We know that the Jewish people are in a very difficult situation. However, we can never despair or give up hope. As our enemies raise their evil hands to commit unspeakable acts of brutality and murder, we, too, raise our hands. Our brave soldiers are raising their hands in defense of the Jewish people.

We, too, who are not in a position to raise our hands in actual defense of our brethren, can still raise our hands in ways that can help.

My son Tuvia was called away from his family on Shabbos/Simchas Torah, along with thousands of other reservists, to defend the Jewish people. He left his family and home and was given a rifle to fight the enemies of our people. Yet, there were others who were not called up and were still at home.

On Motzei Shabbos, the end of Simchas Torah in Eretz Yisrael, while my son Tuvia proudly donned his IDF uniform, some of his neighbors donned a different “uniform.” Two Chasidic men who were not called up came calling at Tuvia’s house after Shabbos and said to his wife, “We are here to take down your Sukkah. If Tuvia is gone defending us, it is only right that we do something for him and take down his Sukkah.”

A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door. This time from a woman. She explained, “Your husband is out protecting us; the least I can do for you is to do your laundry, which has piled up over Yom Tov!”

A few minutes later, another woman came. She bolted to my daughter-in-law’s kitchen and said, “Your husband is off protecting us. You have no one to help you clean up as you must put your children to sleep. My husband is safe and in his bed. He helped me clean up. Please, go tend to your children while I clean up your kitchen from Yom Tov.”

Everyone raised their hands to help each other.

We all must raise our hands. Some raise them with a gun in their hands. Others raise their hands to take down a soldier’s sukkah. And others raise their hands to do other’s laundry and dishes.

Ron Yitzchok Eisenman is the rav of Congregation Ahavas Israel, Passaic.