(Courtesy of SAR) SAR recently invited the community to a virtual gathering in support of Israel. The community had the honor of hearing from Israel Nitzan, acting consul general of Israel in New York, and SAR alumnus Joseph Block (AC ’14, HS ’18), who is currently serving in the IDF.

Nitzan offered a real-time overview of the situation in Israel, sharing the government’s perspective of the current status of the conflict and how members of the Bronx-Westchester community can demonstrate their support.

Participants were honored to be joined by Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg (Young Israel of White Plains), who invited Block to share his perspective as a member of the IDF.

Rav Steven Exler (Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-The Bayit) led Tehillim; Rabba Sara Hurwitz (Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-The Bayit) recited Tefillah L’Shalom Hamedina; and Rabbi Shmuel Hain (YIOZ) recited the Mi Shebeirach for Chayalei Tzahal. The program closed with a moving video compilation of photos in tribute to the SAR community’s chayalim.

Members of the following community partner organizations participated in the program attended by people on more than 400 devices: Hebrew Institute of Riverdale-The Bayit; Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale; The Kehilla; Kinneret Day School; Riverdale Jewish Center; The Riverdale Minyan; Riverdale Y; Yeshivat Chovevei Torah; Yeshivat Maharat;

Young Israel of New Rochelle; and YIOZ.