BROOKLYN BRANDEIS SOCIETY
BRANDEIS STANDS WITH ISRAEL
Wednesday, October 18th 2023
Friends and Colleagues:
In the wake of last week's unprovoked terrorist assault by Hamas, nations around the world have affirmed, in no uncertain terms, Israel's absolute right to defend itself.
Hamas' exercise in carnage represents the single worst casualty event in Israel's history, and the worst since the dark days of the Holocaust. Israel is now forced to take military action to protect its people, to find and rescue scores of hostages, and to dismantle the apparatus of terror so that Hamas can never again inflict catastrophic damage.
Israel has urged Gaza residents to move south for their safety. Rather than facilitating the evacuation of civilians, Hamas has called for them to remain where they are and blocked exits routes, sacrificing innocents so that they can continue to use them as human shields.
Israel does not target civilian populations as a tactic, but Hamas has long operated out of civilian and religious sites, secreting their rocket launchers and arm caches inside these buildings and in tunnels constructed underneath them. Their cynical decisions to do so guarantees there will be civilian casualties among their own people.
The unfortunate truth is that residents will be killed and injured in Gaza. Loss of life is a terrible consequence of conflict, and we do not celebrate it. However, the loss of lives in Gaza is a direct consequence of the barbaric and indiscriminate terror attack on innocent Israeli civilians by Hamas.
Israel's campaign against that terror is - literally - a matter of life and death.
Wednesday, October 11th 2023
Friends and Colleagues:
the appalling accounts of the unprovoked attacks in Israel, and the horrific massacres, rapes, and kidnappings of Israelis, Americans, and others, have left us stunned. These heinous acts, carried out by the terrorists crossing into a soverign country and mercilessly targeting civilins of all ages, constitute violations of international law and are indefensible crimes against humanity.
The Brooklyn Brandeis Society condemns this abhorrent terrorist assault and stands united in our support of Israel and its absolute right to defend itself. We pray for those who have been lost, for the speedy and complete recovery of the wounded, and for the safe return of those who have been taken hostage.
For those of you who wish to assist, we respectfully offer the following suggestions:
1. Donate to a charity of your choice. Some options include
Jewish National Fund (jnf.org)
Barzilai Medical Center https://www.bmc.gov.il/?CategoryID=511)
Magen David Adom (afmda.org)
United Hatzalah of Israel (https://israelrescue.org/donate/)
UJA Federation of New York (https://www.ujafedny.org)
Koby Mandell Foundation (kobymandell.org) (providing assistance to children and families that have been
the victims of terror)
2. Stay engaged with social media.
3. Contat your elected repsentatives to express support for Israel.
4. Participate in pro- Israel vigils and rallies.