When Israel is at war, the entire Jewish people is in need. Here is a list of things you can do to strengthen the Jewish people today.
1. Help Jews in need. Give tzedakah in any amount every day. For example, help Michael, who has severe Crohn’s, is in constant pain and unable to work.
2. Family is essential. Strengthen the bonds of the Jewish people by connecting with your family members, especially those you don’t speak with regularly.
3. Upgrade your Jewish history knowledge. Read a book about any aspect of Jewish history or…
4. Stream. Watch a movie about Jewish history.
5. More light. Light Shabbat Candles – it’s a beautiful mitzvah anyone can do.
6. Show up. Attend services on Shabbat. Make time for the Jewish people and go.
7. Strengthen friendships. Take a Jewish friend out for lunch or coffee. No agenda, not business. Just strengthen your friendship.
8. Record your history. I’d like you to write down stories from your parents or grandparents. These are the stories of our people.
9. Volunteer for a Jewish organization. For example, LA Shmira operates in several Jewish neighborhoods, keeping watch.
10. Help others. Support a Jewish organization that you don’t already support.
11. Know your roots. Could you work on your family tree? Do you know all your great-great-grandparents’ names and the towns they were from?
12. Enhance your Jewish environment. Could you put up Jewish artwork in your home?
13. Upgrade your security. Could you check your mezuzahs? Often, Mezuzahs can degrade over time. It’s recommended to have them checked by a professional.
14. Widen your perspective. Subscribe to at least one Jewish news source for every mainstream news source you have. And, of course, JewishJournal.com
15. Start a project. Have Jewish friends over for bagels and lox, and decide on something you can do together to help the Jewish people.
16. Drink wine. Buy gourmet kosher wine from California.
17. Get together. Start planning with your family to have a big family seder.
18. Stand together. Help Jewish high school students facing a massive increase in Antisemitism by supporting organizations that work at High Schools.
Whatever we may call this horrible and challenging time that the Jewish people are experiencing — we have to strengthen the Jewish people now.
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Rabbi Yonah Bookstein connects with Jews at Coachella, Sundance, and other festivals around the US, runs a synagogue without walls for thousands of young Jews in Los Angeles, and has a private counseling practice focused on marriage, family, and spiritual coaching.
