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The Israel Hamas War Resources
We will be updating this list frequently with the most up-to-date information.
The Bronfman Fellowship is a community of 1400+ Israelis and North Americans. We are shocked and heartbroken by the recent events in Israel, and we are holding our Israeli community close during this tragic time.
If you or someone you know has an apartment in Israel close enough to a safe space/ shelter that can host a family from areas that were evacuated, please contact us.
If you or someone you know is a fluent Hebrew speaker and is trained as a psychologist or mental health professional and would be open to providing your services free or on a sliding scale, please contact us.
The Forward has created this comprehensive list of where to send donations. Additional suggestions not covered in the list are below.
The Jerusalem Civilian Command Center (Chamal – Jerusalem Situation Room) – a wartime initiative comprised of civil organizations, provides the infrastructure to receive donations and disperse immediate funds.
For a tax-eligible donation in the US: https://shalem.ac.il/en/donate/
Choose: “I want to designate my funds to the relief efforts of Operation Iron Swords.”
GoFundMe for Displaced Families in Israel – Submitted by a Bronfman alum. “The funds are used explicitly for purchase of supplies that will be distributed by Ariel and other volunteers to displaced families. No funds will be going towards any military support.”
Therapeutic Baking at Lehem Zeh: Offering a Safe Space to Come Together, Process and Build Resilience During Wartime and Beyond – Submitted by a Bronfman alum. During this difficult period of war, all Israeli citizens – children, youth, adults and the elderly, from all backgrounds and in all locations – are experiencing uncertainty, fear, loss, and anxiety about what tomorrow may bring. Each one of us needs a space to process this experience and these complex feelings, to come together in order to share and to listen. The act of baking offers a powerful opportunity to process these feelings, and to build resilience and strength among diverse populations with diverse experiences. In a therapeutic baking context, we knead our way through the experience, using elements from the culinary world as metaphors that allow us to process our moments of difficulty as well as moments of strength. Baking offers us the opportunity to create a safe yet open space, as we gather in small groups to introspect together and find ways to move forward, under the guidance of expert bakers with backgrounds in counseling, special education, drama therapy and more. All workshops will take place at the social venture “Lehem Zeh,” a collaborative kitchen space that supports community through baking. For information on how to support this project, contact office@bronfman.org.
Support for Or Sella and Dafna Sella, cousins of 7 Israeli hostages — Read more about their trip to the U.S. and the Fellowship’s involvement. If you’d like to help with their mounting expenses, you can donate at bronfman.org/donate and make your gift “In honor of the Sellas.”
Hof Ashkelon – https://www.hofashkelon.com/. The Hof Ashkelon Regional Council is raising the money which will go directly towards hotel rooms for people impacted in the region.
Donations for Vulnerable Populations and Trauma Support:
Keren Or Inc. – A Jerusalem-based organization that supports children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities and their families
JFNA toolkit: JFNA has compiled a toolkit for the response to the war in Israel. It includes social content, web banner, email template & designed email, and talking points. https://jfeds.org/swordsofirontoolkit
How to Talk to Children and Young Adults about Conflict, Violence and Antisemitism:
“Deepening Understanding: Reading and Processing the Reflections of Israeli Young Adults” from The Bronfman Fellowship. This resource includes reflections from several young Israelis who are members of The Bronfman Fellowship’s Israeli community. Their writing provides a snapshot of their lives since the attacks on October 7, 2023. If you have any questions about how to use these materials or would like to get more information, please contact elizabeth@bronfman.org.
Media Literacy Resources – Resources about misinformation/ disinformation, from A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy
Toolbox for Care – This teaching strategy invites students to think about the “tools” they have access to that can help them take care of themselves and their community in the wake of traumatic news. From Facing History.
Sefaria texts on the Redemption of Captives – A collection of texts edited by Itai Cooper (Amitei Bronfman ’17) about the Mitzvah of Pidyon Sh’vuyim (Redemption of Captives). Anyone can add texts to it.
3. Mental Health Resources
Blue Dove Foundation – Organization focused on mental health in the Jewish community. Includes a lot of Zoom opportunities.
Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies – National listing of local Jewish family services where people can find free and low cost access to mental health and social service support.
Looking for tools to navigate this challenging time? In the clip below, Bronfman alumna and Tomorrowmind author Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman offers meaningful and practical insights for how we can cultivate resilience:
