Dear CAI Family,
Since deciding to lead a CAI solidarity/volunteer mission to Israel, I’ve spent a fair amount of time examining my own motivation to go. Is it important? Why is it important? Is it worth the expense of time and money when I can also support Israel from here? Is it for them? Or is it for me? Does that distinction matter? The following are a few thoughts on those questions as I prepare to co-lead a mission of 30 Jews from NJ and Los Angeles to Israel next week.
I’m going because I need to be there. The impulse to be in Israel post-October 7 is hard to explain, but many have told me you feel it too. There is a visceral feeling of connection and magnetism that is the result of my Jewish education and identity, my ideology as a Zionist, my connection to family and friends in Israel, as well as my connection to the land itself. Israel is home and it’s where I want to be not only when Israel is in trouble, but especially when it’s hurting.
I’m going because I want to help. I’ve also been inspired by the spirit of civic duty and volunteerism that has emerged to meet the moment. The Israeli people (and Jews all over the world) have responded to the horror with acts of hesed (lovingkindness). People caring for displaced evacuees, soldiers, families of hostages, and families of victims. Israelis have mobilized, as they so often do in times of crisis — donating their time and resources to help their fellow Israelis. I want to be part of that effort — not because I think my volunteerism will make such a huge difference, but because by joining the many Jews from all over the world who have participated in this effort, collectively we will help Israelis feel supported and less isolated. I’m told that Israelis who see Jews from around the world coming to help out boosts their spirits at a time when the trauma and depression in Israeli society is profound.
I’ve been thinking of the parable of the starfish — a man was walking on a beach and noticed a boy picking up starfish that had washed ashore and returning them to the ocean.
The man scoffed and said, “There are miles and miles of beach and thousands of washed up starfish, you can’t possibly expect to make a difference.”
Picking up another starfish and placing it in the water, the boy responded, “I made a difference to that one.” That story illustrates the wisdom in the rabbinic teaching “lo alekha ham’lakhah ligmor v’lo ata ben horeen l’hibateil mimenah — you are not responsible to complete the task, but neither are you free to avoid it entirely.” (Avot 2:16)
I’m going because Jews share a common destiny. As devastating as October 7 was, it also reawakened a deep sense of Jewish peoplehood. There are a number of Jews who have found their way in recent weeks to connect with our synagogue — parents who want to give their children Hebrew names, couples who want to be married in a Jewish ceremony, Jews who want to join our synagogue for prayer or connection to other Jews. There is something deep inside every Jew that knows that our survival as a people is the result of our strong communal bonds. Despite our diversity of experience and ideology, we are one people with a shared story and a shared destiny. I think when it comes down to it, I’m going to Israel to be with my people in their time of need.
How can you participate (even if you can’t come)?
I know that participation in this mission is not possible for everyone, and I know that those of us who are going feel a sense of privilege and responsibility that we are representing our synagogue and the larger American Jewish community in bringing your good wishes and support with us. We plan to share regular reflections, take pictures and videos, and share them back with the congregation while we’re there.
There is a traditional concept that when someone travels to Israel you should give that person a dollar or two to give to tzedakah. The thinking is that by designating the person as a shaliah mitzvah — your agent in performing the mitzvah of tzedakah — they will be protected from harm on their journey. For those who are inclined, I invite you to think about doing one or more of the following:
1) Donate Tzedakah that we can give on your behalf. We will be visiting and volunteering with a number of nonprofit organizations that are involved in emergency response efforts. It would be wonderful to support them while we’re there. The two easiest ways to do this are to
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Come to our daily minyan and put some money in the pushke (tzedakkah box). I will collect whatever is put in the pushke between now and Friday and deliver it to worthy causes in Israel on behalf of this congregation.
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Make a contribution to my discretionary fund with a note indicating “for Israel” and I will do the same. Just follow this link, select “donation” and then choose “Rabbi Lucas Discretionary Fund” from the drop-down menu.
2) Write a letter — We will see soldiers in the IDF, families of hostages in Gaza, families who have been displaced from their homes in the north and in the areas around Gaza, and average Israelis. If you’d like to write a letter to any of these people, just send it to me and I or one of the other mission participants will deliver it on your behalf. You can email it to me at alucas@agudath.org and I’ll print it, or bring a hard copy to the office.
3) Consider attending one of our upcoming programs on Israel-related themes. More information about next Thursday's evening in support of Kibbutz Nahal Oz and Susan's April mission trip to Israel is below.
I want you to know that I’ll be carrying all of you with me in my heart as I travel. Thank you for your support and I’m sure I’ll have more to report in the weeks to come.
Warmly,
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