3-10 NOVEMBER 2024
In October I travelled to Israel to join an FOI Israel Relief Solidarity Mission visiting various organisations and partners FOI supports through our Israel Relief, Aliyah Return and Stand with Israel funds.
Since 2012 FOI has distributed 8.9 million US dollars in relief grants to Israel! Around 40% of those grants have been distributed in the past two years as a result of exponential growth in giving from our generous donors around the world including here in New Zealand. It was a privilege to connect with the people whose lives benefit from your support.
DAY 1
With some of our party delayed by the regular changing flight schedules we began with a smaller group and the others caught up to us later in the day. Our first stop was Tsad Kadima (a step forward), in Tel Aviv, one of 6 centres providing educational, therapeutic and rehabilitative care for adults and children battling cerebral palsy and severe motor disabilities. What a joy to meet the staff and some of the younger people receiving the incredible care this organisation provides. FOI has provided grants for wheelchairs, educational equipment, therapy rooms and emergency needs following October 7. Many of the people here have struggled during the war especially when needing to find safe places while under attack from rockets.
Beit Halochem ("House of the Warrior") is the premier rehabilitation centre for Israels wounded soldiers and provides rehabilitation, support services and social/family services to 50,000 disabled veterans and the families throughout Israel. This was one of six primary facilities in Israel with the newest centre in Ashdod specialising in PTST, possibly the greatest issue for Israelis following Oct 7 and the ensuing wars.
Leket (gleaning) is the national food bank of Israel providing food to 234,000 Israelis in need each week. It has also provided special grants to farmers affected by October 7. 75% of Israel's fresh food is grown in Israel with much of it coming from kibbutzim near Gaza. With thousands of Gazans providing labor on these farms and no foreign workers able to come in to Israel, farms were struggling. This was the case in the North of the country as well. During our time we were able to sort enough fresh potatoes and eggplant to feed 1,650 Israeli families. Leket sees more than 55,000 people volunteer their time annually.
DAY 2
There is a certain normality that exists in Israel where day to day life goes on even though they are at war. But under that veneer is a deep pain from the events of October 7 and the 101 hostages remaining in Gaza. Everywhere you go in Israel there are tangible reminders, photos, solidarity and protest gatherings, symbols and memorials of the atrocities that took place.
Through our ongoing relationship with Operation Lifeshield FOI over the years has given over 2.5 million NZ dollars to provide bomb shelters, safe rooms, equipment and vehicles and other security needs that have saved many lives. During our visit to Kibbutzim and Moshavs in the south of Israel on the border of Gaza we were able to hear stories of what happened on October 7. The number of individual massacres that took place in the Gaza envelope area among small farming and rural communities was sobering. We visited the Nova Festival massacre site where 364 mostly young Israelis were murdered. We also visited one of 3 car graveyard sites at Tkuma where the vivid reality of what took place is on full display as a memorial. Over 1500 vehicles riddled with bullet holes, along with mostly burnt shells including ambulances deliberately attacked by Hamas. As with the Nova site, today many Israelis are visiting these sites as an outpouring of their grief and to pay their respect, but also to learn more about what happened. Families of the victims have set up displays, many with QR codes that link to the pictures and videos of what were their loved ones last moments as a way to share their memory.
This evening we were given political and military analysis from Major Elliott Chodoff who gave insights into the war being waged with Hamas and Hezbollah. Having fought in Gaza he contributed to the current strategy being applied to combat in this war. Later we had a presentation from Health Science and Research, and NGO run by a group of physicians providing lifesaving training to frontline medics and doctors and first responders especially on the battlefield. With just two minutes to save a bleeding soldier and worldwide protocols that havn't been updated since the Vietnam war, Israel is now leading the way in critical responses on the battlefield. With Israel having had over 800 soldiers killed in action and around 22,000 wounded, the medical equipment needs and training are critical.
DAY 3
We met with Friends of the IDF (FIDF) and the Tavor Battalion based in the Judean Hills (West Bank). This brave group of of IDF solders have dual tasks specialising in search and rescue during times of emergency while also tasked with maintaining stability throughout Judea and Samaria (West Bank). We learned how our support is serving to improve the wellbeing of lone soldiers, including their families as well as providing recreation and memorial spaces.
Later we visited the grave of Michael levin before visiting the centre built in his memoriam and fulfilment of his desire as a lone soldier who made Aliyah to defend Israel. Michael's story is very familiar to FOI with a former FOI Executive Director knowing the Levin family as neighbours in Philadelphia and having attended Michaels funeral. There are around 7,000 lone soldiers that have come to Israel of their own volition with a conscience to defend the country of their ancestral heritage. FOI is providing support through the incredible community centre in Jerusalem and the amazing staff who essentially become parents to these young soldiers. We were able to see the transport vehicle that FOI donated together with much needed food and supplies that are not covered by the meagre stipend they receive.
DAY 4
Today we visited Magen David Adom or MDA (Red Star of David) which is the primary emergency response service of Israel like our St Johns Ambulance. We were privileged to view the Jerusalem command centre and where we dedicated an acute care ambulance recently donated through the FOI Israel Relief Fund. In 2023/24 we have also donated 6 Medicycles, a project medical trailer, blood centre equipment and medical supplies and training. MDA received over 3 million emergency calls in 2023 which included the many harrowing calls on October 7.
In the afternoon we visited the Jewish Agency for Israel and met with some of the victims of terror and displacement. There are around 68,000 displaced people in northern Israel while a further 75,000 remain displaced from the Gaza periphery with most of these needing ongoing assistance. Many victims of the October 7 have returned to their homes but suffer psychologically from the trauma of what happened. One lady shared with us her family's story of escaping the terrorists having spent a day in their shelter. They were thankfully rescued but not before she, her young children and husband came under fire from the terrorists. Sadly a number of her friends and community didn't survive.
At the Jewish Agency we learnt that despite the events taking place in Israel the preliminary forecast for those wanting to make aliyah to Israel in 2025 is growing largely due to the antisemitism being experienced around the world with Jews from France, the US and Canada all increasingly showing interest in moving to Israel.
In the evening we listened to the Executive Director of Machaseh Association who shared the overwhelming growth in counseling needs for all areas of the Israel population following Oct 7. Complex PTSD counseling is a critical need that will be ongoing for many years. There are also many social issues that have been created as a result of the war requiring many resources to help those suffering.
Day 5
We began today as with each other day having devotions and being reminded of Gods faithfulness in our lives and that of the nation of Israel.
This was followed by a passionate presentation from one of the Directors of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice. JIJ provides legal aid to the vulnerable and discriminated in Israel irrespective of race or religion and since the war began has been instrumental in presenting evidence of Hamas atrocities at the UN and the documentation of sexual assault crimes.
Later today we visited the Jerusalem Assembly House of Redemption where we met with Pastor Meno Kalisher. Meno shared emotionally as a Pastor of a growing congregation and also as a Father with children serving in the IDF in both Gaza and on the Northern border. He also shared the struggle the church has experienced with anti christian bias in local governance as they have been planting a second congregation in another area of Jerusalem. Praise God they have had breakthroughs to finally plant the church and see the Lord working in marvellous ways.
In the evening we were blessed to enjoy a "Shabbat of a Lifetime" experience with a family in Jerusalem who hosted our group. Our host shared how their lives have been affected since the war began on Oct 7 and once again we heard the emotion from a different sphere of Israeli society. Opportunity was given to everyone to share a little of their lives which opened the door to share our love for Christ, Israel and the Jewish people.
Day 6
Our final day was Shabbat. We visited Jerusalem Assembly once again for their morning service and it was wonderful to be present with believers in the city where the church was born, worshipping the Lord together. The service was translated from Hebrew to English and through various interpreters in the congregation, other languages were also being translated.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT ISRAEL
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