Sirens, soldiers, and Shabbat: dispatches from our mission in Israel

A day-by-day dispatch from AIC's mission in Israel — Shabbat in Jerusalem under fire, wounded soldiers at the Matanya farm and Sheba Medical Center, Druze leaders in Daliyat al-Karmel, and a solidarity visit to Hostage Square.

In this issue: A day-by-day dispatch from AIC's mission in Israel — Shabbat in Jerusalem under fire, wounded soldiers at the Matanya farm and Sheba Medical Center, Druze leaders in Daliyat al-Karmel, and a solidarity visit to Hostage Square.

These past few days in Israel were intense, emotional, and unforgettable. Our delegation went as more than an aid mission. We went to stand with Israel, boots on the ground, and to carry Atlanta's solidarity to the people and places that need it most.

We prayed at the Kotel, sheltered from rockets during Shabbat dinner, worked alongside wounded soldiers, and stood at Hostage Square with the families still waiting. Everything below happened because of you. Thank you for sending us.

— Cheryl Dorchinsky, Executive Director

Five days on the ground: our mission, day by day

Friday, July 18

We began the morning with Avi Zimmerman — cofounder of the Israeli-Palestinian Economic Forum and a director at J-CAP, the Katz Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy — at Neve Shmuel. On a sun-dappled terrace overlooking ancient Jerusalem, he walked us through the threats to the city's unity and its historical and political complexities, reminding us that this mission is a reaffirmation of solidarity with Israel, not only aid.

Later we walked through the Mahane Yehuda shuk, a sensory mosaic of spices, produce, and Middle Eastern summer heat, to meet longtime AIC collaborator David Sussman and his wife, Melissa. Over lunch we traded stories and brainstormed new virtual and in-person projects to deepen U.S.-Israel ties in these trying times.

As the light faded, we walked to the Old City for Shabbat dinner with Lori Palatnik, founder of Momentum, and her husband, Rabbi Yakov Palatnik. Surrounded by Lori's family and another family visiting from the West Coast, we broke challah over an array of Israeli dips and a table that ran through dessert. Then the sirens blared. We left the dining room and descended into a modern shelter carved out of the centuries-old cistern that once was the lifeblood of the house. A Houthi missile was intercepted before it could do harm. Finishing Birkat HaMazon in a bomb shelter was a jarring reminder of the stakes we face.

Saturday, July 19

Shabbat morning light bathed Jerusalem, and after some quiet reflection we went to the Old City and the Kotel, a symbol of the Jewish people's longevity and of why a secure Israel matters.

Later we met with Tal Hartuv, an artist and writer who survived a terrorist attack that killed her friend in front of her. Over coffee, tea, watermelon, and baked goods, we talked about how to support one another, and plans grounded in shared values began to take shape. As evening came, the team relocated to an apartment in Tel Aviv, our launchpad for the mission's second half.

Sunday, July 20

We drove north to the Matanya Rehabilitation Farm at Moshav Belforia, a therapeutic oasis for wounded soldiers with PTSD and other vulnerable populations. Founded by Sendi, an IDF veteran, the farm combines agriculture, therapy, and community to help wounded souls heal. We worked side by side: picking produce for Sendi's nearby soup kitchen, tending animals, helping adults with special needs during a dog-therapy session, and delivering donated supplies. Those supplies — toys, equipment, and more of our beloved Kosher Ducks — went out to visible gratitude.

From there we continued to Daliyat al-Karmel, a historic Druze village with deep ties to Israel's security and heritage. We met with locals, learned about Israel's efforts to halt the ethnic cleansing of the Druze in Syria, and offered our solidarity as they safeguard coexistence on Israel's northern front.

Monday, July 21

Monday brought an emotional visit to Sheba Medical Center's orthopedic rehabilitation building and its Back to Life centers. Among prosthetic limbs and physical therapists, we met wounded soldiers and their families rebuilding their lives. We handed out toys, comfort kits, and, as always, Kosher Ducks. One soldier recovering from a recent injury in Gaza held his duck and said, "It reminds me HaShem hasn't forgotten me."

At Sheba we also connected with Sagi Dovev, a retired IDF officer turned MMA fighter and healing advocate who runs martial-arts workshops and therapy for wounded IDF soldiers. Later, part of the delegation went to Netanya to volunteer at a school serving primarily Ethiopian-Israeli children, delivering gifts and spending an uplifting afternoon together.

Tuesday, July 22

The day began before sunrise. At 5:50 AM, air-raid sirens pierced the quiet in Tel Aviv, and our team gathered in the Airbnb's mamad, the reinforced shelter room — a reminder that the threat of terror reaches even the heart of Tel Aviv. We came out shaken but safe, and more determined to do the work you sent us to do.

By late morning we were at the Joseph Bau House Museum, meeting Joseph and Rebecca Bau's daughters, Hadasa and Clila. Their family's story of heroism, love, and survival, woven through art and espionage, left a deep impression, and we are collaborating on an Atlanta premiere of the coming documentary about the Bau legacy this fall.

We then walked to Hostage Square for a quiet, powerful visit, speaking with representatives of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, bearing witness to the names and faces of the kidnapped, and carrying the prayers of Atlanta with us. Before the day ended, we stopped by the Tuesday art market near Carmel Market and handed out cards, comfort items, and Kosher Ducks to soldiers and passersby. One soldier smiled and said, "Thank you for remembering us." Truly, it is you they were thanking.

We are racing against time as this mission nears its end. Our donated supplies are dwindling and the need is urgent. Will you help us replenish them? Donate now to help us do more.

MITZVAHS THAT FLOAT

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