South Bay Solidarity Mission to Israel

ZAKA is best known for respecting the deceased in whatever remains are available, and providing a full Jewish burial for those who meet a sudden death.  With the deaths in Israel on October 7, Zaka became the resource for finding any remains available, from small fragments to whole bodies, and reverently creating a last Jewish home for so many.  Our speaker, a trained Social Worker who specializes in Grief Work recounted the horrific brutality of Hamas' killings, rapings, and burnings; coming in to find the body parts strewn or intact, and all with signs of unimaginable trauma.  She spoked calmly and and evenly, but clearly was overwhelmed and still in deep trauma by the witnessing of Jewish lives cut short with tremendous suffering. The Zaka volunteers go where no one else goes, to provide solace to the souls of those harmed, irregardless of how hard, how long, and how traumatic it was to provide this care.    Zaka's mission prior to October 7 was itself so hea...

 On the third day of our tour we were privileged to visit two members of the IDF who had been injured in battle and were recovering in the rehabilitation department of the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv. Both were gracious in thanking our group for showing up, particularly Omer who mentioned how meaningful it was for American Jews to travel the long distance to show their solidarity with Israelis. Omer had gone through numerous surgeries and a life threatening infection but he was upbeat and proudly showing us pictures of his young daughter who is waiting at home for his return.   One of the most striking aspects of our visit to Sheba was that the person who accompanied us on the tour was a volunteer who had never been to the hospital until war broke out on October 7. She initially came to the hospital to see what she might do for those who were injured, securing supplies wherever they were needed. Because she spoke fluent English the hospital staff then asked her if sh...