Temple Beth El Stands with Israel
Please remember that our clergy and congregation are here for you. Do not hesitate to reach out to clergy at 704-366-1948.
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Upcoming Events/Opportunities
We will continue to update you on ways to come together with our community.
Urge Congress to Support the Supplemental Aid Package to Israel
Yesterday, the Senate passed a supplemental aid package that includes Israel Military Support, funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and assistance for our ally Ukraine. The Jewish Federations of North America are in the midst of mobilizing the full might of our communities to let our elected officials know that this aid package must pass as soon as possible.
This is a huge step forward, but the job is not finished; we now must let our representatives in the House know how vitally important this package is and urge swift passage of the bill. We need your help to ensure that we activate as much of the pro-Israel community as possible. We need you to mobilize your relationships and reach out to your representatives.
Recommendations from Clergy
There is a lot of information and misinformation out there right now. We recommend the following Israeli news sources:
Recommended podcasts:
Recommended books:
- Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices by Mosab Hassan Yousef
- Jews Don’t Count by David Baddiel
- Can We Talk About Israel? A Guide for the Curious, Confused, and Conflicted by Daniel Sokatch
- Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth by Noah Tishby
Recommended articles:
Opportunities to Give and Get Involved
At times like this, our community looks for ways to help. Many have reached out asking how to help those in need.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, along with Federations across North America are responding, working with our core partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.Your donation to Operation Swords of Iron Emergency Campaign will make twice the impact thanks to a $500,000 matching gift from Howard & Julie Levine and Lori & Eric Sklut!
Resources for Parents
- PJ Library’s Israel Hub
- American Jewish Committee: Links to timely articles to understand what is happening currently in Israel
- Jewish Education Center of Cleveland: Resource for parents to talk to kids complete with action steps and conversation guides
- Kveller.com: Tips from both parent and child writers on talking about the violence
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Guide to how children of different ages respond to trauma and how to help them
Helpful Information
Social Media Warning
As you may have seen, there are many warnings being shared that Hamas is planning to spread videos of hostages over social media. Indeed, many graphic and upsetting videos are already circulating, in addition to posts expressing antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.
While some groups are encouraging people, especially teens, to delete social media apps from their devices, we recognize that they may not be realistic for many people. Instead, we want to encourage both adults and children to consider carefully the amount of media you are consuming and how it is affecting your mental health. We can stay informed about what is happening in Israel without subjecting ourselves to videos intended to hurt or traumatize us.
Beware of Donation Requests
There are many worthwhile organizations organizing donations to support Israel. Unfortunately, criminals often see tragedies as an opportunity for phishing scams. We strongly encourage you to give donations for Israel through major, established organizations. Temple Beth El and the Charlotte Jewish Federation are encouraging donations through Jewish Federations of North America. Please know that Temple Beth El clergy and staff will never send emails soliciting direct donations through gift cards or online payment apps.
Birkat Shalom
Our Sister Congregation in Israel
Temple Beth El is committed to supporting the Reform movement in Israel. We have an ongoing partnership with the Reform synagogue Birkat Shalom in Kibbutz Gezer. We support Birkat Shalom financially and with reciprocal visits.
