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Standing with Israel





I just got off the phone with Oren Marmerstein of the Israeli Embassy.  It’s one thing to read headlines, to debate politics.  It’s another to speak to someone who is regularly contacting his parents and family as the rockets are falling.  Many of us in our congregation have loved ones and dear friends in harm’s way during this difficult time.  This is a time for prayer and for doing what we can to show support.  Oren shared with me information that he can access at the embassy.  He watched a video from the cockpit of an Israeli fighter jet.  He could see how the Hamas target was situated right in the middle of a civilian area, with innocent people acting as human shields.  From the cockpit, the pilot was ready to launch a missile at the target, but suddenly he saw two civilians.  Immediately, he asked permission to abort so as not to harm innocent life, and his commander instantly ratified the request.  Oren told me how a standard policy of the IDF is to literally call the Palestinians in the apartment buildings shielding Hamas outposts, urging them to get away because the area is about to be attacked.  The IDF even sends text messages to warn the people of danger.  The moral strivings of the IDF compared to the cowardly tactics of Hamas are astonishing.  I’m certainly not one to white-wash the failings and shortcomings of the Israeli government or the IDF.  There are many.  But the moral strivings of our people in Israel are real and so little understood by most of the world.  One way we can support Israel is through our sharing of what we know about Israel’s struggle to do what is right in the midst of impossible circumstances.  Another way is to lend financial support to Israel.  Click here for a list of organizations that you can donate to in order to help.

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