You would like to help those in Israel but… to whom? Where? How?

Donate to this Israeli family. It’s easy and good:

http://frum.org/pages/donate.aspx

http://frum.org/index.aspx

Okay my friends, here the backstory.

This is the website of R’ Michael Winner, an Israeli/ American who lives in the North of Israel with his large family.

If you read my writings regarding each week’s Torah portion, you will have noticed that I often post his writing, from Israel, on the weekly parsha.

I have been reading his weekly d’vrei Torah for over ten years, originally sent to me by a Jewish friend.

I have subscribed to his email and posted his writings on Facebook for about five years.

And – I have done him an injustice because – I HAVE NEVER PUBLISHED HIS WEBSITE as I have done with so many other folks whose work I Share.

I am going to make amends and, I ask any of you who have enjoyed his personal experiences and his d’vrei Torah to donate something, any amount at all.

He and his family, like all Israelis right now, is in a time of great need.

I have posted the link to his d'var Torah from last week at the bottom of this post but, here is “our” story; Rabbi Winner and I.

I developed a friendship with a Jewish woman many years ago because she liked what I wrote elsewhere, posted back in the Early Days of the Great Googly News Web - on Forums and News Groups that became Google Groups… We exchanged emails about her writing and mine and I used to write her about what it means to try and be a Torah observant Jew.

We became Friends on Facebook. She in turn started sending me R’ Winner’s d'vrei Torah.

Due to “politics” our friendship waned, but I subscribed myself to R’ Winner’s weekly thoughts on the parsha.

A couple of times, I exchanged some of my better writing with him, telling him a bit about myself.

Then, a year ago March, he wrote me:

“We have a free subscription to Mishpacha Magazine (couldn't afford it otherwise), and over Shabbos, my wife was telling me about this interesting story that she was reading about a ger from Minnesota. Of course, being that there are not too many, I said, ‘What's his name?’ :)”

They were reading the “biography” that my daughter-in-law, Faigy Murray, had me send into the Mishpacha Magazine called "Like Son, Like Father - https://mishpacha.com/like-son-like-father/

It was a condensed version of a 61 page “biography” I had sent to my grandson (her son) because his Rebbe asked how his Zaidy (me) became Jewish.

So, I have a certain kesher; connection with this family.

Now, I have many close friends in Israel – some young men that I had a hand in raising here in Minnesota who are now married Israelis with families; relatives of close personal friends whom I know; close friends who made Aliyah; and many, many others.

They more than deserve our help and prayers.

As I noted above, I am singling out my Israeli Kollel man; this avrech, R’ Winner, because I have wrongly neglected to include his website in all the D’vrei Torah of his that I have posted over the years.

I would appreciate anyone doing what they can in this time of great need.

*Last week’s excellent personal commentary, in case you did not read it.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=beha%27aloscha%20returning%20to%20eretz%20yisroel

Thank you.

 

Never Again.

After the attacks of 9/11, my oldest brother — a Vietnam veteran — gave out American flag memorial pins to his employees and family. I still wear mine to this day. It reminds me not just of what was done to us — but who did it.

Then came something even more horrific: the atrocities of October 7th. Israel was brutally attacked by the butchers of Gaza in a massacre that defies words. I searched for an October 7th memorial Israeli flag pin, something that could say: We remember. We will not forget. We will not forgive.

All I found were generic yellow ribbon designs. That wasn’t enough. So I had these pins made.

They are small, but they speak loudly.
I wear mine next to my 9/11 pin — two markers of grief and resilience. Side by side.

For a while, I gave them out or sold them personally. Everywhere I went, Israelis stopped me and asked where they could get one. So I opened an Etsy shop so anyone who stands with Israel can wear one too.

Now, as Israel confronts Iran — the puppet-master behind so much of the terror — it’s more important than ever to show where we stand.

This pin is not just a tribute. It’s a reminder.
Of who we are.
Of what they did.
And that we will never forget.

🇮🇱 Am Yisrael Chai.
Wear the memory. Carry the message.

Never Again.

After the attacks of 9/11, my oldest brother — a Vietnam veteran — gave out American flag memorial pins to his employees and family. I still wear mine to this day. It reminds me not just of what was done to us — but who did it.

Then came something even more horrific: the atrocities of October 7th. Israel was brutally attacked by the butchers of Gaza in a massacre that defies words. I searched for an October 7th memorial Israeli flag pin, something that could say: We remember. We will not forget. We will not forgive.

All I found were generic yellow ribbon designs. That wasn’t enough. So I had these pins made.

They are small, but they speak loudly.
I wear mine next to my 9/11 pin — two markers of grief and resilience. Side by side.

For a while, I gave them out or sold them personally. Everywhere I went, Israelis stopped me and asked where they could get one. So I opened an Etsy shop so anyone who stands with Israel can wear one too.

Now, as Israel confronts Iran — the puppet-master behind so much of the terror — it’s more important than ever to show where we stand.

This pin is not just a tribute. It’s a reminder.
Of who we are.
Of what they did.
And that we will never forget.

🇮🇱 Am Yisrael Chai.
Wear the memory. Carry the message.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/LIBATT