We Stand Together
Amy Skopp Cooper, National Ramah Director
Each of us has our memory from Shabbat morning, October 7–the initial moments of paralyzing fear, of wanting more clarity (when there was none), of praying for reassurance (when there was none). We remember normal time stopping and arising to a new Jewish reality. For me, it was the piercing sound of a phone waking me at 3:00 am. Our son, a shomer shabbat IDF combat soldier, would not call us unless it was urgent; it was urgent.
When I arrived in Israel on October 9, I began meeting with our Ramah Israel team. Despite their children being home from school, spouses being called for miluim, the challenges of leaving their homes because of sirens, and the pain of losing family and friends on the first few days, they had already begun volunteering and ascertaining where they were needed most. During the early days of the war, our Ramah family donated over $80,000 to the Ramah Israel Relief Fund. Our staff was able to purchase and deliver essential supplies to IDF troops and displaced families.
Udi Cohen, the director of our Ramah Israel overnight camp, began planning a winter overnight camp for teens from Ofakim. Mahane Ramah Amal Ofakim met in late December and provided teens, who had already faced immeasurable grief with support, friendship, and relaxation.
Our North America NRC staff galvanized as well. Our team created a robust calendar with virtual and in-person gatherings and learning opportunities, as well as a dedicated webpage with educational resources, updates, and personal reflections. Ramah College Network leaders were given the support they needed on campus. We made responding to October 7th a central theme of our Weinstein leadership convening.
We sent weekly emails to the thousands of shlichim who are part of our family, prayed for the return of Hersh Polin Goldberg, Omer Neutra and the remaining chatufim, mourned with our families, and wished a refuah shlema to others. We ensured that our lone soldiers were taken care of. During the fall, we engaged thousands of Ramahniks.
Within the first few weeks, we realized that while these responses were important, there was more to be done. Ramah needed to create meaningful opportunities to come to Israel. Though we had no idea when our Ramah family would be ready to travel, the Ramah Israel staff understood that when the time was right, this must become their urgent priority. We learned that early November was too early–very few people registered for our first trip. Yet, a few weeks later, we decided to try again. This time, we announced four parent/teen and adult groups and a funded college trip. Within five minutes of launching registration, our website crashed; too many people were trying to sign up at once.
Since December, we have been running weekly solidarity missions and have many more planned throughout the early spring. Participants have volunteered in the fields, planted gardens, painted homes, and barbecued for soldiers. We have visited Hostage Square and met with families. We have mourned with other families. We have been active listeners as a traumatized nation tells its story. We have been fully present.
“The most meaningful moments of the trip for me were the everyday moments of connection with local Israelis. It was hearing the stories of people like Tamar as we volunteered at the lettuce fields that brought a sense of the overwhelming unity. It was seeing the appreciation each store keeper on Ben Yehudah street had just for the fact that we chose to come to Israel during the war that showed that the importance of this trip extended way beyond the work of our hands.”
“It was an incredibly difficult Fall semester at NYU. However, going to Israel has absolutely wiped away the burnout I was sitting with and reinvigorated my passion for next semester. I felt healed and am absolutely ready for next semester. I have gained a network of 22 new friends and allies in the fight against antisemitism, and know that whenever I am experiencing my next challenge on campus, I have a sounding board of Ramah family to reach out to.”
“Participating on the Ramah Israel support mission was an incredibly meaningful experience. Being in Israel during these challenging times was emotional and heartbreaking, inspirational and personally fulfilling”
We hope you will consider coming to Israel. You can register for a trip here or contact us about organizing a trip for your community or family. As Israel faces perhaps her greatest challenge in 75 years, I am proud of our community’s response and Ramah’s deep and enduring commitment to Am Yisrael. We stand together during these dark days and will be there when the sun rises again.
Also read: “She came to Israel for a year, met Canada's prime minister, and stayed” Howard Blas (The Jerusalem Post)