Five Towns community gathers at Chabad of Hewlett for Israel

Within hours after Israel was attacked by Hamas, many Jewish institutions and organizations began advocating and coming together to show their support for the Jewish state.

The Chabad of Hewlett banded together on Oct. 9 as members filled every chair leaving some attendees standing during the prayer service.

Rabbi Nochem Tenenboim invited children from the community to light candles to start the gathering. He invited Neil Kupferman, lawyer and sponsor of Chabad of Hewlett to the podium to speak on the recent events.

“Not only do the terrorists seek the destruction of Israel but also the shared values that bid together the United States and the Jewish state, freedom and justice,” Kupferman said.

He also urged the audience to not accept any blame placed on Israeli people for defense of their lives and land.

“This is a holocaust and must be stopped, the perpetrators must be alienated, the must be stopped and Israel must be given the availability to do it, the world has to allow them to defend themselves, the world has to allow the to avenge the souls that were lost,” Kupferman said.

Jay Saltzman, Hewlett resident who established Hewlett for Israel, supporting Israel as a United States ally spoke about donating, voting, contacting representatives and educating children.

“You know what happens when we don’t vote, other people vote, they get organized and people you don’t want representing you are going to represent you,” Saltzman said.

Tenenboim led prayers and called upon community members to light candles in honor of Israeli soldiers, Jews from the former Soviet Union, Israeli fathers and mothers killed, community activists killed, first responders and medical professionals.

“Many people keep asking me, how is my family doing now under the attack and my answer is terrible,” Tenenboim said. “Nine hundred of them killed, murdered, slaughtered.”

Tenenboim repeated that these events were the closest thing we’ve seen to the holocaust. He also condemned the actions of Hamas and warned the community of the danger that all Jews are in currently.

“Hamas are not terrorists, they’re not there to put terror, they’re not warriors, they’re not there to fight for a piece of land, they’ve got everything in Gaza,” Tenenboim said. “They’re there for one reason and one reason at all, to kill Jews, they want Jewish blood, and they’re Nazis.”

Tenenboim assured the community that he is there to comfort them, despite the danger at hand.

“I may scream too much, but this is the reality, sometimes when you scream and you take the right action, you save so many other problems,” he said.

Stuck in Israel

Shalom Maidenbaum and his wife, Iris, who live in Lawrence, are in Jerusalem on holiday when the attack began. The couple has had trouble getting a flight back to the United States. Shalom said they are currently out of harms way but plan to head home.

“We wanted to really stay and help, but it really seems we may be more of a burden if we stay and help,” Shalom said. “We have a lot of family here and they all serve in the IDF and we’re torn between leaving them and worrying about ourselves for the immediate term.”

He is heavily involved with Hatzalah International, who have mobilized, sending volunteer medics to the front line.