CARLSBAD, Calif.—The recent war in Lebanon opened the eyes of many Jews, reminding us of the pressing necessity to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. Unfortunately, Israel needs a prodigious amount of help after the great destruction wrought by our enemies. Wars in Israel certainly go a long way to reinforce the realization that we must be a self-sustaining nation. While the world shrieks about the damage to the civilian infrastructure of Lebanon (even though the Lebanese are complicit in the attacks on Israel) nary a whisper can be heard about the huge humanitarian crisis foisted upon the Jewish State. That is why those of us with the ability to help, must do so, and do so with gusto!

But with all of that being said, where do we start? With our inbred propensity for generous giving a massive number of worthwhile charities have evolved. To ensure maximum benefit from our gifts we are obliged to educate ourselves in the realm of giving, just as we do to properly fulfill countless other Mitzvos. For instance, we may ask ourselves, “Do I want my donation going to an organization that supports the forceful removal of Jews from their homes and handing those same homes and businesses over to our enemies?” Perhaps we specifically want to help educational institutions that promote Torah learning? Maybe we are partial to those charities that assist the underprivileged?

The fact is that there are a plethora of viable candidates for our Tzedakah dollars and it behooves us to choose wisely. Many of us are nearly overwhelmed with a fervent desire to help every charity (certainly a laudable feeling), but regrettably this approach is not always practical.

Like many Jews during the course of the war I not only sought out news about Jewish casualties (may Hashem have mercy), but also on how this war disrupted life in Israel, and how these disruptive forces were alleviated. During my research I came across a particular institution that caught my eye for many reasons. www.IsraelHelp.org is located in Kiriat Gat (in the southern part of Israel) and provides direct assistance to the needy in that region with an emphasis on children. Not only does IsraelHelp.org actually feed many of the poor, it also provides an uncompromising yet loving Jewish education. While this may seem a great cause under normal circumstances (at least by Israeli standards), what is the connection with the recent war?

During the month-long hostilities over 4000 missiles and rockets pummeled the northern region of Israel. This precipitated a huge migration southward. Indeed hundreds of thousands of Israelis fled the north, many of which had nowhere to go. In stepped IsraelHelp.org and many other organizations like it. IsraelHelp.org housed, fed, taught Torah, and even entertained many of the refugee children from the north. Those children were treated like royalty. This type of treatment mitigated, at least in part, the emotional trauma experienced by the most vulnerable of our people. For this reason IsraelHelp.org earned my respect, and yes, my financial support.

IsraelHelp.org does have non-profit status here in the United States so all contributions are tax-deductible. The overhead is kept to a minimum so the maximum benefit accrues to those who need it the most. Readers are urged to check out their website at www.IsraelHelp.org for further information or even to contribute online.

Most importantly we must remember that when we give Tzedakah we are imitating the ways of Hashem and fulfilling our higher purpose here in this world. Certainly this type of activity hastens the ultimate blessing that we yearn for every day, the immediate arrival of our righteous Moshiach!