Life in Israel has taken on a strange rhythm in recent weeks. At times, the streets feel almost ordinary—people buying bread, children walking home from school, cafés quietly open. Then, without warning, the sirens sound and everything pauses. Conversations stop mid-sentence. Parents gather their children. People move quickly toward shelters. Phones light up with messages and alerts. And after the moment passes, daily life resumes again, carrying on as it must.
Yet beneath this fragile routine, something deeply human continues to unfold. In the midst of uncertainty, people are quietly choosing to care for one another.
Over the past days, our Beit Hallel team here in the city has been gathering to prepare food packages for nearly a thousand families. Many are spending long hours in bomb shelters. Others are elderly residents who find it difficult to leave their homes during the current situation. Parents are doing their best to maintain some sense of stability for their children while living with the constant tension that accompanies war. In response, volunteers have been coming together around long tables, filling bags with basic food supplies that will soon be delivered to shelters and homes throughout the city.
The atmosphere in the room has been calm and purposeful. Some volunteers work quietly, others speak softly about the families who will receive the packages. Occasionally, someone pauses for a brief prayer. Everyone understands that what is being prepared is more than a simple delivery of groceries. Each bag carries with it a message that someone, somewhere, is thinking of them.
In many ways, that message comes from you.
Although many of you are far from Israel, we feel your presence here through your prayers, your encouragement, and your willingness to stand with us in practical ways. When volunteers load boxes into vehicles, when supplies are gathered, and when families receive help in the shelters, we are constantly aware that this work is possible because people beyond our borders care enough to stand with us.
Your prayers are not abstract gestures. In moments like these, they are a source of real strength. Your generosity becomes very tangible: food on a table, a mattress for someone spending nights underground, and a safe place where families can gather during uncertain evenings. Because of you, these food packages are being prepared. Because of you, families who feel overwhelmed are receiving practical help and quiet reassurance. And because of you, compassion continues to move forward even in the middle of conflict.
When the world looks at Israel during wartime, the focus is often on the tension, the headlines, and the destruction. But here on the ground, another story is unfolding every day—one of resilience, solidarity, and people choosing to look after one another despite the circumstances. You are part of that story, and we want you to know how sincerely grateful we are for your continued prayers and support during this challenging season.
If you would like to continue standing with us during this time, there are several practical ways to help through Beit Hallel Israel:
- A contribution of $50 provides a food basket for one family.
- $60 provides a mattress for someone—often an elderly person—who is sleeping in underground shelters during the nights.
- And any support toward Beit Hallel Congregation’s $35,000 annual bomb-shelter rent and utilities helps ensure that this refuge remains open and available for families throughout the war and into the coming year.
From all of us at Beit Hallel, please know how deeply we appreciate you. Your prayers matter more than words can express. Your support is making a genuine difference in the lives of many. And during this difficult season, it truly feels as though we are walking through it together.
In gratitude and blessing,
Pastor Israel Pochtar
