Shalom all:

Today was another difficult day as the conflict in Southern Lebanon continues to expand, and continues to cost us. We're paying in many subtle ways, ways we'll only be able to count after it's all over. Over time, we'll find out how many people refuse to live in the North, and how many businesses went bankrupt due to losses incurred. Almost a million of us are directly hurt financially, and the rest of the country will surely need to pitch in; we hope all over the Jewish world there will be people who will be moved to help financially as well as in every other way you can. Of course, the main costs of this conflict are irreplaceable- the loss of blood, of limbs, of lives. 51 Israelis have been killed, 33 of them were soldiers. Rambam hospital, where I did bikkur holim ( sick visits) today has about 50 people now hospitalized due to war injuries, and more are coming in each day. The relevant medical staffs are working round the clock. Rambam has lots of experience in trauma care including for mass injuries, and the mechanisms are all in place in case things get even worse.

The stories of the patients and their families are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes inspiring. A pilot whose helicopter fell a great distance, and whose co-pilot died, regained consciousness today after a week of being unconscious. His mother told me she feels she got her son back to life- although he's still in intensive care, with many injuries which will necessitate lots of care. Soldiers from the Golani brigade who are now side-by side in medical wards, were yesterday fighting tough face-to-face battles. Several soldiers were injured when the hizballah fighters especially targeted those who were wounded and those doing the medical evacuations, far from the site of the main battles. War wounds include damages to hands eyes skin bones, and more. Of course, there are also people, generally civilians, who come to the hospital emotionally unable to cope. The frequent blaring sirens, the blasting and thudding echoing sounds of missiles landing - there have been 1450 missiles landing in Israel since this conflict began- the noises and the opposing silence of the streets and silencing of the lives of so many, leads to breakdowns of coping ability even among people who are generally resilient.

What can anyone do to try to ameliorate the situation?

The Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism set up a refuge for citizens of the North, especially those with children, using a site in the South of Israel. People who have been bombarded and terrorized over the past weeks can go for a respite from the bombing and there has been financial support for this from Israel and from abroad. In my new volunteer elected position as Deputy Chairman of the National Committee of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, we continue to find ways to help people from the bombarded communities of the North.

Rabbi Avi Weiss of Riverdale, flew in from New York and I joined him in meeting the wounded and making visits of spiritual support and chaplaincy. Several Israelis including as lay groups and VIPs made bikkur holim supportive visits.

Calling Israelis you know, and being with them, even by phone or e-mail, keeps people connected and supports us at a time when Israel is becoming more and more isolated by statements of world leaders.

Anyone active in the Haifa-Boston partnership can channel your energies, which were scheduled for anytime during this year, to work, now, for fundraising efforts. It's also time to offer contact with whatever collaborative projects you know of between the Haifa and Boston communities.

Anyone associated with a synagogue community can contribute to sister temples in Israel. The synagogue I belong to, Or Hadash, had all its bar mitzvah ceremonies cancelled. The day camp for kids was canceled. Incoming monies expected will not come in, but salaries and bills will have to be paid. When the government suggests that it will eventually make some financial supportive gestures for those who are hurt by this conflict, it seems extremely unlikely that the government would even consider making any financial support available to any non-Orthodox synagogue- something they have never done.

I'm attaching a few photos of soldiers who agreed to have their photos taken. Surely you see what our situation is like from tv, but after another emotionally draining day of visiting soldiers and civilian victims and their families, I wanted to share my impressions with as many sympathetic ears as possible. As I write, the sirens in Haifa just began again- time to huddle the family together in the safest spot in the house until a boom passes and we are once again rattled. Israel will survive, and we are firm in our resolve to reduce the threats from hizballah. We hope and pray for a speedy resolution of the current conflict, and we thank you for every form of support.

Now is the time to call, to write letters, and to send checks.