We grieve with Israel.
October 9, 2023
At Jewish Women International, our hearts are breaking over the brutal and cowardly attacks on Israeli civilians. Our staff have sisters and brothers, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and friends in Israel. Abu Gosh, where the children’s home JWI established in the 1940s stands, was just struck by a missile. For us, like you, this is deeply personal.
We weep for those who are being held captive, who have been killed, who are on the frontlines, who are burying friends and family, who are grieving for their communities, whose sense of normalcy has been shattered and who will struggle in the long term to feel safe in their own homes.
We are already seeing the antisemitic and anti-Israel attacks on social media and the vile parades celebrating the murders, and we are in despair that in this moment of crisis, hatred of Jews and Israel is seemingly acceptable.
We are all in pain. We know that many people may feel isolated at this time, and we are with you. There are rallies and collections occurring in Jewish communities around the country, and we encourage you to participate in community events and give to relief efforts as you feel moved to do. We are collaborating with other Jewish organizations both in the U.S. and in Israel and will share resources with you as they are available.
We are grateful that the United States stands firmly with Israel and pray for the safety of the Israel Defense Forces and the members of the U.S. military who have been deployed to help. With prayers for peace and healing.
We stand with Israel,
JWI
Jewish Women International (JWI) is the leading Jewish organization working to end violence against women and girls domestically and internationally. JWI's National Center on Domestic & Sexual Violence in the Jewish Community is the hub of resources, trainings, and research to support the field. It convenes The Collaborative, the network of all Jewish domestic violence agencies in the U.S. and established and hosts the Interfaith Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Clergy Task Force to End Domestic Abuse in the Jewish Community. A Steering Committee member of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, JWI’s advocacy efforts focus on the passage of legislation that supports women and girls, ensures their economic security, and protects their right to live free of violence.