Last week, I stood in one of Bat Yam’s older neighborhoods — a tight-knit community that took a direct missile hit. Several buildings simply collapsed. What just days ago was home to hundreds of families is now reduced to wreckage and silence.

Together with Mayor Tzvika Brot and local emergency teams, we walked through the destruction to assess the most urgent needs — and to begin shaping a long-term response for this community’s recovery.

The destruction is staggering. But so is the resilience. Volunteers, first responders, and city staff are working nonstop to care for the families who’ve been evacuated — especially older adults who need continued support, and young children still processing the trauma.

I’m here on behalf of UJA-Federation of New York, which has already launched a $10 million emergency campaign to address urgent needs in cities like Bat Yam. But this isn’t just about emergency relief.

We’re in it for the long haul — committed to helping this city recover and rebuild. That means trauma care, restoring essential services, and investing in long-term community healing.

Because real partnership in moments like this isn’t just about showing up quickly — it’s about staying for as long as it takes.