Collated by Donald H. Harrison in San Diego
Following are statements and analyses submitted to San Diego Jewish World by recognizable Jewish individuals and institutions about the Middle East War:
*
American Friends of ELEM:
It is estimated that the war between Israel and Iran may last several weeks. As this conflict escalates, the sirens and strikes are more than just news headlines: they are the daily reality for thousands of Israeli youths already living on the margins.
The safety and mental health of Israel’s most vulnerable youth are now in a critical state. ELEM is on the ground providing the emergency emotional support, stability, and safe spaces these young people need to endure this crisis. But the need is growing by the day.
Just Wednesday morning, our teams reported a number of deeply concerning developments:
–We are seeing rising tension and violence inside homes as economic stress, fear, and uncertainty intensify.
–At the same time, calls to ELEM’s helplines have increased significantly, including calls from young IDF soldiers struggling with the emotional toll of what they are experiencing in the field.
The human impact of this war is being felt deeply within our programs.
Recently, there was a direct missile strike in Beit Shemesh, where ELEM operates programs. One of the young women we serve tragically lost two members of her immediate family in the attack. Our staff are working closely with her to provide immediate emotional support and ensure she does not face this unimaginable trauma alone.
Across the country, many youth are experiencing overwhelming fear and helplessness. Some are the primary breadwinners in their families but are currently unable to work due to the war. Others are reliving past trauma as sirens and repeated trips to bomb shelters trigger PTSD.
Arab youth are facing additional challenges. Many live in areas with limited access to shelters and are confined to crowded homes where situations of domestic abuse are escalating.
Because of the ongoing situation, we are urgently working to expand remote therapy and crisis support, ensuring that youth who cannot safely travel can still receive professional care. Securing authorization and resources to deliver these services at scale carries significant financial implications, but it is essential to ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable youth during this crisis.
Maintaining contact with ELEM youth during this conflict is absolutely vital. Without continued support and connection, many of these young people risk falling deeper into trauma, isolation, violence, and despair. But when we reach them in moments like this, we change the trajectory of their future.
The young people ELEM supports today will become the adults who shape Israel tomorrow. If we fail them now, in their most vulnerable moment, the consequences will echo for years to come. Your support is the lifeline sustaining at-risk youth across Israel.
Your donation to our Rebuilding from Within campaign enables ELEM’s teams to continue reaching youth in crisis, providing emotional support, safe spaces, and professional care during one of the most difficult moments in Israel’s history. Israeli youth need us now. They cannot wait.
*
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-California), representative from San Diego: I just spoke on the House floor ahead of tomorrow’s vote on a war powers resolution to stop Donald Trump from continuing illegal military operations in Iran without congressional authorization.I want to share some of what I said with you.
In Congress I strive to be a voice for my generation. I’m also incredibly proud to represent our military community in San Diego — the largest military community in the country. And in both of those roles, I cannot stay quiet in this critical moment. When presidents from both sides of the aisle have taken military action, it is our service members and young people from San Diego who are sent into harm’s way.
They sacrifice their bodies, their mental health, their time with loved ones, and even their lives — for us. And while they’re willing to make those sacrifices, we in Congress should be damn sure it’s worth it. Too often, it’s not. Too often, wars last longer and cost more than promised. Too often, regime change plans go awry — like we’ve already seen with the deaths of 6 service members and hundreds of civilians.
My colleagues claim voting for this war powers resolution hurts service members. The opposite is true. We owe our service members a real debate before we send them into harm’s way. Voting yes on this war powers resolution is a vote FOR our military — to ensure their sacrifices won’t be in vain. And to any of my colleagues who vote no: I ask you to come to my district, look our service members in the eye, and explain why you believe debating and voting before we risk their lives is a bad thing. We know that my Republican colleagues in the House could very well vote this legislation down. [as they did Wednesday in the Senate] That’s shameful. So now is the time to take action. There are three key things to do right now:
–Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Speak to every Republican Member of Congress’s office you possibly can and urge them in the strongest possible terms to vote yes. When you’re done, ask all your friends and family to do the same.
Share information about this online and in conversation with your networks. Talking about these issues is a really important part of building the support we need to push back.
When you can, donate to the Democratic House candidates who need your support — especially those who vote the right way on this critical legislation despite pressure to do otherwise. I’m not asking you for money today, but we will need all hands on deck to flip the House in November and I hope you’ll be a part of that work however you’re able.
*
Jewish Agency for Israel: The Jewish Agency for Israel on Wednesday announced the launch of the Roaring Lion Fund, an emergency relief initiative established to provide immediate financial assistance and long-term emotional support to victims of the recent Iranian missile attacks on Israel.
The fund was made possible through the generosity of The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, World Zionist Organization, and additional partners and donors. It has already begun operating in coordination with relevant government authorities and local municipalities. The fund reflects the longstanding Jewish value of mutual responsibility and expresses the solidarity of Jewish communities around the world with the people of Israel during this complex and challenging security situation.
The Roaring Lion Fund will provide direct emergency grants to bereaved families who lost loved ones in the missile attacks, to individuals who were seriously or moderately injured and hospitalized as a result of direct strikes, and to families whose homes were destroyed or deemed uninhabitable by local authorities. Each eligible family will receive an immediate grant of 4,000 NIS (approximately $1,300 USD), transferred directly to their bank account shortly after verification through official government channels. Affected individuals do not need to apply; The Jewish Agency will receive all necessary information directly from official authorities and will transfer funds automatically to eligible recipients. The emergency grants are intended to provide immediate relief and help families address urgent needs in the aftermath of the attacks.
In addition to financial assistance, The Jewish Agency will offer emotional resilience services to those affected, including individual support, workshops, and group therapy designed to strengthen long-term wellbeing. These programs will be implemented in coordination with local municipalities, which will assist in identifying eligible participants and connecting them to The Jewish Agency’s resilience framework.
Immediately following the launch of Operation Roaring Lion (known by the U.S. as Operation Epic Fury), The Jewish Agency opened a dedicated emergency operations center to support the populations it serves, including thousands of olim (new immigrants) living in absorption centers across Israel, young immigrants participating in leadership and service programs, lone soldiers, thousands of residents in Amigour senior housing facilities, and thousands of young global Jews currently in Israel through Masa and other programs. At the same time, hundreds of Jewish Agency shlichim (Israeli emissaries) around the world continue to share Israel’s story globally while strengthening Jewish communities facing increased terror threats and antisemitism abroad.
*
Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area — JCRC Bay Area has been closely monitoring escalating hostilities in the Middle East, and Jewish communal security considerations at home, since the United States and Israel launched a joint operation against the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We mourn the casualties and pray for the safety of Israeli, Iranian, and Middle Eastern civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as U.S. and Israeli service members.
We stand with the Iranian people yearning for freedom. The Iranian regime, led by Ayatollah Khamenei from 1989 until his recent assassination, has been a leading sponsor of global terrorism and responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people, including U.S. service members. It has subjected its citizens to brutal repression in the form of torture, imprisonment, and executions – including the mass murder of protesters in recent months. Women, LGBTQ+ people, and ethnic minorities have been its particular targets.
JCRC and the Bay Area Jewish community have consensus on diplomatically preventing a nuclear-armed Iran – with military force as a last resort – because the regime’s decades-long pursuit of nuclear weapons would, if successful, pose an existential threat to its neighbors, including Israel. However, the current conflict is likely to play into polarization in our country and to generate different views within the Jewish community.
We are unlikely to find consensus within our community on the U.S. government’s justification for the use of force at this time. Similarly, community consensus is unlikely to be found regarding the President’s unilateral military action – taken without Congressional approval. Despite these policy disagreements, our community is united by the belief that Israelis and Iranians alike deserve to live in freedom with security. It is our deep hope that ultimately there will be lasting peace across the region.
We are in the early stages of a new conflict and the road ahead holds great uncertainty. Many important questions are yet to be answered: What is the “day after” plan for Iran should the regime fall? How do the Iranian people move towards greater freedom? How does the U.S. avoid repeating the hard lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan? Are the U.S. and Israel prepared should hostilities escalate within and beyond the Middle East? What will be the long-term consequences for Israeli society, already facing growing isolation? How will all of this impact the Jewish community and our neighbors here in the Bay Area?
Like Americans, the peoples of the Middle East shouldn’t be conflated with their governments. Jews, Iranians, Muslims, and the other impacted communities should not face harassment or hostility because of their national origin, faith, or identity.
Unfortunately, Jewish institutions across the Bay Area, and around the world, already face heightened security threats due to Middle East conflict. With the recent violent attacks on Jews in Bondi Beach, Boulder, and Washington, DC, and growing antisemitic rhetoric, we are concerned these latest developments may adversely impact the environment for our community.
As we have for more than 75 years, JCRC will serve as a resource for our Jewish and civic partners across the Bay Area as the conflict continues to evolve.
*
Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Congregation Beth Israel: My cousin in Israel just welcomed a beautiful newborn baby into the world. And yet, within t24 hours of her arrival, this tiny new life has found that much of her early days are being spent in a bomb shelter – what Israelis call a mamad (ממ״ד), a reinforced safe room built into homes for moments exactly like this.
If she could speak, perhaps this is what she might say:
I am only a few days old. I do not know what sirens mean. I do not know what missiles are, or why the adults move quickly when the alarms sound.
I only know the warmth of my mother’s arms, the steady presence of my parents, and the quiet pauses between the noise.
If I could ask for anything, it would be simple. Please make the world gentler than the one I entered. Please make the nights quieter.
Please help the people who protect me be strong and help the people who lead the world be wise. And please remember that every child who is born – anywhere – deserves a life not shaped by fear.
For now, I will do the only things a newborn can do. I will sleep. I will grow. And I will trust that the adults around me are working to build a world where I can someday live fully in the light.
*
May the Holy One guard those living through these tense days, and may the children being born into our world inherit not sirens and shelters, but safety, dignity, and peace.
*
StandWithUs, CEO Roz Rothstein: The people of Israel need our support now. As you know, this is a critical time for the State of Israel. As I write this letter, Israel and the United States are at war with the Iranian regime.
While Israel is striking military and strategic targets in Iran, Iran has launched large barrages of ballistic missiles and drones toward Israeli cities and civilian areas. More than 300 missiles and drones have been fired at Israel, killing at least a dozen civilians, injuring more than 1,200, and causing significant damage to residential buildings and community infrastructure in cities including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beit Shemesh. Thousands of Israelis have been forced in and out of bomb shelters as sirens sound across the country, keeping everyone on edge. There is no doubt that there will be heavy financial consequences on Israel’s economy that will trickle down to individuals and families.
We invite you to stand with the people of Israel in this difficult moment by making a special donation that will be directed to trusted Israeli charities providing urgent support and rehabilitation for soldiers and civilians, as well as medical and emotional assistance for families, children, teens, and young adults affected by the war. Please donate today and know that 100% of your donation for this emergency campaign will be directed to worthy Israeli charitable causes inside Israel.
Also know this: As always, I, along with senior management at StandWithUs, will personally be involved in making every decision regarding the charities and families who receive your donations.
Please click here to make a donation to this Israel Emergency Campaign.
Thank you in advance for your generous partnership and for your heart for Israel. May our courageous Israeli and American soldiers stay safe and come home soon. We extend our heartfelt love and condolences to families, both American and Israeli, who have suffered losses as a result of this war.
May we see a safer and more peaceful Middle East in the near future.
For any questions regarding this donation or for additional information, please contact us at 310.836.6140. Please visit our website for regularly updated information on Israel-related issues, news, events, and campaigns at www.standwithus.com.
We also invite you to follow us on our social media platforms for timely information about the war with Iran and our ongoing efforts to support Israel and combat antisemitism. Please share our posts and help educate your communities.
*
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: Our Conservative/Masorti family in Israel is facing another painful and frightening chapter. As the current conflict unfolds, communities are once again navigating loss, fear, and deep uncertainty.
Congregation Eshel Avraham in Be’er Sheva, in the south of Israel, has sustained physical damage as a result of a nearby missile impact. A number of community members have been directly impacted and displaced from partial or total home loss. Others are facing significant destruction.
Rabbi Mijael Even David, community rabbi of Eshel Avraham, writes: “At the moment of impact, I was inside the [synagogue] together with several children, including my own, rehearsing for our Purim spiel. We had only seconds to respond to the sirens and run to one of our shelters. The sound of the explosion, the shaking structure, and the cries of frightened kids are not easily set aside. Even in a city accustomed to alerts, there are moments that mark a community in a different way. This was one of them.”
Beyond the visible damage, the emotional toll is profound. Teens who have already endured COVID, October 7, and now another war, are carrying an enormous weight. Clergy and lay leaders are asking for resources to provide pastoral care, resilience programming, and grief support for congregations in harm’s way.
We are launching an emergency appeal to support our Masorti community in Israel. All funds will be collected by United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and allocated through Masorti Israel. [If you care to donate, click here.)
Your gift will be directed where it is most urgently needed — whether for repairing congregational damage, assisting families who have lost their homes, or strengthening pastoral and emotional support services for communities and teens under ongoing threat. Funds will be used at Masorti Israel’s discretion to respond quickly and responsibly as needs evolve.
In moments like these, our global Conservative/Masorti community stands together.
*
Donald H. Harrison is publisher and editor of San Diego Jewish World.