W

eeks after the dev-
astating Hamas
attacks of Oct. 7,
Israelis throughout the coun-
try continued to mobilize for
defense, recovery and healing.
The American Jewish commu-
nity quickly organized strong
volunteer and philanthropic
support to help injured vic-

tims and displaced and griev-
ing families. Two women from
Young Israel of Southfield
(YIS) — Adina Morris, the
congregation’s rebbetzin (rabbi’s
wife), and Ariella Nadel, a YIS
lay leader, joined an Orthodox
Union (OU) women’s mission
to Israel in late November.
Their trip and the items they

provided to Israelis were made
possible by support from YIS
members.

A rabbinic group from the
OU — an umbrella organiza-
tion of 800 Orthodox syna-
gogues in the U.S. and Canada
— had visited Israel several
weeks earlier and found there
was strong interest in outreach

by women. “We wanted to
connect with women through-
out Israel and to give them a
big hug,” Morris said. “The
families need help — not just
the soldiers. The five-day OU
mission included 25 rebbitz-
in, lay leaders and staff from
across North America.
The women community
leaders developed 15 to 20
ideas to support and connect
with Israelis, most of which
they were able to accomplish,
including visits to army bases
and the now empty town of
Sderot, devastated by Hamas.
They met with a hospitalized
soldier, the family of a hostage
and with bereaved mothers
as well as families who were
displaced by the war and

ERETZ

Bringing
Aid and Hope

continued on page 40

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

38 | JANUARY 25 • 2024 J
N

Michigan women
join Orthodox Union
Mission to Israel.

The OU women’s mission group visited a wounded soldier at Asuta
Hospital in Ashdod where many victims of the Hamas attack were treated.