Since the moment Simchat Torah ended here in the United States, the organization aptly named Bergen County Supports the IDF (“BCSIDF”), working with Lev Echad, has been a critical line of support in the Israel-Hamas war, helping get much needed supplies to soldiers and families in Israel. The story, however, isn’t just about the incredible volunteer efforts involved in this mammoth operation, but also about the lifelong bonds that have been formed as a result of it.
It was a collective effort from dozens of volunteers who put in hundreds of hours, amassing an abundance of knowledge that went far beyond the scope of their collective expertise in an extremely short amount of time. In those first two days, they managed to get approximately 16 pallets holding about 160 duffels off to Israel.
This group of people, who had known each other for only hours, became instrumental in creating a logistical process that allowed for an efficient and wildly effective system that could easily rival any of the shipping industry’s major players. Brian Nave said, “In the wake of DHL, FedEX and UPS not delivering to Israel, we kind of emerged as the main logistical shipping partner from New Jersey and other parts of the country to Israel.” Now, the BCIDF Organization works with numerous individuals and organizations from across the country to help them get their donations to Israel. “We like to say we’re quicker than Amazon because we shipped off G-Shock watches and in less than 24 hours we received pictures of soldiers on bases wearing them,” Daniel Malka added.
When Meyer Muschel graciously donated a storefront on West Tryon Avenue in Teaneck, Daniel Knoll called it a game changer because it allowed them to set up a “chayal store” with Naftali Ratzersdorfer at the helm. Malka explains that the whole operation initially began for soldiers who were already here in America and had to run back to Israel, straight to their base. But then requests started coming in from friends and family members of those already serving in IDF units. “It went from individual shopping to units reaching out to us directly requesting items for hundreds of people,” Malka explained.
To direct individuals on purchasing what items chayalim were requesting, Chana Lipener established an Amazon store. “All items purchased went to our ‘store,’ and immediately shipped to their respective base(s),” she explained. To create some formality to the operation, Stacey Betsalel created the logo under which the team operates. Deena Vaknin created a QR code that generated forms needed for customs, ensuring that each bag that left the facility was accounted for. With the help and guidance of Eli Feldblum, the team has established a website, www.shoppingforisrael.com, where people can donate money or sponsor items which have been requested by IDF units. The items listed, separate from the Amazon store, can be purchased at wholesale prices. “A donation or sponsorship of supplies can save someone’s life and we have seen that multiple times,” Malka added. Beyond getting supplies, sorting and packing them for shipment, Willie Balk has been a critical resource in sourcing travelers to take duffle bags to Israel. He almost seemed to know the El Al flight times by heart!
The team at BCSIDF called Amazing Savings a tremendous partner for supplying an unlimited amount of duffel bags to the cause and helping facilitate the process. Knoll described Michael Packer as “amazing” for helping connect the organization with wholesalers and wishes there were clones of Elana Koslowe who helped keep the “chayal store” running and stocked at peak performance. Dr. Chagit Hadar and Avigdor Ben Ari from Lev Echad have played instrumental roles in Israel shuttling the goods to the army bases. Then there is Elliot Braun of Clifton who does airport runs every day—sometimes twice a day—and has cultivated an essential relationship with the staff at El Al. Ari Wartelsky and Jason Langer are always on hand to field requests and act where and when needed.
When a group of people from Ahavath Torah were leaving for a mission, they called BCSIDF on a Wednesday to help them out. Knoll said, “We sat down with them and got everything done, from the ordering to the packing, the paperwork and the manifest so that they could clear customs in Israel.” By Motzei Shabbos, the mission left with 160 duffels in tow, bringing much needed goods and supplies to several bases. Team member, Aliza Black, was on the mission to assist in hand-delivering the duffels to chayalim. When a group of SAR staffers flew to Israel on a mission on less than a three day’s notice, Knoll helped them get the paperwork in order as well. “We’re really guiding people on how to pack, along with the paperwork needed so that by the time they get on the plane, a PDF has been dropped in their inbox that shows the manifest with information for the non-profit in the States and the non-profit in Israel so that they have no issues clearing customs.”
Last week, another group arrived at the airport with a large donation of brand new toys that were packed in a way El Al would not permit. After handing them his number, Aaron Safier assured the group that he’d get those toys to Israel as soon as possible. “We got them on a flight the very next day and they are already in the hands of their intended recipients, who happen to be the children of Ofakim,” Safier said.
When Knoll noticed the exhaustion of the staff at El Al who had been working tirelessly, night and day, to help get things moving, he put in a call to Elliott Rosenfeld of Jerusalem Pizza who sent over a scrumptious pizza dinner.
“There are a lot of people outside the community and outside of New Jersey that have been very generous and gracious in donating money and supplies for people they don’t know,” Safier said. He shared how one day a police officer came by and dropped off some G-Shock watches. The officer had been an Iraq war veteran and understood the gravity of the situation. He knew that those watches would come in and handy and coincidentally, a unit subsequently put in a request for those exact watches.
Those efforts have paid off immensely. Last week the team received a text message from a unit that had requested tourniquets and explained how one had just been used to save someone’s leg. “When we get these messages and hear these stories … it invigorates us and reminds us that we’re doing something and making a real difference. For us it’s a different operation than just writing a check and collecting money. We’re going to show you, from start to finish, where that money and those donations go,” Malka said. But the best part, he said, is when the group here receives videos from soldiers wearing and using the items that were shipped to them sometimes just a day before.
“The common denominator here is how much has been accomplished through this operation by people who have not ever met each other, and figured out a cohesive and synchronized way of getting much needed products from New Jersey to Israel,” Safier explained.
“Building awareness of our operation is paramount to getting donations and funding to buy supplies for our chayalim. As such, we were generously provided the opportunity by Fran Gidalowitz, CEO of Carisma Large Format, to publicize our operation on a digital billboard on the side of one of their coach buses. It drove from their headquarters in Brooklyn through Manhattan to Teaneck, and back over several hours,” Safier continued.
“Every once in a while, Brian will make his brisket and then we’ll all go to his house for a meeting and think about what we did this week and it was pretty amazing,” Malka said. Nave simply calls it a bona fide, global effort. “It’s numerous people from around the world with one common goal and we’re just getting it done. Every day I ask how we are doing this and then we look at the stats and we say, hey, we did it!”
To help make a difference for our chayalim and all of Israel visit www.shoppingforisrael.com Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
