The Vigilance of Israel The Providence of G-d

Missiles from Iran above my neighborhood in Jerusalem.

The twelve-day war has felt both long and short. On one hand I am surprised that it is already over and a ceasefire is in effect, while on the other I feel as if a month or two has gone by. I am not Israeli and so these experiences of war are new to me. There is so much to process. My resolve for serving in Israel has strengthened. While bunkering down, I watched as families and neighbors endure together which gave me so much strength to carry on. Foreigners and locals alike carried the burdens of lack of sleep, long coffee lines, boredom due to restrictions, and more together. My taxi drivers joked with me and locals greeted me as we passed one another, all encouraging each other despite the circumstances. It is so vital in times of adversity to band together and that is exactly what Israel did, and I have been so honored to be part of it. War comes with a lot of challenges, but for Israelis this is a normal part of everyday life. Even though I could tell that my mind and body suffered some underlying stress, the peace I had in my heart was enough to keep going because I wasn’t alone and neither is Israel. We all continue to keep an eye on things to see if the ceasefire will remain in effect. Although life here has returned to “normal,” we understand that antisemitism is still on the rise and there are threats still all around. Together, we remain vigilant and trusting in the G-d of Israel.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Update on Yoni's Unit:

Because of the war, many of you (our partners) have stepped up to support Israel in her time of need. We are excited to say that we are very close to having all the funding to provide Yoni’s unit in Syria with new fire-proof uniforms. Once we have the remainder (less than $1000 including trip costs), we will return north to make this special delivery to encourage these men who are going the extra mile in not only defending Israel’s borders but protecting the Druze communities in Syria that are under threat of terrorism.

More Uniform Requests:

Additionally, we have heard from another armored infantry unit that is currently in Gaza. They are requesting 6 fire-proof uniforms which cost about $350-$400 each. Pictured here is a sample of the uniform. Neomi and I are impressed with the quality and will be so excited to deliver them once the funding comes in. The sooner we can deliver them the safer these 6 soldiers will be.

Summer Needs Met:

At the start of the war with Iran, an Airforce unit reached out to Neomi for an outdoor AC unit. Thanks to you, we were able to quickly provide this need on the day the war started. She called, Neomi ordered, and she picked up. With how hard the Israeli Air Force has worked over the past 12 days, we know that this was an immense blessing due to the war starting at the beginning of summer. The days are hot and long!

Thank you for all your prayers and support for Israel. We know that the work is not over yet.

Support Israel Now

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life.

Article written by... Brooke Kempton