On Simchat Torah morning last year in the Five Towns, Moshe Bodner sat in shul unaware that his life was about to change. As the tragic news of the October 7 attacks in Israel began to trickle in, the details were scarce. Bodner, who had lived in Israel for a decade before returning to the U.S. in 2019, couldn’t yet grasp the full magnitude of what was unfolding.

For Bodner, the connection to Israel is deeply personal. Two of his sons live there—one is married and living in Tel Aviv, and another is studying at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem’s Old City.

That fateful morning, Bodner’s wife rushed into shul to tell him that Ikie, his elder son, had been calling repeatedly. The news was devastating: Ikie’s close friend David Newman had been killed while protecting his girlfriend at the Nova music festival.

When Ikie and his friends heard about what was happening, they sprang into action, grabbing their army gear and heading toward Gaza. But when they saw soldiers who had been called into reserves without basic equipment, they handed over their gear and returned to Tel Aviv with a plan: to start an organization in Newman’s memory. By Sunday, they had reserved space on six cargo planes through El Al Airlines, and Bodner’s family back in New York began rallying their community. This was the beginning of the Israel Chesed Center—the ICC.

Bodner’s American-based children turned to social media to announce a collection drive for Israel. Within a day, they were inundated with donations—baby supplies, batteries, headlamps and more. Unsure what to do next, Bodner borrowed a friend’s catering hall, mobilized local high school students from DRS, HAFTR and SKA to pack the donations into duffel bags, and sent the first 400 bags to Israel.

As word spread, the initiative snowballed. Another 400 duffel bags followed the next day. When the catering hall was no longer available, an acquaintance offered an empty warehouse. Soon, volunteers from across the Five Towns, Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey began arriving to donate or to help. By the end of the week, 900 bags had been packed and sent to Israel.

Jeff Eiseinberg, a retiree, quickly became Bodner’s partner in running the Israel Chesed Center.

“Every day, we learned more about what was needed and how to be more organized,” Bodner recalled. Heavy items like shampoo and baby powder were swapped for lighter essentials, and donations unsuitable for shipping were sold in a pop-up store, a “makolet,” with proceeds converted into gift cards for Israelis in need.

The operation became a community-wide effort. Volunteers of all ages pitched in to pack, deliver and fundraise. Local high school students, students with special needs with chaperones, retirees and professionals found ways to contribute their time and resources. Every day, they sent between 50 and 100 duffel bags on El Al flights.

In the early days, volunteers would show up at the airports and approach passengers going to Israel. They would ask them if they could take an extra bag or two. El Al charges the ICC $50 per duffel bag. The volunteers have since learned to plan with passengers ahead of time. If the passengers are willing to pay for the extra bags themselves, ICC provides them with a tax-deductible receipt. If the passengers are willing to bring the bags but do not want to pay, the organization’s representative who meets them at the airport pays for the extra luggage from the ICC funds. The ICC still sends between 10-50 duffels every day. “El Al has been great,” Bodner said.

After several months, the warehouse the ICC had been using was ready to be sold, so they had to move their headquarters. A family in the Five Towns offered a recently purchased two-story building for Bodner’s use. The upper floor is used mainly for storage, while the first floor is used for packing materials, and as an event space that hosts fundraisers and community programs.

The ICC has become a hub of activity, all with a fundraising component. It has hosted speakers and birthday parties. Last week, 200 women came for a challah bake, and another night the headquarters hosted a Chanukah boutique with over 40 vendors. Bodner emphasized the importance of engagement: “Once people come in and see what we’re doing, they want to help. They become volunteers, pack bags, write letters or donate.”

While Bodner and Eisenberg run the program, they have a team of volunteers. One woman is in charge of coordinating the special events, another is in charge of making sure the duffels are packed. Other volunteers spend time getting out flyers and messages on social media. “It feels like they have been spending more time on this than on their real jobs,” said Bodner.

In the year since its inception, the ICC has sent more than 10,000 duffel bags to Israel—8,000 filled with army gear and 2,000 filled with clothing and items for displaced families. One individual donated 8,000 pairs of shoes, another donated clothing with magnetic buttons for wounded soldiers. A sheitel seller donated sheitels, and another store owner donated costume jewelry.

From their simcha fund, they have sent 60 wedding gowns and suits for bar mitzvah boys—all brand new. The operation has expanded to include partnerships with other organizations, including BC Lev Echad and Boots for Israel.

Yissachar, Bodner’s friend from Baka, built a team of volunteers in Israel that goes to Ben-Gurion airport, picks up the duffels and delivers them. Yissachar visits the army bases and meets with the chayalim and the warrant officers to assess their needs.

“We received a video today of soldiers on the Syrian side of Har Hermon, wearing goggles that we sent to them,” said Bodner proudly.

Despite its success, the ICC has faced challenges. Israeli customs have imposed high taxes and changed regulations, and the IDF initially resisted accepting donated gear. “It sometimes felt like we were fighting an uphill battle against the very people we were trying to help,” said Bodner.

The ICC is about more than providing material aid. “Our mission is threefold,” Bodner explained. “Our main goal is to buy gear and send supplies to Israel. A second goal is to give people here the opportunity to do chesed. … The third objective is hasbara on the issues: Reminding people that the war is ongoing. Even when the fighting ends the needs won’t stop for a while.”

The effort has touched lives on both sides of the ocean. Bodner shared the story of an elderly woman who volunteered to deliver four duffels to the home of people going to Israel. Afterward, she told him, “Until now, I’ve given money or ordered some packages on Amazon, but I didn’t feel fulfilled. Now I feel like I’ve really done something.” Bodner continued, “People show up, sometimes on their way home from work, saying, ‘Is there something I can do?’ We are giving people the opportunity to physically help.”

To contact the Israel Chesed Center, please email: [email protected]

To donate, please visit: israelchesedcenter.com/donate