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.