Israel is in the fight of its life. Hamas’ sickening atrocities are almost unimaginable – but there it is, documented in hundreds of horrific and gruesome videos and pictures. The suffering is beyond anything we’ve seen in decades. Everyone with a heart wants to know: how can I help? 

Still, many who do not live in Israel think “I’m 5,000 miles away; I’m not a soldier or doctor. How much can I really help?” The answer is that you can do more than you realize. 

The Hamas attack has made thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds into traumatized victims. Many of these victims were children, who either directly experienced the attack or were siblings, relatives, classmates or friends of those who were killed or injured. The best way to help these children heal is by supporting the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund.

The Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund (SICF) was founded by victims of terror. In 2001, David Rubin, who had just finished his term as mayor of Shiloh, was driving home from Jerusalem with his then three year old son, Ruby, when they were ambushed by three Arab terrorists. David was shot in the leg and his son was shot in the head. While his son fortunately survived – the bullet missed the brain stem by one millimeter – he was left with a skull fracture, internal bleeding, and worst of all, significant psychological trauma. As you would expect, this horrific experience deeply impacted the Rubin family.

But David Rubin couldn’t allow the story to end there. He believed that something positive was meant to come out of this otherwise horrible experience. And so in 2004, Rubin founded the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund to help children recover from terrorism and the trauma that comes with it. 

For the past 20 years, SICF has helped thousands of children in Israel suffering from the traumatizing effects of Islamic terrorism. These children lose more than their childhood; they live with daily struggles, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Most of the time, when people talk about the victims of terror, they are referring to those who are killed. But we must not forget about those who survived and are still grappling with the horrific after-effects of terrorism. The Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund provides vital therapeutic, educational, and recreational programs for suffering children in Samaria, whose children have suffered terribly from the terrorism in recent decades. It has helped thousands of children heal and find the strength to live happy and meaningful lives.

To understand the importance of the SICF we need to understand this war. This war with Hamas isn’t a new war, but rather one we began fighting 3,300 years ago. Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt. how, undeterred by fear of Hashem, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear (Deuteronomy 25: 17-18). The attack was unprovoked and a total surprise. Did Amalek think they could successfully defeat the people of Israel? No, but that wasn’t their goal.  

The Amalekites’ sickening goal was to kill as many Jews as possible, which is why they attacked the most vulnerable members of the nation – women, children and the elderly.

Hamas’ horrific attack was taken straight out of Amalek’s playbook. Hamas attacks the most vulnerable members of our society, and particularly our children. Like Amalek, their attack was both unprovoked and sickeningly cruel. The sudden attacks are particularly painful for children, who are not soldiers who prepare themselves for battle. They are just children in the car with their dad, listening to some music, riding on the bike, playing ball in the yard – and then in one horrible moment, their lives are changed forever.

It is impossible to fully restore the children’s innocence, for they now know that peace and tranquility can be taken away from them at any moment. But with patience, love and support, SICF helps these children rediscover joy, helping them become stronger every day.

SICF has helped children heal for 20 years, and will not rest until this evil is utterly defeated and erased from the world. But with so many new victims, we need your help. Though you may live thousands of miles away, you can fight this war together with us. Please, donate generously to the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund and help us heal children in pain. 

With your support, we will defeat the evil of Hamas, and bring light, once again, to the lives of thousands of traumatized Israeli children.