Standing in Solidarity with the Long Beach Community

Standing in Solidarity with the Long Beach Community

Jewish Long Beach Staff

When over 500 community members gathered at the Alpert JCC for our Vigil for Israel on October 10th, Jewish Long Beach knew how important it was to keep up the momentum of support for Israel and the local Jewish community. In the months after the October 7th tragedies, our community has shown unwavering support for one another in many ways.

Through the Secure Community Network (SCN) and Jewish Long Beach partnership, we have worked with LBPD and local Jewish congregations to address safety concerns and assistance applying for the California Nonprofit Security Grant. We are also incredibly grateful to the Jewish Community Center Association (JCCA) for the Together We Shine Bright grant, which allowed us to augment our Chanukah celebrations with meaningful education opportunities about Israel and gave participants ways to show their support.

If you have visited the J in recent months, you will have noticed the growing Wall of Hope adorning the walls of the Lentzner Promenade. A mosaic of handwritten notes with a diverse array of messages is evidence of our community’s steadfast hopes for peace.

We have distributed hundreds of blue ribbons in honor of the hostages held by Hamas. We are incredibly grateful to hear that many have since been reunited with their families, and mourn the tragic losses of those who did not survive captivity.

Through our partnership with PJ Library, we have sent dozens of handmade cards to children who have been affected by the war.

To date, we have raised over $200,000 community dollars for Israel emergency campaigns in 2023, with more still needed. See below for a few examples of agencies that have benefitted from the funds raised.

Our advocacy and education efforts continue with partnerships with interfaith leaders, local elected officials, business owners, and civic leaders. We were proud to stand in solidarity with hundreds of supporters of the Jewish Community in front of the Long Beach Civic Center on December 19, ahead of their vote to adopt a Proclamation to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

“Everybody wants the war to end, and nobody wants the loss of civilians,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Newman of Hebrew Academy to the Mayor, Council, and impassioned crowd. “Good people should not suffer.”

Over one hundred speakers, spanning many faiths and backgrounds, lined up at the Council Chamber to voice a wide variety of opinions in support of and against the Proclamation. Representatives from Jewish Long Beach, Hebrew Academy, Temple Israel Long Beach, and many other organizations made their convictions known to City leaders. We are grateful to Mayor Richardson and the City Council for their willingness to work with and listen to and Jewish community as they considered the Proclamation. After a three-hour public comment session, the Proclamation passed, and our work to promote education, solidarity, and peace continues. Visit jewishlongbeach.org and alpertjcc.org for more upcoming opportunities to engage in Israel education and culture, such as the Israeli Purim Festival on Sunday, March 24.

Fund For Victims of Terror

The Jewish Agency For Israel’s fund supports the financial needs of the families devastated by Hamas’s terrorist attacks.

Access Israel

Access Israel is a well-respected Israeli NGO dedicated to promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and the elderly in Israel and the global Jewish diaspora. October 7th’s terrorism led to numerous permanent disabilities, and Access Israel is providing the equipment and resources necessary for rehabilitation and long-term planning.

Leket

Israel’s leading food rescue program, ensuring the most vulnerable have reliable access to nutritious meals and groceries, including remote Israeli municipalities.

Emergency Support for Hospitals and Mental Health Centers

The Israeli hospital system has treated the thousands of patients who were injured during the horrific events of October 7, and in the fighting since in the south and north. In parallel, all hospitals in Israel have been preparing for a potential expansion of the rocket fire to impact much larger areas of the country.