Todays' suggested actions to support Israel during National Mobilization Week:

• Call your elected officials to let them know that you support Israel in its just and moral battle to defeat Hamas terrorism. Click here to enter your zip code and contact your elected officials.
• Send the campaign link to ten people inviting them to join you in this community-wide effort in support of Israel.
• Share the campaign with your social media networks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
• Refer to this toolkit for suggested email templates, graphics, and social media copy.
• Read and share the story of 41-year-old Col. Asaf Hamami, wife of Sapir and father of Arbel, Alon and Ella, who is being called by fellow comrades “a hero of Israel.” The commander of the Southern Brigade in the Gaza Division and a decorated officer, Hamami left his base early during the morning of October 7th to fight terrorists and save the residents of the Gaza envelope communities. He was killed in action, and his body is being held by Hamas terrorists.

Issue:
Beginning today, Jewish Federations are partnering with other major Jewish organizations in National Mobilization Week.  As the war continues, Members of Congress are facing ongoing pressure to back down from their support of Israel, and anti-Israel voices are making a strong effort to flood the phone lines and tell their elected officials to abandon the Jewish State.  Your voice is needed at this critical moment to tell your elected officials that you support Israel.

Background:

• On October 7th, the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas launched the worst day of violence against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists savagely murdered over 1,200 Israeli men, women, babies and children and injured thousands more, and took over 240 hostages and paraded Israeli bodies in the streets of Gaza to cheers of onlookers, while filming and uploading footage to their social media channels.
• The Hamas charter calls for the annihilation of Israel and Hamas leaders continue to publicly vow to repeat the October 7th attacks, until Israel is “wiped off the map.”
• As President Joe Biden said: “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian’s people’s right to dignity and self-determination. Its stated purpose is the annihilation of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”
• On October 20th, the Biden Administration sent a supplemental funding request to Congress requesting $14.3 billion in emergency assistance to Israel, including for Iron Dome and David’s Sling, advanced weapons systems and for the development of the Iron Beam missile defense system. 
• Since its development, Iron Dome, as well as other missile and rocket defense systems, have been critical to Israel’s defense. The IDF has stated that the Iron Dome has a remarkable over 90% success rate and has shot down thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilian populations. 
• Since October 7th, over 10,000 rockets have been launched into Israel, depleting its supply of vital life-saving rocket interceptors.
• Israel has a moral right to defend itself and protect its citizens from terrorism, rocket fire, invasions, and massacres.
• The complete defeat of Hamas is necessary both for Israel’s defense and also as a clear warning to other terror groups, both in Israel and around the world, to prevent further attacks to innocent life.

Community Spotlight

As part of Shine A Light, Jewish Federation of San Antonio together with local Jewish and civic organizations and universities hosted “mixed” Shabbat dinners this past Friday night to bring together members of the Jewish and non-Jewish community. Guests at Shabbat dinners included elected officials, university professors, and interfaith student leaders. Discussions centered around Jewish practice and combating antisemitism.

Additional Resources

Click here to access Jewish Federations’ toolkit on the War in Israel, which links to the Community Mobilization Resource Hub to help you speak up for Israel.

This guidebook can be used as a resource by Federations and partners who have been asked to help Israeli nationals coming to the U.S. following the October 7th massacres.

The Community Mobilization Center is monitoring major developments in Israel and North America related to Israel’s war against Hamas. The Community Mobilization Center will rapidly disseminate resources to help mobilize and support our local communities as they build and sustain civic and political support for Israel in this conflict. The work of the Community Mobilization Center will continue as long as it takes Israel to eradicate the terrorist threat and restore security to the country.

The Community Mobilization Center is at your service. Click here to send us an email.

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