand with Israel. A compilation of donation sites for a wide variety of needs across Israel.
• Donate needed items to help Israeli citizens and the military through this Amazon wishlist orchestrated by the Israeli American Council (IAC).

Visit the URJ’s resource page for additional ways to support Israel.