From the depths of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to every single one of you who has supported the efforts of Shuk to the Core. Whether you’ve shopped at our events, volunteered your time, purchased a raffle ticket, or simply told a friend to come out, your actions matter deeply to us.
But let’s be real—this past year has been overwhelming. Fourteen months of war, endless campaigns for support, and constant reminders of the challenges Israel faces. We know you’re inundated. You’ve donated to countless causes, sent care packages, and perhaps even traveled to Israel to show your solidarity. You’ve carried Israel in your heart while juggling everything else in your life.
And we know you’re tired. You’re drained. And maybe you feel like you just can’t give anymore.
We get it.
But here’s what I need you to understand: while you hear about the war and see the hostages’ faces on posters—on your lawns, in your windows, in your newsfeeds—we live with them. We know them.
We know their families. We sit with their mothers, fathers, spouses, childhood friends, neighbors, children, and grandchildren. We cry with them, pray with them, and struggle alongside them, day after day. Every moment of uncertainty, every sliver of hope, and every crushing silence weighs on all of us in ways that are hard to put into words.
We don’t have the luxury of looking away, of turning off the news when it becomes too much. This is our reality. And the trauma isn’t limited to the families of the hostages—it ripples through our entire nation. It lives in every parent whose child has been called to serve – over and over again, every business owner struggling to keep the lights on or having the desire to even do so, and every citizen bracing for the next siren.
When you support the Shuk, it’s not just about the sales or the items on the tables. It’s about connection. It’s about showing these families—and, by extension, all of us—that we’re not alone. That their pain is seen. That their resilience is recognized.
Is it enough? No. It will never be enough. But we don’t stop because we’re tired, it feels hopeless, or because we’re not sure what else to do. We keep going because we have no choice.
And perhaps—naively—we believe that you don’t, either.
We’re asking you to come out, shop, volunteer, tell your friends, and be an example for your children and grandchildren of what it means to stand up for our people.
We know you’re stretched thin, have supported countless other causes, and that after over 14 months, the requests feel endless.
But here’s the reality: there are countless worthy causes, but there’s only one Israel. There’s only one Jewish homeland. And the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Is it a fair ask? Maybe not. But neither is this war—being fought on all fronts. Neither is the trauma we endure every minute of every day. Neither is the pain of looking into the eyes of a mother whose child is missing, knowing you have no answers, no guarantees, and no relief to offer.
So we’re asking you: will we see you at a Shuk? Will you help us keep going? Will you volunteer, share our mission with your friends, and make a difference no matter how many other causes you’ve already supported?
The choice is yours. We can’t fight this fight alone, and we’re hoping—praying—that you’ll stand with us now, just as you’ve done so many times before.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do. Your support means more than words can ever express.
