Our hearts are aching for our Brothers & Sisters

There are no words to adequately express the deep sorrow we feel as we witness the unfolding events in Israel. Our hearts ache for our brothers and sisters facing unimaginable challenges and uncertainty.

The reports from Israel are both shocking and heart-wrenching. The pain of loss, the chaos, and the ongoing missile attacks are difficult to bear. We stand united in our resolve to be a pillar of support for our extended Jewish family in Israel.

Our tradition teaches us that unity is a source of strength and protection. Now more than ever, let us set aside any divisions and stand as one community. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need.

We join our voices in prayer, asking the Almighty for guidance, strength, and courage. We are with those taken captive, the wounded, the bereaved families, and the valiant IDF soldiers on the front lives. May they access the courage to overcome what lies ahead. May they feel the support and love of the Diaspora as they navigate uncertainty and indescribable pain.

We have found ourselves feeling helpless so many thousands of miles away from our homeland and from those most vulnerable. But just because we are so far doesn’t mean we can’t help. Our spiritual recipe for navigating challenging times (tools to meaningfully move through the hard and shift ourselves in the process) is always Teshuva (returning to our true essential Selves) Tefillah (prayer) and Tzedaka (charity). If you wish to contribute and help in these difficult times, please explore some opportunities provided in below (links where applicable) that touch on those three themes, check back often as we are constantly adding new links as we learn about opportunities:

Teshuva:

• Take on a micro-resolution in the merit of a specific soldier or in the merit of all our soldiers and People of Israel.

   

• To increase Jewish Unity,  reach out to Rabbi Lehrfield to be set up on a coffee date with another Jew who comes from a vastly different background from you and engage in open, non-judgmental dialogue.

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• Dedicate time to Torah learning. ​

  • Sign up for Partners in Torah to be matched with a Torah partner.

  • ​Read Jewish wisdom articles at aish.com 

  • Visit our JOI Video page and check out some short clips or full classes

  • ​Sign up to help finish the whole talmud as a community with the Denver Kollel. You can learn more and sign up at denverkollel.org/siyum. If you'd like reach out to Rabbi Lehrfield to schedule time to meet to complete your page of the talmud.

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Tefillah:

• Join the Shmira Project and be paired up with a soldier that you will commit to pray for regularly. Once you fill out the form you will receive a soldier’s hebrew name to keep in your prayers daily. Alternatively, you can have in mind the list at the bottom of this email of various soldier’s names that are fighting on the front lines and have asked for our prayers.

   

• Psalms for Soldiers - Join with Jews all over the world to consistently finish the book of Psalms - be given a chapter to recite and a name of a soldier to pray for.

   

• Join a community prayer gathering or come to Shul for one (or all) of our daily services.

Tzedaka:

• Consider a donation to any of the campaigns below:

• • Aid4Israel (I can’t speak for the others but this one, 100% of your donation goes to those who are in need. No administrative costs are taken out of your donation. This has been shared with us by David Sussman who is very involved with them)

     

  • BRS Israel Support - If you want to support individual units directly without red-tape or overhead this is an excellent opportunity. Rabbi Goldberg is going personally this Monday to bring supplies to those who need it most. 

  • Friends of the IDF

  • OU Campaign

  • United Hatzalah of Israel Campaign

  • Zaka - Zaka has dedicated teams providing emergency response to the injured, ensuring they receive immediate care. Simultaneously, a specialized unit is handling the bodies of the deceased, working under immense pressure to manage the overwhelming number of casualties.

  • Aish Gaza War Support

  • Heart2Heart - Vetted by an emergency physician and she’s in touch with the IDF directly. They are very short of tourniquets and she’s secured a supplier in the US. They are $26 each. All proceeds from this will go directly to units that need them.

   

Let us move forward as a united community, offering our unwavering support to Israel. Our collective strength can bring hope, healing, and peace to those who need it most.

We are here for you however we can be,

Sarah & Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield