CREVE COEUR — Four young Israeli volunteers in the ºüÀêÊÓƵ area were anxious as their country faced violence and war this past weekend. But it hasn’t deterred them from their commitment to join the Israeli Army next year.
“The war just made us more willing to serve our country,†said Yehonatan Zohar, 18, one of the volunteers who arrived in ºüÀêÊÓƵ County a few weeks ago. “It’s important to go serve our country and do whatever we can.
“If not me, then who?â€
For the next year, Zohar and the other volunteers will serve at local synagogues and schools, teaching about Jewish culture and religion. They recently graduated from high school and are spending their gap year here.
On Wednesday night, they watched the auditorium of the Jewish Community Center fill up for a program in support of Israel during a war with Hamas that has already claimed hundreds of lives, including people from the United States, France and Russia. The Hamas attack against Israelis came in the midst of the Jewish holiday Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
About 1,000 people attended the event in Creve Coeur that included speeches, music and prayers.
Brian Herstig, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, said the goal was to support the Jewish community in Israel and locally, and also to raise awareness about antisemitism.
“We need to have events like this for the entire community,†Herstig said.
The organization has set up a on its website to help victims of the attack and rebuild damaged infrastructure. Abby Goldstein of the Jewish Federation announced on Wednesday that her family was one of several who have pledged to help match up to $650,000 in donations.
“I saw the line of cars when I drove up in my car and started crying,†said Or Garti, 18, one of the Israeli volunteers in ºüÀêÊÓƵ County. “It lets me know we’re not alone and we have support here.â€
Snir Dagan, 23, has lived in ºüÀêÊÓƵ County for a year, doing the same volunteer work as the others who recently arrived. He also served a stint in Israel’s military. He said he was used to tension between Israel and Palestinians but was stunned by this past weekend’s attacks.
“It was the scariest thing,†he said. “I just knew this time it was different.â€
Donna Marin, who helps run programs at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, said she attended Wednesday’s event because she wanted to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
“We have to have a will to fight against genocide and injustice everywhere,†Marin said. “There was a lot of heartfelt energy here. I hope it translates outside of this.â€
A picture of the crowd in Creve Coeur reached at least one soldier on the battle lines in Israel.
It came from Dagan, who sent the photo of the filled auditorium to his brother, who is currently serving Israel’s military. They’re texting as much as possible, Dagan said, and his brother was amazed at the turnout in Creve Coeur.
“He said he was very grateful for all of what the Jewish community is doing, will do and has done for the crisis in Israel,†Dagan said.
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Ofer Ashur, center, is comforted by Sanford Cohen of Olivette, following a gathering for Israeli solidarity held by the Jewish Federation of ºüÀêÊÓƵ at The J in Creve Coeur on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. Ashur, 18, is living in ºüÀêÊÓƵ as part of the ShinShinim, a service year for recent Israeli high school graduates that delays mandatory service in the army for a year. Cohen, right, said, “As an Army reservist here I was sharing my thoughts and prayers as a veteran of two wars. I know what it's like to lose (soldiers).â€
Jay Levin, of Creve Coeur, watches a video featuring news from Israel during a gathering for Israeli solidarity held by the Jewish Federation of ºüÀêÊÓƵ at The J in Creve Coeur on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.
Brian Herstig, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, joins Abby Goldstein for a prayer for the Israel Defense Forces during a gathering for Israeli solidarity held by the Jewish Federation of ºüÀêÊÓƵ at The J in Creve Coeur on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.