For those who want to help Israel, we offer a Mitzvah Roundup. This list is by no means exhaustive, and we’ll continue to update it. We also encourage you to contact your local synagogue about ways to help. To submit a listing, please email Ryan Torok at ryant@jewishjournal.com.
Advocacy, Education and Public Awareness
- Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is leading the fight to combat antisemitism, extremism and hate crimes. With the nationwide increase in antisemitic incidents, this work is more needed than ever. To support the ADL, visit adl.org/take-action/ways-to-give?donate=1
- #BlueRibbonsforIsrael, a Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) social media and public awareness campaign, encourages individuals, organizations and companies to wear blue ribbons and share pictures of themselves in solidarity with Israel. For information about the campaign, including how to order the ribbons, visit https://www.blueribbonsforisrael.org
- Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, founded by sports executive Robert Kraft, addresses the spread of antisemitism on social media and in communities everywhere. The organization spreads awareness about Jew-hatred, engages individuals through mass media and celebrates Jewish identity. Learn more at fcas.org
- Holocaust Museum LA, the first survivor-founded and oldest Holocaust museum in the U.S., offers customized tours, artifact-rich exhibitions, creative educational programs and intergenerational conversations with survivors. Since 2010, the museum has operated out of its permanent home in Pan Pacific Park. The museum seeks to eradicate antisemitism by educating how Jew-hatred manifested in the recent past. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. $15 adults, $10 seniors, military, free for teachers, students and children under 17. Free admission for everyone all-day Sunday. For more information, visit holocaustmuseumla.org.
- Israeli American Council is countering rising antisemitism and dispelling anti-Israel narratives in schools and communities across the U.S. To support its work, visit iac360.org/support-israel-fund
- Jewish National Fund-USA has launched an Israel Resilience Campaign, raising funds for its on-the-ground efforts. This includes supporting evacuees, offering trauma therapy, providing firefighting and protective equipment to those on the front lines, ensuring food security and conducting hostage advocacy. For information, visit jnf.org/ways-to-help/support-israel
- Shurat HaDin/Israel Law Center, based in Tel Aviv, works with a network of volunteer lawyers to file legal actions on behalf of terror victims in Israel. The group—which recently protested Hamas’ use of Palestinian Red Crescent ambulances to transport its members—is at the forefront of fighting terrorism and safeguarding Jewish rights worldwide. To make a tax-deductible donation to the organization, visit israellawcenter.org.
- StandWithUs, a nonpartisan Israel education organization, is using social media, videos, rallies, ads, billboards and workshops to shape public opinion about the current war while combating misinformation. The group also continues its work of fighting rising antisemitism and anti-Zionism at universities and high schools. Support them at standwithus.com
Clothing, Equipment & Supplies
- BINA is addressing the rapidly emerging needs across Israel. The organization is supporting evacuated families from the north and the south while actively collecting and delivering goods, volunteering with children and leading Kabbalat Shabbat and other social-educational programming. To support their efforts, visit web.causematch.com/donate/bina
- Equalizer, an Israel-based NGO, is helping children who’ve been evacuated from the scenes of the Oct. 7 massacre. Combining sports and educational activities, the organization operates programs for young people on Israel’s periphery and is currently running programs, including soccer and basketball teams, for young evacuees in temporary shelters around the country. For information on how to support Equalizer’s mission, visit https://en.the-equalizer.org
- Eran’s Angels, has been mobilizing young Israeli volunteers to collect essential supplies for those in need. Learn more at israel21c.org/thousands-voluntarily-organize-giving-to-soldiers-civilians/
- Maman 4 Israel has compiled an “IDF Shopping List” of approved items to purchase for IDF soldiers, including towels, thermal underwear and sleeping bags. To learn more, visit maman4israel.com
Food
- Asif: Culinary Institute of Israel and the New York-based Jewish Food Society have partnered on Nourish Israel, a campaign to cook and distribute meals to displace families, Holocaust survivors, soldiers and those in need. To support their work, visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/jewish-food-society-inc/nourish-israel
- First Aid for Wounded Farms Project, led by chairman Guy Rilov, is working with farmers and agri-tech specialists to address urgent food security needs as a result of southern farms impacted on Oct. 7. An initiative of Organic Israel, a volunteer-driven nonprofit, the project is raising funds for the repair of damaged farm utility vehicles and irrigation systems, the replacement of stolen IT equipment and for the housing and transportation needs of remaining foreign workers. israelorganit.org/donate
- Food for Vegan Soldiers is an initiative to distribute fresh, healthy, kosher vegan meals for IDF soldiers on the front lines. Led by Akiva Gersh, known as the Vegan Rabbi. If you want to help, send donations via PayPal or Zelle to akivagersh@yahoo.com. Those in Israel can donate via Bit or Paybox to 052-327-0723. And if you are or know a soldier in need of vegan meals, connect with @VeganRabbi on Instagram or Facebook.
- Kinamon Caterers, an Israel-based kosher catering company, is providing Thanksgiving meals for IDF soldiers to show them gratitude. The catering group has been cooking on bases as well as delivering food to soldiers who need help. Support their efforts at kinamon.co/donate
- Meal Train for Affected Families in Israel, an initiative of the Orthodox Union’s NCSY, is raising funds to support weekday dinners and Shabbat meals for those families who have a father or a mother serving on the front lines. A simple donation of $22 sponsors two pizzas, which is a meal for a family of four. To donate, visit https://upreaching.com/ncsy/mealsforisrael
- Leket Israel, Israel’s national food bank, has launched three emergency relief programs serving those in the south and along the Gaza border. They serve homebound individuals and seniors; families; and those whose income has been impacted by the war. To support Leket programs, visit leket.org/en
- ReGrow Israel is restoring and rebuilding the Western Negev’s farming communities devasted in the Hamas attack. The group’s recently launched emergency fund is managed under the auspices of Volcani International Partnerships, a veteran Israeli nonprofit that has been supporting Israeli agriculture since 1983. ReGrow Israel aims to raise $50 million. For details, visit regrowisrael.org
Hostages
- Dog Tags for Hostages provides a meaningful way to show support for the remaining hostages still being held in captivity in Gaza. UJA-Federation New York is selling dog tags – the same ones distributed throughout Israel by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Wear your heart around your neck. $18 for each dog tag. All proceeds benefit UJA’s Israel Emergency Fund. https://shop.ujafedny.org/products/dog-tags-for-hostages?variant=47309219168539
- Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israel-based volunteer effort, offers families holistic support and professional assistance and advances the ongoing efforts through all channels, locally, regionally and globally, to bring the hostages and the missing back home to their loved ones. To support the forum’s work, visit stories.bringthemhomenow.net.
- #KidnappedfromIsrael, the global guerilla posters campaign, is dedicated to raising awareness about the people kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7. To support the campaign or download/print posters to hang in your neighborhood, visit kidnappedfromisrael.com
Housing/Evacuated Families/Children
- Chai Lifeline West Coast is undertaking “Mission Possible,” a campaign to support children and families living with crisis in Israel. The organization, which serves families impacted by life-threatening illnesses, seeks to raise $1 million to provide vulnerable populations with essentials. Learn more at https://www.rayze.it/mission/
- Riding for Life, a horseback riding school in Rishpon, Israel, is offering therapeutic riding to the children who survived the Oct. 7 terror attack. The riding sessions are a vehicle for children to feel safe, open up and talk about their experiences. Ultimately, the young riders enjoy themselves and begin to heal from their traumas. To support the cost of classes for children, visit riding-for-life.com.
- World Zionist Organization is working with Jews outside of Israel who own apartments in Israel. The group is facilitating connections between evacuated families in Israel and those who’d be willing to offer their apartment. The initiative, “My Home is Your Home,” was launched because of the estimated 126,000 residents near the Gaza and Lebanon borders who’ve been displaced from their homes. For more information, visit https://www.wzo.org.il/department/myhome/my-home-your-home/en
Local
- Temple Beth Am in Pico-Robertson is raising funds for the recovery of Kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of the many communities targeted in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Beth Am “adopted” the kibbutz and set a goal of rapidly raising $180,000 toward the community’s recovery. For more, visit tbala.org/community/israel-updates/
- Temple Ahavat Shalom in Northridge has launched an Israel Relief Fund, which raises funds to support OneFamily, an Israel-based group offering aid to victims of terrorism and their families, as well as Leket Israel, the country’s largest food bank. For online donations, visit https://www.tasnorthridge.org/donate/
Medical/Emergency Response
- American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem provides financial support to fund services, capital projects, research and the purchase of equipment for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. Established in 1902, Shaare Zedek, a 1,000-bed medical center on two campuses, has been known for more than a century as the “Hospital with a Heart.” Patients stream to Shaare Zedek seeking top level treatment in a compassionate, supportive and nurturing environment. www.acsz.org
- American Friends of Magen David Adom ensures the 33,000 paramedics, EMTs, first responders and first-aid providers at Magen David Adom (MDA) have what they need to treat the injured and ill in Israel. MDA is Israel’s official emergency medical organization, the designated blood services and bank for the IDF and Israeli hospitals and provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid internationally through its affiliation with the Red Cross. For additional information, visit afmda.org
- American Friends of Rambam Medical Center supports northern Israel’s largest hospital. As Israel continues to face threats from its northern border, their work will be essential. To donate, visit aforam.org/war
- American Friends of Sheba Medical Center is raising funds and awareness for Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s largest medical center. Sheba Medical Center is playing a central role in coordinating the medical response to the crisis. It needs equipment. All funds raised will immediately be used to purchase supplies to treat those harmed in the conflict. https://give.afsmc.org/
- American Friends of Soraka Medical Center is dedicated to supporting the medical care and research at the only major hospital in southern Israel. Since Oct. 7, Soraka Medical Center has been treating hundreds of severely wounded. To donate, visit soroka.org
- AMIT, an educational network of nearly 100 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs in approximately 30 Israeli cities, has focused on serving the emotional, social and mental health needs of evacuees in the aftermath of Oct. 7. This includes providing counseling and PTSD therapy to children of Sderot, who were living less than one mile from Gaza when tragedy struck. amitchildren.org/help-the-children-of-sderot/
- Bnai Zion Medical Center, based in Haifa, is accepting and treating wounded soldiers and civilians from ongoing attacks. The hospital’s leadership has asked for immediate assistance to purchase medical devices. healthcareforisrael.org
- Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is seeking support to purchase urgently needed medical supplies, essential equipment and other indispensable devices for healing and saving Israel’s most severely injured victims, many of whom are currently being treated at Hadassah Medical Organization. To donate, visit https://go.hadassah.org/israelatwar
- IsraAID Emergency Fund has raised more than $1.2 million toward a $5 million goal. The organization is partnering with local and civil society groups to coordinate humanitarian efforts, provide psychosocial support and deliver urgent aid to evacuated communities. Please contact Rachael Sonntag-Bloom at rbloom@israaid.org with any questions or visit https://www.israaid.org
- Jewish Agency for Israel has established a Fund for Victims of Terror and been providing immediate and critical financial aid to victims and their families. It is also following up with long-term overall recovery and rehabilitative assistance to casualties. To support the Jewish Agency, visit jewishagency.org
- Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has launched an Israel emergency fund, where all donations go directly to supporting Israel. The funds support victims of terror, provide food financial assistance and bereavement support, trauma relief and mental health care and emergency evacuation needs. For more details, visit jewishla.org
- Lev Echad (One Heart), an Israel-based volunteer force convened in times of crisis, is leading a national response to provide immediate support to families and communities from the kibbutzim in the Gaza border region, Sderot, and throughout Israel’s south. To contribute, visit levechad.org
- Re’im, a recently launched nonprofit, is enlisting U.S. physicians to dispatch to Israeli hospitals, where they’ll serve short-term shifts. The organization is also accepting donations of medical supplies and financial contributions. For additional information, visit https://www.reim.life/
- United Hatzalah of Israel, an independent, non-profit, fully volunteer emergency medical service (EMS) organization, responds to crises across Israel. To support their work, visit israelrescue.org
- ZAKA is Israel’s dominant non-governmental rescue and recovery organization. The work of ZAKA volunteers includes the identification of the deceased and ensuring a proper Jewish burial. ZAKA is the Hebrew acronym for Disaster Victim Identification. To support ZAKA, visit http://zakaworld.org/
On-the-Ground Opportunities
- Israel Food Rescue, which supports Israel’s emergency agricultural needs, is recruiting volunteers, ages 30-80, who are willing to roll up their sleeves and perform physical labor for a minimum of five work days. Pick crops, sort produce, package food for transport. Volunteers responsible for their own travel arrangements. For more information, visit https://israelfoodrescue.com/
- Taglit-Birthright Israel’s Onward Volunteer Program offers individuals ages 18-40 the opportunity to volunteer in Israel. Participants sort, pack and distribute goods for military personnel, or take part in food rescue operations to prevent shortages in the market. Dates for the volunteer trips are available throughout December, January and February. For details on volunteer options as well as what’s included and what’s not included, visit birthrightisrael.com/volunteer-in-israel
Soldiers
- American Friends of Meir Panim, which was established to alleviate the poverty situation in Israel, has been providing soldiers with supplies, including combat essentials, compact nutrition and first aid kits. To donate, visit mpdonate.org
- Beit Halochem USA-Friends of Israel Disabled Veterans (FIDV) strives to care for Israeli servicemen and women wounded in the line of duty who are now disabled. FIDV, the sole organization authorized in the U.S. to raise charitable funds for the rehabilitation of wounded Israeli veterans, is working closely with the Ministry of Defense to ensure all those who have been recently wounded are supported, visited and welcomed into the ranks of our Beit Halochem family. To donate, visit fidv.org/donate
- Brothers for Life, an organization devoted to supporting wounded Israeli soldiers, is seeking support for its Emergency Fund Campaign. Details at https://www.brothersforlife.com/
- Brothers and Sisters for Israel, the largest civilian aid organization operating in full cooperation with the Israeli military, is powered entirely by volunteers. Its efforts include acquiring combat gear for soldiers, humanitarian support, meals, clothing, and evacuation for those in war zones, accommodation for the displaced and nationwide logistics centers. brothersandsistersforisrael.org
- Friends of Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), the designated partner of the Israel Defense Forces in the U.S., is seeking support for its Hamas-Israel War Emergency Campaign. Details at fidf.org
- Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin supports the IDF’s “lone soldiers”—those serving in Israel’s armed forces without the support of family. A lone soldier can be a new immigrant, a volunteer from abroad, an orphan or an individual from a broken home. Several lone soldiers have been killed in the current war. For more information, visit lonesoldiercenter.com
Special Needs/At-Risk/College Students
- Beit Issie Shapiro, Israel’s leading organization for therapies and services in the field of disabilities, has launched additional services to support people with disabilities, their families and evacuees from the south and north border communities. For more information, visit en.beitissie.org.il
- Beit Ruth, serving at-risk girls in Israel, is providing support to a new population of girls who’ve been made vulnerable because of the country’s current crisis. The organization operates a long-term therapeutic residence and school. Its mission is ensuring a thriving future for abused girls ages 13-18. To support the Beit Ruth emergency campaign, visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E187855&id=1
- Bruins for Israel Crisis Fund raises critical support for Hillel at UCLA, which is paving the way for a more positive campus climate. Help ensure armed security is present whenever the Hillel building is open to the public while increasing the accessibility of mental health services for students’ ever-evolving needs. For more, visit uclahillel.org/bfifund
- Shalva National Crisis Response Center, an Israel-based group, provides an all-encompassing range of services for thousands of people with disabilities. Shalva is currently caring for hundreds of evacuees from Israel’s southern region. To support Shalva, visit shalva.org/home
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