SYRIA
IL4SYRIANS
The saying , “ not all heroes wear capes ” rings true when describing this group of Israeli volunteers who have formed a non-profit , non-governmental organisation – Il4Syrians – that has one mission only : cross the border , help who you can , and get back to Israel . And , most importantly – don ’ t get caught . With 260 tons of sanitation items and 5 000 tons of food delivered to Syrian refugees , these civilians , who remain anonymous for the sake of their personal safety , fly under the radar , risking their lives for the sake of others . For more , or to make a donation , see il4syrians . org
AMALIAH
Jerusalem-born Moti Kahana knows what it feels like to be displaced . When an American family member of the last Jews of Aleppo contacted him for help , Kahana got to work on a successful covert operation to get the family to safety . More recently , Kahana founded Amaliah , an NGO that works with the IDF in bringing wounded Syrian civilians to Israeli hospitals , as well as providing medicine , food and clothing to refugees . Ultimately , Amaliah ’ s objective is to create a “ safe zone ”, which would allow humanitarian aid to enter Syria . See amaliah . org to donate
ISRAAID
Since 2001 , IsraAID , an Israeli non-profit , non-governmental disaster relief organisation , has been providing medical assistance , search and rescue squads and posttraumatic counselling in response to major humanitarian crises around the world . And Greece is no exception to its cause . In 2015 , over 850 000 Syrian , Afghan and Iraqi refugees braved treacherous seas and human traffickers in search of safety . Of the 4.8 million Syrian civilians displaced globally , 49 % have made their way to Greece , placing tremendous pressure on local officials to help men , women and children who have little else but the clothing on their back for survival .
As they arrived on Greek shores , IsraAID ’ s Arabicspeaking medics and counsellors were ready and waiting to provide treatment and support to the thousands of Syrians , many of whom have not only lost their homes , but their families too . To make a donation or to learn more , go to israaid . co . il / donate
SAVE A CHILD ’ S HEART
SACH ’ s aim is simple : to save the lives of children from countries where the heart surgery they need to survive is inaccessible . Its most recent patient , as reported by CNN , was a four-year-old Syrian girl born with a lifethreatening heart condition , whose family escaped their war-torn home in search of help . Located in the Wolfson Medical Center , near Tel Aviv , the surgical , intensive care and nursing staff mostly volunteer their expertise and time to save the lives of children born with congenital heart defects . Since 1995 , approximately 4 000 children have been operated on and over 10 000 have been examined by Save a Child ’ s Heart . To help the organisation continue its priceless work , which relies on $ 15 000 of funding per patient , see saveachildsheartus . org
A PRAYER FROM THE HEART
Moved to pray for their brothers in the war , as well as for people they may never know , who are caught up in the battle , a group of Israeli teens turned to their rabbi for guidance on a situation they could no longer turn a blind eye to – the war in Syria . Touched by their sensitivity , their leader , Rabbi Yuval Cherlow , composed a prayer for them to recite . Soon word got out , and Israel National News reported that citizens all over the country were reciting : “ Prayer from the heart ”.
MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE , WHO MAKES PEACE ON HIGH
“ Though we are not accustomed to new formal prayers , we can no longer look at the slaughter taking place in Your world and fail to pray about it . Though we know that both sides in the war are guilty of wanton bloodshed , we are unable to keep silent when so many who are beyond the circle of conflict have fallen victim .
We beseech You in prayer to arouse in the killers their basic humanity and evoke mercy in their hearts , that they may recognise that we are all created in the image of G-d , and that there are limits even to human cruelty . May You bring to pass what is written in Your Torah : “ He who sheds the blood of man , by man his blood shall be shed , for in G-d ’ s image was man created .”
Grant us the wisdom to know how to act in this hour of distress , when the dark face of humanity ’ s evil inclination is once again fully exposed and we are unsure how to stand against it . Enable us to act with all our energies to prevent bloodshed in Your world , above all in the Holy Land and its environs , as it is written in Your Torah : “ You shall not pollute the land where you are for blood pollutes the land ; and the land will not expiate the blood shed upon it , but with the blood of he that shed it .”
May G-d who makes peace on high , make peace upon us and upon all Israel , and let us say amen .” ■
Composed by Rabbi Yuval Cherlow Translated by Elli Sacks
With thanks to the various publications and organisations referenced in the article .
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