The Rodeph Sholom community has been an active partner in supporting those affected by the tragic events of October 7th.
As a continuation of that support, on Tuesday, November 12th, Congregation Rodeph Sholom hosted a “Thanks4Giving Gala”—a powerful night of connection and gratitude honoring the October 7th Israeli civilian emergency teams and their families to support and celebrate Project 24’s Thanks4Giving Mega Mission.
Leading up to the event, over 800 Israeli civilian defenders and their families from southern kibbutzim and moshavim experienced a week of warm hospitality from Jewish communities in NY and FL. The Rodeph Sholom community joined 35 other New York communities to host 400 of these guests, who opened their homes to provide a space for healing and connection.
Banners were created by the Rodeph Sholom School Parents Association and were decorated with poppy flowers—an Israeli symbol of remembrance and resilience. The flowers were crafted by Early Childhood and Middle School students, along with their parents, during recent division Havdalah and Shabbat events. This initiative was designed to ensure that each family arriving from Israel received a warm welcome from our community! Thank you to Parents Association President Robyn Matthews for your hard work on this project.
The next morning, Rodeph Sholom Middle School students heard from Benny and Shai, first responders and residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz located on the border of the Gaza Strip, one of the most heavily impacted kibbutzim.
As farmers who considered living on their kibbutz “90% paradise and 10% hell,” Benny and Shai described their flourishing community as one where everyone cared for each other. Shai spoke of managing a team of Palestinian workers who came to Nir Oz daily to work in the pomegranate fields; they began their days together drinking tea and sharing stories about their families. The two men also described some of the ordeal they and their family endured on that tragic day highlighting the experience of waiting in a safe room with their children and determining when they needed to step out to join the fight.
Our visitors spoke openly about their experiences and those of their loved ones, detailing the loss of close family and community members, and, in the aftermath, staying resilient by cherishing their families, helping them stay strong, and remaining optimistic and grateful for the Jewish community in Israel and around the world who are showing so much love and support. Despite their profound grief, they emphasized the importance of hope, encouraging the students to continue sharing their stories.
Moderated by the newly elected Student Council President, Liat, and the Head of Middle School, Sally Meisner, this special event provided students with the opportunity to hear firsthand from Israeli heroes. These individuals faced their fears and took action to help those in need, forever changing their own lives in the process.
Middle school students asked thoughtful questions about the logistics of their experiences, how they coped and reacted, and expressed admiration for the bravery of the speakers. They were captivated by the presentation and eager to learn more about the lives of the residents of Nir Oz following the attacks. We are grateful for the opportunity for our students to hear firsthand accounts from these courageous individuals. Our heartfelt thanks go to those in the Rodeph Sholom School community who have made special accommodations to support this important initiative.
Click here to watch a Nir Oz Testimonial Video. (Note: content may be upsetting for some viewers.)
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from our community and their generosity in supporting the emergency teams and their families.
