Millions raised as Israel rallies to support Majdal Shams and the Druze community
After Hezbollah’s strike on the northern Israeli Druze town of Majdal Shams that killed 12 children and injured scores more, Israelis have banded together to show their support for the grieving community.
Devastated by the destruction inflicted on the village in northern Israel on Saturday, Jewish organizations, individuals and corporations have raised almost 2 million NIS ($530,000) for the bereaved families and the local Druze community as a whole.
A large rocket launched by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon struck a soccer field where children were playing last Saturday. One Druze family lost four children that evening, and the sight of the coffins lined up for burial broke the hearts of the nation of Israel.
In response, many Israelis have made the trip to the Golan Heights, where Majdal Shams is located, to pay their respects, bring comfort, pray and stand in solidarity with the Druze community. Many brought flowers and tied black ribbons to the remains of the fence around the soccer pitch.
By Sunday, an online GiveBack campaign, entitled, “Embracing the bereaved families in Majdal Shams,” had been launched to raise money for the families, and to help the community recuperate from the horrific attack.
The fundraiser page explained the goal of the campaign: “Together, we will help them, as much as we can, to receive the support and assistance they need, and to start rebuilding their lives.”
After listing the names of the children who were killed, all between the ages of 11 and 16, the campaign explained that 80% of the donations will go directly to the bereaved families, while 20% will be allocated to strengthening mental health and community resilience systems in Majdal Shams, in coordination with the municipal council.
Thousands of Israelis have already contributed, with some donors leaving supportive comments such as: “Our hearts are with you,” “A huge hug,” and “An inconceivable loss.”
Ynet News reported that the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod have reportedly contributed $160,000 to "demonstrate solidarity on behalf of the Jewish people and to help provide immediate relief to the circles of trauma they are dealing with in these difficult hours."
Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, CEO of Microsoft Israel, has committed to donating more than $70,000 from the corporation: "I have no doubt that more organizations and many people from across the country will join us and take action for them."
Israelis from nearby kibbutzim and towns, and beyond, have taken the trip to Israel's far north to show the Druze of Majdal Shams that they are not alone.
Messages and demonstrations of support and love have continued to pour in from all over Israel.
In Isfiya, a Druze village near Haifa on Mount Carmel, the Messianic congregation Kehilat HaCarmel displayed a huge banner declaring in Hebrew and Arabic, “To our Druze brothers, our hearts and prayers are with you!”
Israeli flags were lowered to half-mast on Sunday, together with the Druze flag at the council building in the Golan Heights.
On Tuesday, a large convoy of vehicles from Jewish communities in the Golan will travel to Majdal Shams. The cars will fly Druze flags with a flag in Hebrew and Arabic saying, "The Golan community is one heart."
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Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
