| Shalom friends,
For the past two months Israel has been under attack from Hamas with rockets, riots, terror attack tunnels and kite firebombs. Again, Israel is under fire. Literally.
No words no photos can’t convey the smell of smoke, nor the feeling of anger, pain and helplessness, but it accurately portrays the reality of life in communities on the Gaza border: The yellow fields painted black, the scorched nature reserves, and the firefighters and farmers together trying to save what they still can.
In our effort to make Israel personal, we are making every effort to provide Virtual Citizens of Israel material, like our Discussing Gaza resource and other content that provide a deeper understanding of what is really happening in Israel, how it feels to be an Israeli and what you can do to make a difference.
 |
CONTEXT: Behind the Smokescreen (Activity)
Behind the Smokescreen is a movie that goes behind the scenes of the Gaza “March of Return” to show a perspective the mainstream media is not sharing. This Israel Forever activity utilizes the film to facilitate discussion about the Gaza conflict, hope for peace and hone critical thinking. Unfortunately this activity and the content of the film it’s based on is timeless - it is relevant to previous events and sadly, is likely to be relevant to future events as well. Circumstances change but the tactics being used remain the same. It is up to us to be able to recognize what is happening. When we unveil what is hiding “behind the smokescreen” there is hope for change.
READ MORE |
 |
FARMERS: Living with the effects of Kite Terror
How does living under fire affect Israeli farmers? All farmers have a special relationship with their land. The connection Israeli farmers have to the land goes a level deeper than that of other farmers. The Land of Israel is intrinsically connected to Jewish identity, a fact that makes kite firebombs an attack on more than livelihood.
READ MORE |
 |
THE LAND: Living with double standards in global environmentalism
How does living under fire affect the land itself? In recent years environmental concerns have become a major issue around the world. Where are the environmentalists, Green Parties and conservationists voicing their concern about the attacks on Israeli land and wildlife, air-pollution from burning tires and arson fires?
READ MORE |
 |
Honoring Life through Life: In Memory of Ronen Lubarsky
How do families cope with the loss of a soldier? We cannot bring back Ronen, but we can honor his memory by fulfilling the request of his family to do something good in his name. This is a simple yet profound request and it encapsulates the Israeli attitude – we counterbalance horror with beauty, hate with love.
READ MORE |
 |
Children on the Border: Songs we wish they didn’t know
The children living on the border towns suffer tremendous trauma with every siren, every plume of smoke, every fallen missile. Their days and nights are filled with anxiety, fear and uncertainty. This song was invented as one of the methods to keep school children psychologically well balanced and healthy when they are under missile attack.
READ MORE |
Help us ensure that every Israeli child living along the Gaza border can receive a Healing Arts Kit that will include an Israel Forever Letter of Friendship.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR LETTERS & DRAWINGS
Your gift of $25, $50, or $100 today will help us protect Israel’s most vulnerable - her children - from the devastating effects of war and hatred, helping prevent trauma from becoming PTSD. |
