Lip Service or Hip Service?

Lip Service or Hip Service?

“There are currently over 60,000 displaced persons, locked up in Hotels up and down the country”

These people have lost everything, having been ejected from their homes, workplaces and businesses by the IDF.  Not so long ago, these refugees in their own country were going about their lives and thriving.  However, with limited to no real activities, families are fast falling into despair and the slippery slope of disintegration is not far.

To counter this logical sequence of events, Tzohar - part of the Torah VeEmunah network of voluntary organisations - sprang into action.  They are currently in about a dozen hotels in Tiberias, doing their best to provide emotional, spiritual and material help to these displaced families.  The effect on their well-being is astonishing; instead of roaming the hotel grounds and surrounding streets, they are invigorated and upbeat.

“Even Jewish atheists can be inspired and invigorated by Jewish tradition, and take comfort in ritual and culture.”

We have been praying for the hostages................................................................... 122

We have been praying for the soldiers.............................................................. 300,000

We have been praying for injured........................................................................ 3,500

We have been praying for the displaced............................................................. 60,000

We have been praying for the kids hiding from flying rockets.......................... 2,800,000

We have been praying for Holocaust survivors who are reliving the horrors........ 132,826

We have been praying for those who lost their place of work............................ 100,000

We have been praying for all other Jewish people in Israel.............................. 4,030,544

Whilst all the above is still happening, we in Great Britain:

We have held vigils outside Downing Street

We did coffee mornings for a better Israel

We have reflected

We have stood silent for two minutes

We held a garden party with strawberries and cream

We have been biting our nails during the Euro 2024 football cup final

On the 20th of June - Day 258 of the war in the holy land - we watched England V Denmark game

On the 18th of June, we joined the War for the Torah, by donating $250.00 towards the $1,500,000.00 fund established by the holy Belze Rebbe to support the families whose livelihood was put in danger by the Israeli government, when it decided to cut its monthly stipend to the holy students who dedicate their life to Torah studies.

On the Sunday, 23rd of June - Day 258 of the war in the holy land - we attended a small and exclusive Private Viewing of Exhibition by David Breuer-Weil

We celebrated Yom Ha’Atzma’ut

We played five-a-side football

We held Yom HaZikaron

We had Annual General Meetings

We joined the Film Club, where we watched 'Crossing Delancey' - a funny movie about getting serious.

We went on a fabulous day out at Waddesdon Manor, the stately home of Baron de Rothschild.

We indulged in politicking by participating in UK General Election Hustings

We celebrated Yom Yerushalayim

We arranged a summer picnic in the park and enjoyed a chat, games and sports

We biked from the East Coast to London Bridge

We held Yom HaShoah

We cheered on the Israeli contestant at Eurovision

We have held rallies

We celebrated the Gold winners of the Israeli Olympic team

We lit black candles

We baked cheesecakes

There was even a BBQ / Al Ha'esh!

We planted trees

We have come together for demonstrations

We have marched together for the hostages

We have petitioned government ministers

We have sent messages to the world

We have partnered with Matkon Im Zikaron to launch a Recipe in Memory project

We held a Movie Night for Yom Yerushalayim

We tagged hashtags on the various social media channels

We ran the Maccabi GB Fun Run

We rejoiced with the renewal of Bendick’s Kosher status

We joined a music concert with coffee and cake

We went up and down the escalators at Westminster underground station, holding up pictures of the hostages

We commemorated D-Day

We walked around sporting our customised hostage tee shirts

We even ran a Fashion Show

We heard musical recitals

We walked from Downing Street to Trafalgar Square, bearing torches

But, have we really changed our hectic life schedule?

Did we stop attending national football matches?

Have we refrained from filling the cinemas?

Is our shopping still full of sweet food?

Has anyone cancelled their place on a cruise?

Did we stop waxing lyrical about "The Last Dance" - a 10-part Netflix documentary on Michael Jordan or the Disney plus piece: "Thank You, Goodnight: - The Bon Jovi story" for anyone that likes Bon Jovi?!

Are our synagogues attendance levels up?

We know from the teachings of our Sages that apart from prayer, we also have to do physical helping. 

Is there anything that we in the UK could do – as a community or as individuals - to improve the lot of our brethren in the holy land?

How about making a dent in the gigantic problems that are caused to the 60,000 homeless people in Israel, some of whom are - to some degree:

Disabiled, have caring responsibilities for someone in their family, Pensioners, people with serious health problems

These people have no recourse to public funds – the government is covering their bar basics

as long as there is a genuine care beyond destitution need such as , Those escaping harm and abuse

People who are homeless, with addictions or are street workers

Wishing you much הצלחה, Mazal, Brochoh and בשורות טובות,

Yours sincerely,

Menasche Scharf & The Travelling Chassidim

See also: What can We do in Times of War?

 אל מעלת כבוד חברי וידידי שליט"א,

המלחמה בעיצומה ועשרות אלפי אנשים עדיין נמצאים בגלות הגוף במלונותיה של טבריה ואילת.

מה שיותר דחוף זה שהאנשים האלה נחנכו בלי זיק של יהדות ונמצאים בגלות הנשמה, ואפשר לעזור להם על ידי מוסדות התשובה שעובדים סביב לשעון להחזיר אותם תחת כפני השכינה.

אחרי קריאת המאמר הקצר דלהלן, כלנו יחד חייבים להגיע למסקנה זהה:

לא עת לחשות!

מי שרוצה לעזור, ואם אין ביכולת להרתם בממון אז נא להרתם בגוף, ולו בלעזור בדברים קטנים שיכולים להגיע להישגים גדולים, נא להתקשר אלינו ויפה שעה אחת קודם.