By Bruce S. Hoffberger
I recently had the privilege of traveling to Israel on an Associated mission with a group of Baltimore’s Jewish leaders. Like many who have visited our Jewish homeland since Oct. 7, you could not escape the lasting impact of that horrific day. It shapes every conversation and encounter.
As we visited Kibbutz Nir Oz and the Nova festival site and spoke with survivors, it became clear that this is a country still grappling with grief and trauma and which will continue to struggle for years to come. Yet what struck me most was the resilience, strength and determination of the Israelis, and how much our support is making a difference.
Two of those Israelis we met were Eyal Tarchitzky and his wife Carmi. We had the pleasure of having lunch with them one afternoon. On Oct. 7, the Tarchitzkys were trapped in a safe room with their infant son in their home in Sderot. Following that horrific day, the family relocated and joined other evacuees, moving to temporary housing in several Dead Sea hotels.
But the Tarchitzkys refused to be defined by tragedy. Eyal joined other evacuees, forming leadership committees to minimize the chaos they experienced. Soon he was heading up a program for Dror Israel, where he works. Dror Israel is the leading educational nonprofit in the country.
After Oct. 7, Dror Israel is focusing on engaging with evacuated communities. Now they provide educational activities for the children who had to uproot their lives and relocate to these hotels. By providing a routine, education and stability, they have been able to provide some sense of normalcy amid the chaos of life in Israel since Oct. 7.
Not only were communities located in the Gaza envelope affected by the war, but the conflict with Lebanon created evacuees from the north as well. While in the north, we volunteered at Social Delivery, sorting new and used clothing for evacuees at their tremendous warehouse where they collected everything from furniture to clothing to diapers for dislocated Israelis.
At Poriya Hospital’s newly opened rehabilitation unit, we saw firsthand how these modernized and expanded facilities are now treating children who once had to travel great distances for medical care.
These are some of the programs The Associated funds directly or through our many partners — the Jewish Federations of North America, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish Agency for Israel. And we can do so, thanks to the generosity of the Baltimore Jewish community.
People helping people. People stepping up to fill in the gaps needed in a changed nation.
That is The Associated’s mission — to support the people of Israel. And it was never more evident than on our visit to our partner city, Ashkelon.
For more than 20 years, we have built extensive connections with Ashkelon through our Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership. Anyone who has traveled here has felt it — the warmth, the hospitality and the way they welcome you into their homes as if you were family.
And in fact, we are family. And just as we show up in moments of crisis for our family, we are always there to help our Israeli family, emotionally and financially.
During our visit, I met the Ethiopian Olim (immigrants who made aliyah) at Beit Canada, the Ethiopian absorption center, which provides housing and resources to help them acclimate to their new home. Together, we planted herbs for cooking.
We visited the Israel Trauma Center. We spoke with the owner of the Rapido Bike shop, who received a grant from The Associated and our partner, JAFI, that has kept his business afloat despite the difficult economic environment.
And, like all trips to Ashkelon, we enjoyed some home hospitality, connecting over dinner with Ashkelonians in their homes. We all had wonderful meals and great conversation.
What I learned from this trip is that today we are indeed making a difference. Yet I also know that the road ahead will be difficult. Many Israelis are scarred by the events of Oct. 7 and the war that followed, and these scars will have a lasting effect for many years to come.
That is why I am so proud to be the chair of the board of The Associated, for I am reminded that what we do every day is making a direct impact on the people.
I am equally grateful to the Jewish community for stepping up — not only in the aftermath of Oct. 7, but now through our annual campaign. For it is our annual campaign that supports the people of Israel — and Baltimore too — helping them succeed despite the challenges they face.
This trip made one thing clear: our work is far from over. But together, we are making a difference — one act of support, one family, one community at a time.
Bruce S. Hoffberger is chair of the board of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.
