From Atlanta to Israel: your support in action
A five-day mission on the ground in Israel — Hadassah's children's wards, IDF bases in Judea and Samaria, and lone-soldier centers near Gaza — and how your support delivered it.
In this issue: A five-day mission on the ground in Israel — Hadassah's children's wards, IDF bases in Judea and Samaria, and lone-soldier centers near Gaza — and how your support delivered it.
The days and hours before we left weren't ordinary — they never are. This mission carried an urgency beyond any of our previous ones, and with every Amazon box opened and every suitcase packed, you were with us.
My home became mission control. Boxes of electrolyte powders and protein bars, bags of medical supplies, piles of tactical gear, toys, toiletries, and Kosher Ducks everywhere. You answered our call with astonishing generosity. This wasn't only tzedakah — it was solidarity, a tangible stand against antisemitism and in support of Israelis living under constant threat.
Drop-offs continued past midnight, right to the final hours. Four hours before departure, headlights still swept the driveway as people arrived with last-minute donations. The team labeled every bag, knowing exactly what was inside and who in Israel it was meant for: rehab supplies for injured soldiers, comfort items for hospitalized children, essentials for displaced families, gear for deployed soldiers. Every bag mattered.
— Cheryl Dorchinsky, Executive Director
On the ground in Israel
Sunday, July 13. Before sunrise we loaded a pickup truck past capacity, using every spare inch — Steve and other volunteers brought the muscle, and bungee cords held the tower of suitcases in place. We reached Atlanta's airport before dawn, carrying supplies and a clear message: Western values will prevail against extremism. After a short flight to Miami, we reclaimed every bag and rechecked the full baggage allotment Delta and El Al had granted us — the check-in agents' eyes widened at the volume — then boarded El Al for Tel Aviv.
Monday, July 14. We landed at Ben Gurion as the land of Israel came into view. It took two vehicles to move the donations and the team to our apartment in Jerusalem. We checked in, opened the suitcases immediately, and sorted everything for each partner organization counting on us; the piles took over nearly the whole apartment.
Tuesday, July 15. Our first stop was Hadassah Medical Center. In the lobby we were shown the famous Marc Chagall stained-glass windows, uncovered just the day before after protective measures during the 12-day war with Iran; they depict the twelve tribes of Israel. In the children's wing, a nurse guided our distribution ward to ward — toys, games, puzzles, coloring books, stuffed animals, and our hidden Kosher Ducks. One young patient clutched a duck and smiled; her mother whispered, "Thank you for bringing some joy here today." That afternoon we met with the World Zionist Organization about collaborative projects, gave blood at a Magen David Adom center, and delivered rehabilitation supplies to a soldiers' rehab center in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, July 16. We began at C.R.I.B. Efrat, which supports new mothers and families in need. Lee — a friend of Cheryl and wife of Efrat's executive director, Nir Solomon — welcomed us, and we toured the brand-new facility and packed materials bound for families across Israel. Lee then led us through several yeshuvim across Judea and Samaria. These communities are often maligned by those who seek to delegitimize Israel; what we saw were thriving, lawful communities committed to coexistence, and to agriculture, education, and building. That evening we joined Binyamin's BBQ Brigade at an IDF base in Judea and Samaria, serving fresh glatt kosher meals to nearly 200 soldiers. One told us, "You have no idea how much this means to us — just knowing we're not forgotten gives us strength."
Thursday, July 17. We visited the studio of Yaron Bob in Moshav Yated, close to both Gaza and Egypt. His "Rockets to Roses" project turns the remains of rockets and Iron Dome interceptors into sculptures. We paused at the Nova festival site to reflect and honor the lives lost. At Shuva Achim, which formed in the early days of the war to support soldiers moving in and out of Gaza, we stocked shelves, prepared meals, and cleaned facilities. Our last stop was the Michael Levin Base — named for the American-Israeli hero who fell defending Israel — which serves lone soldiers with supplies and a sense of family. We delivered vital supplies, thanks to your generosity.
Every conversation, every smile, every moment of connection reminded us that this mission is only possible because of you. Your support delivered hope, compassion, and solidarity where they were needed most.
This mission happened because of you. Please consider expanding what we can do on your behalf — a gift now sustains and grows this work.
Donate now and continue the mission. Your gift funds the supplies, meals, and comfort we carry to hospitals, rehab centers, lone-soldier bases, and communities across Israel.
MITZVAHS THAT FLOAT
Ducks found at a school in Seattle
Kosher ducks found at a school in Seattle — a whole classroom of small surprises. From schools to city parks, the ducks keep popping up. Mitzvahs that float.