When Hamas’ October 7 terror attack turned life in Israel upside down, these Americans took action.
Some flew to Tel Aviv, feeling inspired to help. Others, who were visiting Israel, dug in and stayed.
It was not about picking up arms. Instead, they did things – like cooking meals, babysitting the soldiers’ children, helping on farms – that impacted the everyday lives of Israelis.
Here are the stories of the Americans who are keeping Israel going.
The firefighter helping his Israeli brothers
Schuyler Gordon, 37. Law clerk and volunteer fireman from Great Neck, New York. Volunteered as a firefighter.
After the attack, I spent a lot of time online, looking at what was going on in Israel. It took me to a dark place. I decided that I need to do something hands-on. I found the Emergency Volunteers Project and qualified as a firefighter.
Schuyler Gordon (left) spent two weeks volunteering as a firefighter in Israel.Courtesy of Schuyler Gordon
I deployed to Israel for two weeks in October.
The experience was magnificent. The Judaism part of my life and the firefighting part of my life crossed paths for the first time. On Friday night, there was shabbat dinner at the firehouse. Then the siren went off and four guys ran for the truck.
The Israelis were astonished that we put down our lives for two weeks. They kept asking if we needed to eat. The firemen began as yenta grandmothers – until they realized we were there to work – then we busted each other’s chops and put out fires, often caused by falling rockets.
Schuyler Gordon said that being a fireman in Israel was a little different than doing it in the US — especially when the fire-bell rang during shabbat dinner in the firehouse.Courtesy of Schuyler Gordon
Schuyler Gordon brought his firefighting skills to the Promised Land. Schuyler Gordon
Coming home was bittersweet. Israel is the place where I need to be right now. I’ve taken a lot from Israel. This was about giving back.
The doctor helping heal combat wounds
Dr. Zev Neuwirth, 54. Internist from Miami. Volunteering as an army doctor.
War broke out on Saturday. By Sunday, I was in Israel. I went to a volunteer EMS and attached myself with a combat unit. I recently retired from the Marines’ Civil Affairs Group; so, I am a physician with military experience on the front lines.
Dr. Zev Neuwirth took a sabbatical from his Miami practice to provide medical help on the front lines in Israel.Courtesy of Zev Neuwirth
I’ve seen soldier-to-soldier combat injuries. But this hits my heart on a personal level. It’s about our blood and our right to exist. [Hamas] wants to wipe us off the face of the Earth. I embed myself with front-line units and provide medical support first and, after that, any aid I can offer – whether it’s psychological or delivering supplies.
I treat someone here and see a love that goes beyond physician/patient. The heartfelt connection is tremendous. That keeps me moving forward without being stopped in my tracks.
Dr. Zev Neuwirth told The Post that he sometimes fields calls from patients in Miami while practicing medicine on the battlefield.Zev Neuwirth
The investor who’s cooking for the troops
Reuben Taub, 65. Private investor in New York City. Volunteering as a cook.
I was in synagogue when the sirens went off. I planned to go home on October 30, but I stayed.
I wanted to get involved and help. I have a home in Jerusalem and my daughter, Melissa, lives in Tel Aviv. She found a group called Grilling for the IDF. Two days after the attack, I drove to Mod’in [in central Israel], not knowing what I’d do. Suddenly, I found myself flipping hundreds of burgers for the soldiers.
Reuben Taub extended his visit to Israel so that he could cook for the troops, helping to turn out some 380 meals in a single day.Melissa Taub
Israel called up 360,000 reservists and food was not in place. We moved an operation to my place where I have a grill, two ovens and a stove. Working with a group of volunteers, we knocked out 380 meals for 190 soldiers the other day.
It feels purposeful and like the right thing to do. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of your neighbor, whether you’re secular or orthodox here, you’re helping.
Melissa and Reuben Taub, daughter and father, team up to keep Israeli soldiers fortified.Melissa Taub
Reuben Taub poses with Israeli soldiers who he helped feed and provided with uplifting messages from NYC school kids. Melissa Taub
The realtor bringing joy to terror victims kids
Josh Levine, 32. Real estate executive in Riverdale, NY. Volunteering as Jewish Santa Claus.
A woman in our orthodox community, Naomi Stira, started an initiative to collect toys for kids that would be distributed through the One Family Fund, which helps victims of terrorism. We collected toys for kids who had relatives killed or were displaced from their homes. In that situation, the kids lost their toys.
On October 31, my brother-in-law Dovid Goldstein and I flew to Israel with 60 duffle bags, loaded with toys. Organization-representatives met us at the airport, took the toys and distributed them.
Dovid Goldstein and Josh Levine (right), transported 60 duffle bags full of toys in a bid to bring happiness to displaced kids.Courtesy of Josh Levine
But I still had 40 hours in Israel. A friend knew Melissa Taub. I went to Rubin’s apartment where they have a major cooking set-up. I cut cucumbers for Israeli salad.
In the elevator, I saw a woman who had been displaced. She was going to the apartment to help cook. She had a piece of cardboard and was using it to make a toy for her child.
I brought extra cash, specifically to give to somebody who needed it. I didn’t want to embarrass the woman. So, I gave the money to Melissa. I asked her to give it to the lady anonymously so she could buy a toy for her child.
After Josh Levine’s bags of toys were carted off, he made his way to Rubin Taub’s apartment and helped with the cooking.Courtesy of Josh Levine
Despite everything, the woman was incredibly good spirited. She inspired me when she smiled and said, ‘With God’s help, we will get through this.’”
The Montana farm boy keeping the crops growing
Zeke Strain, 20. Farmer in Augusta, Montana. Volunteering as a farmer.
The Christian cowboys do more than farm. They help to work the land and even built a fence that kept wild boars away from a zucchini crop.Courtesy of Zeke Strain
I have 700 tons of hay to bail, back home in Montana, but this is something that needs to be done. I got the call [from a leader of the faith-based volunteer agency HaYovel] and hopped a flight. I was saddened to see so many Jews killed. Israel needs support.
A lot of fathers and sons are fighting in Gaza. There are farms with produce growing, and they need harvesting. The country needs food. We picked thousands of pounds of peppers a couple days ago. Yesterday, we went to a zucchini farm and built fences to keep wild boars out. Coming up, we’re going to deliver bullet proof vests and flashlights [financed by donations to HaYovell].
Three of the Christian cowboys — Zeke Strain, John Plocher, Yosef Strain (left to right) — who gave up the farm life in Montana to help out in the Promised Land.Courtesy of Zeke Strain
Israel is where the Bible took place. There is only one Jewish state. We can’t play around.
The photographer bringing smiles from the front
Menachem Geisinsky, 23. Photographer on Long Island. Volunteering as a photographer.
I am running the Smiling Project. I visit army bases, get soldiers to smile, photograph them and put their pictures on his Instagram page.
Menachem Geisinsky came to Israel with the goal of making soldiers smile as he photographs them.Courtesy of Menachem Geisinsky
Initially, it showed a side of the IDF that people don’t see. But, since the war, it has another purpose. Soldiers on the front lines do not have cameras. They can fall out of contact with their families. This helps family members to connect with soldiers and see them smiling.
I was with a 45-year-old reserve guy. He had a son in Gaza, who he could not reach. The father was worried. I got him to smile and momentarily escape the state he was in.
Menachem Geisinsky knows how to get the soldiers smiling, but a kiss from a pretty woman doesn’t hurt either.Courtesy of Menachem Geisinsky
Right now, it’s not just showing the soldiers smiling; it’s about getting them to smile. I’m raising morale.
The students babysitting, baking — and mourning
Ella Morgenstern, 18. Student in Scarsdale, NY. Rebecca Silber, 19. Student in New York City. Both volunteering as babysitters and general helpers.
Rebecca Silber (left) and Ella Morgenstern were spending their gap year in Israel when fighting broke out. They stayed to help wherever they could.Courtesy of Ella Morgenstern
Ella: We came here to attend seminary, during gap year. The idea is to reinforce our Jewish heritage, connect with the land, volunteer with the community.
Rebecca: As soon as I realized what was happening, I wondered how I could help. You can’t just watch this unfold. For both of us, there was no question about whether we would stay.
Ella Morgenstern donned an Israeli army jacket, with Rebecca Silber to the left, while they volunteered as uniform folders on an Israeli army base.
Ella: I babysat for children whose fathers are fighting and went to a funeral for a lone soldier [a soldier in Israel without family]. We put on a carnival for the kids and baked challa. It felt amazing to cook for a cause.
Rebecca: We went to a base in Tel Aviv and packed a bunch of army uniforms for the reserves.
Ella: Volunteering is self-medication. Giving back to the community is how Jewish people deal with grief.
Source link: https://nypost.com/2023/11/11/news/americans-flock-to-help-in-israel-after-hamas-massacre/