{"id":2011,"date":"2024-04-24T15:58:06","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/?p=2011"},"modified":"2024-04-24T15:58:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:58:41","slug":"a-modern-lech-lecha-a-journey-to-israel-one-heart-many-chambers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/2024\/04\/24\/a-modern-lech-lecha-a-journey-to-israel-one-heart-many-chambers\/","title":{"rendered":"A Modern Lech Lecha : A Journey to Israel -One heart many chambers"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\u00a0<\/p>

Dear Friends,\u00a0<\/p>

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As I prepare to board an El Al flight to Israel, I reflect on the unique journey ahead. Leading a delegation from Action for Post-Soviet Jewry (Action-PSJ), our mission is clear: to stand in solidarity with the people of Israel during a time of immense challenge and uncertainty. We are a small yet mighty group, determined to bear witness and offer support to those grappling with the dual burdens of two wars\u2013 the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the enduring war between Ukraine and Russia.<\/p>

Numerous friends and colleagues recently visiting Israel have shared their impressions of a changed, resilient, and hopeful nation. They describe an Israel that feels more subdued and contemplative, with reminders of ongoing challenges such as the plight of hostages in Gaza. There’s a sense of living in the aftermath of October 7th, where life as it was known was halted, yet there is also a determination to push forward.<\/p>

Meanwhile, for those of us intimately involved in the Ukraine-Russia war, the struggle continues unabated. Entering our third year of conflict it feels akin to driving with a flat tire \u2013 a constant battle to move forward against the odds. The toll it takes is immeasurable, yet the resilience of the human spirit and the support of organizations like Action-PSJ provide the strength to persevere.<\/p>

As I consider the parallels between past and present, I am struck by the enduring relevance of our organization’s roots in the Soviet Jewry movement. The fight for freedom and justice that once consumed us resonates today as we confront similar challenges in a different guise. Whether history is repeating itself or simply evolving, one thing remains clear \u2013 the need for unwavering solidarity and support in the face of adversity.<\/p>

Our mission transcends the traditional objectives of a delegation. We’re driven by a deeply personal need to stand alongside those in need, to offer comfort and support in their darkest hours. In the words of Maimonides, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” These words serve as our guiding principle, reminding us of the profound importance of physical presence and acts of loving-kindness.<\/p>

As we embark on this journey, our goal is clear: to learn, understand, and support those who hold two wars in one heart. It’s a different Israel, a different journey, and a different purpose. But ultimately, it’s about being present, bearing witness, and offering a beacon of hope in the face of adversity. How may we find new and enhanced ways to create support networks from the US to Israel to Ukraine?<\/p>

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I am grateful to my travel partners and to Combined Jewish Philanthropies and the Action-PSJ Board for their support and vision.\u00a0 Follow Action-PSJ’s Facebook <\/a>and Instagram f<\/a>or mission reports and reflections.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo support our work in Ukraine<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the wake of recent events, the words of my friend echoed in my mind: “My heart breaks twice\u2013once for Ukraine and now Israel.” These sentiments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":918,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2011"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2015,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions\/2015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/918"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/actionpsj.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}