Local Community in Support of Israel Rallies Under Chabad of Orange County’s Leadership
Since Oct. 7, the day the Hamas terrorist group launched its brutal attack on Israel, members of a Monroe-based Jewish community center have been rallying the local community to support Israel in any way they can.
“I often get asked if we have any relatives in Israel, and I say, ‘We have 6.8 million brothers and sisters in Israel,” Chabad of Orange County Rabbi Pesach Burston told The Epoch Times. “We just have to do our best to show support, and we do so on both levels, physically and spiritually.”
Chabad of Orange County is a local chapter of Chabad, a Hasidism movement known for its outreach activities and catering to Jews of all stripes.
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The first Monday after the attack, the Jewish community center hosted a community rally where about two hundred Jews and non-Jews gathered to show support for Israel.
A fundraising campaign to support the military and families impacted by the war soon followed, which has raised $10,000 so far, according to Chabad of Orange County Rebbetzin Chana Burston; proceeds go to Chabad of Israel, which centrally coordinates several support funds.
This week, teenagers at the center baked over 100 blue and white challahs and raised over $1,000 for the Israel Defense Forces.
They also created cards and packages for soldiers on the frontline and are encouraged to do additional good deeds to show spiritual support, Mrs. Burston said.
“There is a physical way you can help, which is giving money and doing service,” Mrs. Burston told The Epoch Times. “We also feel that spiritually you can help by doing an extra good deed in honor of Israel, which gives like a spiritual shield to the soldiers.”
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