Since Oct. 7, the day the Hamas terrorist group began its brutal attack on Israel, members of a Monroe-based Jewish community center have been rallying the local community to support Israel in any way they can.
“I often get asked if we have any relatives in Israel, and I say, ‘We have 6.8 million brothers and sisters in Israel,'” Chabad of Orange County Rabbi Pesach Burston told The Epoch Times. “We just have to do our best to show support, and we do so on both levels, physically and spiritually.”
Chabad of Orange County is a local chapter of Chabad, a Hasidism movement known for its outreach activities and for catering to Jews of all stripes.
On Oct. 9, the first Monday after the attack, the Jewish community center hosted a community rally at which about 200 Jews and non-Jews gathered to show support for Israel.
A fundraising campaign to support the military and families affected by the war soon followed, and it has raised $10,000 so far, according to Chabad of Orange County Rebbetzin Chana Burston; proceeds go to Chabad of Israel, which centrally coordinates several support funds.
This week, teenagers at the center baked more than 100 blue and white challahs and raised more than $1,000 for the Israel Defense Forces.
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They also created cards and packages for soldiers on the front line and are encouraged to do additional good deeds to show spiritual support, according to Ms. Burston.
“There is a physical way you can help, which is giving money and doing service,” Ms. Burston told The Epoch Times. “We also feel that spiritually you can help by doing an extra good deed in honor of Israel, which gives like a spiritual shield to the soldiers.”
She noted that the center offers lighting kits for those who want to light a candle for Israel and the immediate return of all hostages taken by Hamas.
“It is not just about Jewish people because you have American hostages, European hostages,” Ms. Burston said. “This is a fight against terrorism more than anything else.”
In Israel, a nephew and a niece of hers, both college students, have been helping with folding laundry and linens for local hospitals that care for wounded soldiers.
Her 17-year-old son plans to return to a high school in Israel and do what he can to help; the school has just put in emergency security measures, including new bomb shelters.
“It took me quite a few days to embrace this idea,” Ms. Burston said. “I feel like as long as we take precautions ... I don’t live in fear at all. ... I really believe that God is watching over us—he watches over us here, and he watches over us in Israel.”
At the Jewish community center, tightened security measures are in place at large programs, and local police are patrolling the area, she said.
The ongoing war has brought about a new sense of unity, according to Ms. Burston.
“There are Jewish people that have never come to our programs before that walked in because, I feel, they want that connection and want to help out and do something,” she said. “We are trying to figure out the different demographics—some want to give money, some want to give time, and some just want to write a card—and telling them everyone could do something.”
Chabad of Orange County offers full-service programs to Jewish people and families regardless of background, affiliation, observance, age, or economic condition.
