Jewish spiritual leaders and organizations in San Antonio are showing solidarity and mobilizing aid for Israeli citizens following a series of attacks.
What happened
Fighters from Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israeli civilians and military personnel from Gaza across parts of Israel early Oct. 7.
Hamas’ attacks and the resulting, ongoing Israeli military response have killed more than 2,500 people in Israel and Gaza as of Oct. 12, according to an Amnesty International report.
Thousands more people on both sides have been injured, and Israeli authorities said many Israeli civilians have been kidnapped and either killed or kept hostage in Gaza.
What you need to know
Responding to the violence in Israel, the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, partnering with local Jewish congregations and groups, has launched a communitywide $1 million Israel Crisis Fund campaign to help Israelis affected by the fighting.
In an Oct. 12 announcement, JFSA officials said the Israel Crisis Fund will be accompanied by a $1 million matching grant from the San Antonio-based Bar-Yadin Family Foundation.
JFSA officials said all funds raised locally will go directly to organizations such as United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom, Am Echad and the Jewish Agency for Israel.
These and other organizations, a news release states, are assisting surviving family members, wounded and other citizens impacted by Hamas’ attacks. The same groups are also helping to rebuild damaged infrastructure and tend to traumatized individuals in Israel.
Digging deeper
San Antonio’s Jewish leaders and local officials are expressing solidarity with Israel in other ways.
Hundreds of people gathered Oct. 9 for a vigil at Temple Beth-El north of downtown San Antonio where local Jewish leaders were joined by local elected officials and other speakers voicing support for Israel and denouncing Hamas.
Officials with the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio on Oct. 10 issued a statement describing Hamas’ invasion as the worst attack against Jewish civilians since the Holocaust.
HMMSA officials said their mission is to teach people about the Holocaust and the consequences of hatred, prejudice and antisemitism.
“There is no justification for the inhumane crimes taking place. We mourn for those whose lives were lost in this tragedy,” HMMSA officials said in their statement.
Local groups of other faiths, such as Turkish-led Raindrop Foundation San Antonio, also issued statements against the terrorist attacks and loss of civilian lives in Gaza and Israel.
“We condemn all forms of terrorism, attacks targeting civilians and a disregard for the value of human life,” the Raindrop Foundation message states.
What they’re saying
Nammie Ichilov, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, said he was heartened by a show of support for Israel by an interfaith crowd.
"We are here together to be able to acknowledge that nobody should have to go through this alone,” Ichilov said at the Oct. 9 vigil.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg told the vigil attendees that the community stands with Israel.
"One month away from Kristallnacht to the day, we’re gathered here faced with unspeakable tragedy, loss and shattering,” Nirenberg said.
He cited Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, when Nazi Party members led a wave of antisemitic violence across Germany.
