October 7, 2023

KEY POINTS
 

• This morning, Hamas launched a war with Israel that has quickly become the most serious security breach since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. Already, dozens of Israelis have been killed and hundreds hospitalized, while Hamas made incursions into Israeli border communities and has kidnapped citizens.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel at war, and launched "Operation Swords of Iron" to defend it.
• Jewish Federations stand in total and complete solidarity with Israel, which has every right to defend itself and protect its citizens.
• We are in close contact with our partners on the ground, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Israel Trauma Coalition, as they prepare to provide the critical care and support to those affected. We have opened an emergency fund to support these efforts. https://jfeds.org/israelfund2023
• We will hold a webinar that is open to all Federations and members of their community tomorrow, Sunday October 8th, at 12:00 pm ET. https://jfeds.org/IsraelUpdateWebinar

Dear Colleagues,

Israel has been under attack since 6:30 this morning following a surprise assault from Gaza, which is one of the widest-scale attacks in years.

The IDF has confirmed 100 dead and over 800 injured. Terrorists continue to hold hostages in several locations and the IDF has not yet regained control in all the communities on the Gaze border.

In response, Jewish Federations released the following statement:

Once again, on a holy day of the Jewish calendar, the people of Israel have come under attack. Once again, the brave military forces of the State of Israel are responding and will defend our beloved Jewish state. And once again the Jewish communities of North America stand in total and complete solidarity with our Israeli brethren. We pray for their safety and will do everything we can to ensure the complete and total success of their efforts. And once again the Jewish Federation across North America will act immediately and comprehensively to support our brothers and sisters as they defend Israel.

The prayer for the State of Israel we recite in synagogue every week - including this morning - says ונתת שלום בארץ ושמחת עולם ליושביה - “Grant peace in the land and happiness to all its residents.” On this day, which is the holiday of Simchat Torah in Israel - we literally sing and dance with simcha - with happiness. Today is not a day of simcha in Israel, but it is a day of solidarity, determination and utmost seriousness. 

Jewish Federations President & CEO Eric Fingerhut is currently in Israel and shared this statement.

An emergency fundraising effort has launched. Donations to the Jewish Federations emergency fund can be made here.

We will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, Sunday, October 8th at 12:00 pm ET to update further on the situation and its impact. Please register here.

What We Know

Early this morning, armed gunmen crossed into Israel in several locations, infiltrating communities along the Gaza border.

Additional breeches by sea and air (hang-glider) were reported. Gunfights continue in multiple places and there are still several active hostage situations which have yet to be resolved.

In a coordinated effort, terrorists have fired nearly 2,500 rockets into Israel with multiple strikes reported amidst intensive deployment of Israel’s Iron Dome system. Rockets were launched into cities in the center including Tel Aviv, the South, and Jerusalem.

The leader of Hamas’s military wing, Muhammad Deif, announced that operation "Al Aqsa Torrent" is in retaliation for the "desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque" by Jews in recent days (referring to the fact that Jews were allowed to visit Temple Mount for Sukkot).

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet after announcing, “We are at war,” in a televised statement. They have been meeting for several hours and the full Cabinet will meet later this afternoon. A special state of emergency has been declared across southern Israel.

Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron in response and tens of thousands of reserve troops are being called up for service. Large numbers of ground troops were rushed to the region and are fighting along with police forces, communal security teams and armed Israeli civilians. Special forces are fighting inside kibbutzim and have killed a number of terrorists, but the situation is ongoing.

In response, dozens of IDF fighter jets struck Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including 17 military compounds and 4 operational command centers. Hospitals in southern and central Israel are operating in emergency mode and treating large numbers of casualties. Magen David Adom issued an urgent call for blood and there is a long line of people waiting to donate at a hospital in central Tel Aviv.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit have called on all civilians to follow the life-saving instructions of Israel’s Home Front Command and radio and television stations are broadcasting alerts by location to help keep people updated as they shelter in place.

President Isaac Herzog tweeted this message a little while ago:

“Today we saw the true face of Hamas. A terrorist army whose only goal is the cold-blooded murder of innocent men, women, and children," he said. "Supported and directed by their proxy commanders in Iran, they carried out an unprovoked, heinous attack against the Jewish state on a Jewish holy day. Innocent civilians were massacred and wounded, and many are still under attack.”

According to the Prime Minister's office, "US President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and emphasized that the US stands alongside Israel and fully supports Israel's right to self-defense. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked US President Biden for the unreserved support and made it clear that a forceful, prolonged campaign – which Israel will win – is necessary."

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem reminded American citizens to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning. 

Earlier today the heads of Israel’s opposition parties (excluding the Arab parties) issued this statement, expressing support for the operation.

Heidi Gantwerk, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, shared the following message about the death of Ofir Libstein, the Mayor of Shaar Hanegev, the partner region of the San Diego Federation. Mayor Libstein was killed in a firefight with terrorists earlier today.

“Our San Diego Community is shocked and heartbroken at the situation in Shaar HaNegev, our partner region for more than 25 years. We were beyond devastated to learn of the death of Mayor Ofir Libstein in a gun battle this morning. Ofir was an outstanding friend to San Diego, and became a dear friend of mine. He visited us many times, becoming a member of our Federation family. He recently hosted more than 200 of us on our Community Trip and made every single person there feel special and welcome. He cared deeply about the relationship between San Diego and Sha’ar HaNegev, and he had countless ideas for strengthening the region, and deepening our partnership. On my first trip to Sha’ar Hanegev I stayed in his home and he and his wonderful wife and children made me feel like family. Working with him never felt like work. It was one of my greatest joys as CEO. Our hearts go out to his family and to the entire region.”

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the following briefing points:

• The terrorist organization Hamas launched an extensive attack on the citizens of Israel, through widespread and indiscriminate firing of missiles and rockets at the citizens of Israel from the south to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, infiltration of terrorists into the southern towns and villages and attempts to murder families and individuals on their way to synagogues.
   
• This is an initiated attack by terrorist organizations led by Hamas, without any pretext or prior action on the part of Israel. Moreover, this attack comes after a long period in which Israel is trying to bring calm to the Gaza Strip, through extensive efforts to improve the civilian situation in the Gaza Strip.
   
• This attack proves once again, for those who still had a doubt, Hamas has no interest in the safety and well-being of the citizens of the Gaza Strip and sees them as nothing more than a pawns in its efforts to harm the citizens of Israel
   
• Israel will act in any way necessary to protect its citizens, and will not shy from a broad operation in Gaza. Israel will exact the full price from the terrorist organizations, and is prepared to act as necessary until its goals are achieved. Hamas is the sovereign power in the Gaza Strip, standing behind this attack, and will bear the results and responsibility for the events.
   
• The terrorist organization are a branch of the Ayatollah regime in Iran, which proactively promotes terrorist activity in Israel and against Israeli and Jewish targets all over the world.
   
• The residents of the Gaza Strip are not enemies of Israel, but the terrorist organizations that operate knowingly and deliberately from within densely populated areas and adjacent to humanitarian buildings and institutions make cynical use of them. Israel does and will do everything possible to prevent harm to non-involved people, but the terrorist organizations knowingly operate from within the civilian population, committing double war crimes - indiscriminately shooting at civilians, while using the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields.

Our Partners

Jewish Federations’ staff have been in close contact with The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Israel Trauma Coalition since early morning. Professional teams are responding and needs assessments are being developed.

What we can share with confidence at this point is that there will be significant calls for support for victims and their families, trauma assistance, as well as a range of other needs. Given the fluid nature of the situation and the continuing danger from terrorists in a number of locations, only preliminary information is available now.

See this message from Amira Ahronoviz,, Director General and CEO of The Jewish Agency, which was sent earlier today to members of the Board of Governors.

I apologize in advance for writing to you on Shabbat, but we are facing a real emergency in Israel and a time of “pikuach nefesh”.

Early this morning, terror organizations in Gaza launched a brutal attack on Israel on multiple fronts. Thousands of rockets have been fired into cities in the center, the South, and Jerusalem - while dozens of terrorists from Gaza infiltrated towns in the South of Israel and shot indiscriminately at innocent civilians.

During these hours, it is still unclear how long the fighting will last or how many casualties we will endure. Hundreds of people have been brought to hospitals and hundreds of homes and institutions have been hit - and the numbers continue to rise . The magnitude of this attack is unlike anything we’ve known, and a special state of emergency was declared from the South of the country to its center. An extensive mobilization of IDF reserves was called up, and the IDF and security forces are now constantly engaged in protecting the citizens of Israel and maintaining our security. They have officially launched Operation “Iron Swords” and we wish to strengthen and support them .

The Jewish Agency is part of the government’s emergency roundtable and is taking part in its efforts. Our organizational emergency roundtable met earlier today. We are first and foremost ensuring the safety of thousands of Olim in dozens of our Absorption Centers, caring for the thousands of residents in Amigour’s senior housing, in touch with the thousands of Masa participants, and participants in our Mechinot and youth villages .

While we are in the early stages of assessing the situation and the implications it will have in the coming days, all shelters in our facilities have been opened, and non-essential activity has been canceled in addition to an increase in security. Our Fund for Victims of Terror is following up with the recognized authorities to provide as much assistance that is needed already, and that will be needed going forward. It is clear that our Fund will need to provide more assistance than ever before in its history.

The Jewish Agency’s teams are at the center of our response and will continue to provide the necessary information to our beneficiaries, employees and all those in our care . We continue to pray for the peace of the victims and all citizens of Israel.
We will continue to update as the situations develops and will update formally after we have assessed the various needs .

With wishes for a quick recovery for the wounded and a swift turnaround of the situation, together we will endure.