October 8th, 2023
Dear Hillel Community,
We are devastated. We are in shock and horror from the events of the last 6 days. We are heartbroken by the images of this unprovoked and vicious attack on Israel - Shabbat Simchat Torah. We are angry and overwhelmed with grief for the hundreds of lost lives in Israel, our Jewish State. It is impossible to describe the way that we feel right now.
Many of us feel helpless. We see the images of dozens of hostages, many women and children paraded through Gaza by Hamas terrorists. We witness the unspeakable brutality. We want to jump out of our chairs and do something!
One thing is clear - the Iran-backed terrorists, Hamas and Hezbollah have waged war against Israel, our Jewish State. And we also know unequivocally - We Stand with Israel! United we can defeat all evil that threatens our existence.
At the end of the Torah, Moses gives a blessing to the Jewish people - each tribe gets an individual blessing. However, it says that he offered his blessing to Bnei Israel, all of Israel. Each tribe, each Jew is dependent on one another. We are strong, resilient, and able to be strengthened, if we are united. Every Jew must stand together for Israel.
As many of us wept in our Synagogues today, we sang the famous and beautiful prayer and call to Gd, Acheinu. We asked Gd today to have mercy on our family in distress and captivity, and to bring them back to us swiftly.
Our brothers
the whole house of Israel,
who are in distress
and captivity
who wander over sea
and over land --
may God have mercy on them,
and bring them
from distress to comfort,
from darkness to light,
from slavery to redemption,
now, swiftly,
and soon.
As Jewish leaders, we have an immense responsibility to protect, educate, and support our students and we will take immediate actions:
Our priority is the safety and security of our students. We have already seen social media messages from groups on our campuses, celebrating and supporting the barbaric murder and attack on Israel. We will strongly denounce all of these student groups by name. We will reach out to all of our students and offer them our immediate support. We are in contact with our Chancellor, Presidents, Deans of Students, and Public Safety professionals and will require additional safety measures in the upcoming days and weeks.
We will demand that our college Presidents condemn openly and loudly the attack on Israel and the dangerous rhetoric on social media, which will undoubtedly spill onto our campuses this week.
We will call for and organize solidarity vigils and rallies on our campuses. We will visibly stand with Israel, throughout our campus spaces. We will not cower under the bullying of some of the students and faculty at our schools.
We will organize opportunities for students to pray together, to learn together, to support each other throughout our spaces. We will make sure that all resources will be readily available for all of our students.
Our social workers and wellness professionals are available to address any concerns of our students and to offer guidance and support during these emotional times.
We will support Israeli organizations directly, who are currently engaged in the efforts to provide resources to the families of the victims and those searching for their relatives, namely United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom, IsraHelp, Friends of the IDF.
We will continue to inform and educate our students about the reality and facts on the ground and behind this conflict. We will use credible sources to bring people into discourse and dialogue, while showcasing transparency, civility, and academic excellence.
Our community is united in one voice and in solidarity for Israel! This is a moment in time, which has already been called our 9/11, when we must persevere together.
Am Israel Chai!
— Ilya Bratman, Executive Director