I recorded the following message today from the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, 12 kilometers from the Gaza border. After the last major conflict with Hamas in the summer of 2014, when the hospital was damaged by rocket fire, our philanthropic support helped with fortifications. Now — almost 10 years later — the hospital is treating over 450 casualties, far more than they’ve ever had before, within its strengthened walls.

We heard from the head of emergency medicine, Dr. Ron Lobel, who shared his personal trauma. He spent 12 hours locked in his shelter on Saturday, listening to the gunfire — and lost 17 neighbors to the heinous attacks. He told us that the cemetery in his small community, the closest border town to Gaza, doesn’t have enough room to contain all the dead.

Two rocket siren alerts were sounded while we were at the hospital, and we saw the incoming wounded and a fatality. A pediatric ICU nurse, overcome with emotion, told us, "Hayom nishbarti" — “Today, I’m broken.”  

Later, we visited an absorption center in Ashkelon for new olim from Ethiopia, run by our partner the Jewish Agency. Given the constant rocket fire, many — including young children and the elderly — have been sitting in bomb shelters since Saturday. Despite having gone from war to war, trauma to trauma, they are glad to be in Israel; they feel much more protected here. The Jewish Agency is in the process of temporarily relocating many of these olim to the center of the country, to get them out of harm’s way.

The enormity of the horror continues to grow. Over 900 Israelis are now confirmed dead, and the days ahead will be very difficult. But I'm glad to be here to listen. To show solidarity in person on behalf of the New York community. To see firsthand what our support makes possible.

And to share with you the power of your generosity.   

P.S. We’re organizing a major vigil and rally in support of Israel, tomorrow, October 10, at 5:00 pm, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Please join us for this important public expression of solidarity with Israel.