"Just One Thing" - talk is cheap; deeds count
Adding passion, paens - and hardcore commitment - to overcome "donor-fatigue" when "thoughts and prayers" simply aren't enough
The State of Israel, and the House of Israel worldwide are concluding possibly the most dangerous, somber, and fraught Ninth of Av 24-hour fast since the founding of the Third Jewish Commonwealth in the modern era.
Many of us, as is ancient Jewish custom, sat on hard floors in candlelit synagogues and Jewish community centers and recited profound dirges, recalled sad accounts of the catastrophes that have befallen our people, by our own hands, folly, and foolishness, and, by maniacal, demonic foes of us, our friends and supporters, and the God of Israel.
One of our time-tested responses is prayer, and voluntarily taking on ("kaballah" - literally, accepting upon oneself) more good deeds, activities, and habits; more sincere study and learning; more trust and faith in "the Rock of Israel" - or, in secular terms, encouraging ourselves to strive harder to become more of who our best selves are and can be.
While I'm aware most of the audience here may be Gentiles, and non-"observant" Jews - the sincere hope is that matching your ardent, sustained, and heartfelt pleas and deeds to the One above and paired with an individual hostage held in Gaza terror dungeons or IDF soldiers in the air, land, and sea, will improve our situation - and yours, individually and collectively, personally and nationally.
While the site linked here: https://www.sharejustonething.com/ is primarily aimed at nominally observant Jews, I think it's clear - no matter who, what, and how you worship or don't: we may be first, but you're next; we're just in the way of the murderous enemies of all that is good in the world.
Please understand: this isn't a standard charity pitch. While you can donate, in their own words, “We're not asking for money, we're asking for good deeds, mitzvot, kabbalahs.”
Your good deeds, prayer, and study - whatever your religion or faith - matter and can change the tide of this war; both against our enemies on seven fronts, and the larger tsunami of hatred against our common values and goals.
FWIW, I happen to personally know the IDF reservist in the clip; he's an extremely popular performer in Tzfat and elsewhere, and is in and out of uniform, daily.
PS: besides one IDF soldier's to-camera statement, I have no connection with this group; signal-boosting their message at this critical time, well, it just strikes me as the right thing to do.
Thanks, DB
I posted this elsewhere, and wanted to share it here.
Amid Tisha B’Av lamentations, recall that Jeremiah also said, "This I call to mind and therefore I have hope. The loving kindness of the Lord is everlasting; His mercies are new every morning and never end. Great is His faithfulness".
During this Tisha B’Av may Israel recall the steadfastness of Ezra and Nehimiah during the Babylonian 'aliyah'. They faced down the Arabs and finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem with swords in hand. They trusted in Israel's God.
He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Am Yisrael Chai.