Sunday, October 15

What Can We Do in a Time of War?

Dear Friends,

It says in Lamentations(*): "נהפך לאבל מחולינו"

On the day in our calendar when we are "שמח"

We rejoice with the Torah, it reverted to: "חמס". 

To counter the negative influences of this current war on the Jewish People, we ought to refrain from giving in to the forces of evil.  

Do not follow the news, as you may be negatively affected by the news reports on this conflict:

Remember: נחש = ראשי תיבות: נייעס, חדשות, שמועות

Do listen to Rabbi Shea Fink at דרשה לאור המצב מאת הגר''י פינק (in Yiddish - sorry!).

As the Rebbe of Belz said: 

By becoming hooked up to the news, one causes an increase in the suffering of Jewish People as a whole - as well as to himself.  This is because our pampered generation is in no way equipped to handle with the abhorrent, horrendous and vile updates making their rounds on social media!

We should instead concentrate on the three approaches that our forefather Jacob taught us:

Doron = Give Tzedokoh!

From teenagers, to youth at risk, back to teenagers

Many of the 16-18-year-olds who have been living in cramped hotel rooms with their families after fleeing their homes after October 7th have been suffering real personal losses and trauma. Overnight, they were transformed from teenagers to youth at risk. They don’t have school, and numb their pain by turning to drugs and alcohol. Enter Lawrence Kasmir, who is generating healthy adrenaline by organising a programme of rock climbing, desert trekking and stargazing. Parents have remarked on a large positive change in their children’s physical and mental state. Anyone wanting to help expand Lawrence’s programme can donate through https://www.charidy.com/hlh/14535 .

Giving charity not only helps those caught up in this conflict - it causes an enormous wave of empathy and compassion up Above.  This is all we need: the Heavens should shower Am Yisroel with blessings of protection, prosperity and happiness - ingredients that have been ruthlessly denied from so many!

Donate | Help a fallen IDF heros family 💔 Yossi Hershkovitz BDE (thechesedfund.com)

The highest form of Tzedokoh

As per the Rambam (=Maimonides) in the Laws of Charity part of his magnum opus - the highest from of charity is to place and keep people in employment.  

In the past weeks, so many people lost their place of work, either due to closure or because workers are afraid to leave their loved ones alone during the constant sirens.

It so happens that many businesses have employed English-speaking Arab workers to man their helpdesks.  These teleworkers service customer service contracts, which have now been terminated on the back of the current conflict.

Why not fill the empty seats with those who lost their livelihood?

More ways to give charity:

There are so many charity organisations, who advocate for important causes and beg us to help them alleviate the suffering of communities and individuals who have been caught up in this melee.

See: Lives Changed Forever 

See: Support for Israeli’s impacted by the war

See: Use Amazon.co.uk to fulfil a Wish!

See: The Tzedek organisation is bending over backwards to help those who are stuck without sleeping accommodations: TxT 00447520667881 if you can help.

See: bit.ly/48Rp6sK for the special offer by RCUK for £10.00 worth of free credit.

See: https://colelchabad.org/donation/?ref=EMT3&listId=014

See: Donate to Zaka Tel-Aviv Fund (zakatelaviv.org)

See: https://giveback.co.il/project/74986

See: ISRAELI SOLDIERS NEED VESTS: Save A Soldier’s Life! - Chesed Today

See: The Sderot Fund: קרן שדרות - The Ofakim Fund

See: Donate to Feed IsraelUrgent Request - The Situation in Eretz Yisroel is affecting 10,000's!Standing Together in Times of Crisis

Reduce Trauma via your Teruma: Emergency Appeal | British Emunah Fund

BABIES, CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY: ZAKA are Working Hard, With Bombs Overhead, to Save The Bodies of the Fallen. Donate here to Protect these Warriors!  https://chesedtoday.com/campaigns/zakaprotect

See a request from an IDF soldier: Rock the House with Your Kabalat Shabat!   Look up the nearest Shul in your vicinity that is struggling with a Minyan - see: GoDaven

For Part II see this link: https://trybetter.blogspot.com/2023/10/what-can-we-do-in-time-of-war-part-ii.html

(*) איכה פרק ה' פסוק ט"ו

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