March 6, 2026
How do we live when out-of-the-ordinary behaviors become normalized? I spent much of this week sending WhatsApp messages to friends and family in Israel. I shared with one of them how strange it felt to laugh and celebrate Purim while so many in Israel could not, because they had to stay close to their bomb shelters and safe rooms. He appreciated my concern and support and shared with me that he was holding up fine. He was delivering mishloach manot between air raid sirens, because that’s what one does.
I don’t think his language reflected a sarcasm; they reflected the reality of the moment. The trauma of these missile attacks has resurfaced memories of months spent waking in the middle of the night wondering what to wear and what to sleep in. How far away from the bed are the shoes? Which pajama pants could be worn in the public bomb shelter? These are questions we do not have to ask ourselves, yet they have become normal for our Israeli family far too many times.
I was struck by my friend’s effort to deliver mishloach manot, whose sole purpose is spreading joy on Purim and acknowledge the importance of community in celebrating the holiday. We spread joy and connect with our friends despite the challenges and hardships we face. Beneath the surface of the missiles and the pain is a profound connectedness that pervades through the Jewish community. We are reminded that we need one another to carry us through challenges and hardships. Sometimes, simply making it to the next day requires the presence of community.
While we are not living under the threat of missile attack, the connections in our hearts bind us, once again, to those living in harm’s way. The world is small, and by the mere fact that our friends and family live in Israel, we feel their pain and share our concern. At the same time, we know that Iran has attacked other countries—Arab countries—and we can feel the pain of the people living there as well. Do they have the bomb shelters that Israel has? Probably not. In Israel, it is now a requirement for every building to include a shelter.
I learned this week from Yossi Klein Halevi, in his podcast with Rabbi Donniel Hartman, For Heaven’s Sake, that the type of bomb shelter a person has reflects their socioeconomic status in Israel. Some people rely on shared public shelters, while others have fortified rooms in their apartments. These shelters were not designed to withstand a direct hit—which tragically occurred last week in Beit Shemesh—but they do offer protection.
Amid the pain, trauma, and terror, is there anything we can do? Anna Kislanski, CEO of the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ) has asked for support. She acknowledges the pain and the disruption to daily life, currency instability, mental health issues, and rising PTSD. In this moment, the Israeli Reform movement needs our support. She shares:
- Rabbis and community professionals carry an added burden as they support those triggered by additional time in the saferoom. The IMPJ is working to expand training, support circles, and emergency response capacity.
- The IMPJ is establishing emergency assistance grants for those directly harmed and expanding trauma-informed support for new immigrants and vulnerable members.
- The Reform Movement in Israel operates homes for young adults with disabilities, which run around the clock. Now, they are doing so with extra counselors and activities to maintain stability and safety.
- The Mechina Telem campus does not have adequate protected space. If attacks continue, the students will need to be relocated. The director of the program lost her home and is currently displaced.
- The Noar Telem youth are volunteering in their communities while coping with ongoing sirens and stress. They need emotional support and financial stability.
The Israeli Reform Movement is seeking to raise $300,000 to support this work. Anna writes that this is not just about emergency fundraising but ensuring that a pluralistic, compassionate, and democratic Judaism in Israel remains strong. If you feel moved to do so, I invite you to join me in making a donation to the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism to support these projects.
We continue to pray for an enduring peace in which Israelis and all those in the region will know safety and security.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Rick Kellner