If there’s one thing everyone in Israel can agree on, it’s that July and August are hot. And when it gets hot, Standing Together helps the IDF soldiers beat the heat with ice cream special deliveries.

On Monday, July 26, 2010, Standing Together founder David Landau and four volunteers headed up north to Katzrin, where the IDF was sponsoring a day of rest and relaxation for over 600 IDF soldiers. Country Club in Katzrin hosted the event, where soldiers gathered to play sports, socialize, or just sit by the pool and relax.

“The soldiers were so grateful to us, which was funny to hear. We come for one day, and they give three years to help protect Israel, and they’re grateful to us?” said Chaya Centner, formerly of Johannesburg, South Africa. Chaya made aliyah this past February. As one of the guest hosts, she spent two hours handing out ice cream and ices to the soldiers. “David made sure the ice cream was pareve because the soldiers had eaten a meat lunch.”

Ora Bartkunsky is also an olah from Johannesburg. She had missed a previous Standing Together event, but was determined to come this time. “When the soldiers heard out accents, they thought we were tourists. I’ve been here for almost two years, and it really meant a lot to them that we had come. Soldiers kept coming back over to us, thanking us for coming. All I could think about was that they get one day off and the rest of the time what they do is so dangerous.”

Jordana Kagen, made aliyah from Scarsdale, New York. She joined Standing Together’s trip on the suggestion of her friend, who had been with Standing Together on a couple of trips. “I work with a few volunteer organizations. Standing Together is a wonderful organization that really provides the soldiers with the morale they need to do their jobs every day. It really shows we’re supporting them when the media is so against them so much of the time.”

Michael Blaustein found out about Standing Together on Facebook. When the call for volunteers went out, he signed up right away. “The soldiers were having a great time playing basketball, football – what we call soccer, or just hanging out. But when we stared handing out ice cream, it was like a summer camp full of kids. With guns,” he added, smiling.

“Normally we hitch up the hospitality trailer, fill the cooler with ice cream, and head out to the soldiers,” David explained. “But to make the trip all the way up north with all that wouldn’t have been cost effective, so we made other arrangements. The Country Club in Katzrin arranged to get the ice cream and ices for us, making every dollar our supporters donated go that much farther. The management and staff at Country Club were helpful in every way, making everyone’s experience incredible.”

The round trip took about six hours from Jerusalem to Katzrin. “We were having so much fun, we lost track of time,” laughed Chaya. “It was important for us to come from Jerusalem, even if it was only for a few hours,” explained Michael. “These events are very important to the soldiers, to show the real support they have from people from all over Israel, especially when the media is very anti Army, which is very bad for the morale of the soldiers. That people came all the way from Jerusalem to show support was a huge boost, and counters the effects of the media that show that people really do care about them.”

Standing Together visits soldiers on duty to provide complimentary food, drinks, amenities and most especially the appreciation and support of thousands of supporters worldwide. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

To volunteer to join us, email volunteers@stogether.org, to donate click on the donate button on our website.

This time of year, between Yom HaAtzamut, Israels Independence Day, and Yom Yerushalyaim, The anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, it is particularly important to recognize the soldiers that make it all possible.  Israel’s Independence and the Jewish control of Jerusalem are due to the vigilance of the brave men and women of the Israeli army and for this we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude. 

Whether they’re patrolling Israel’s borders during the cold winter months, defending the country in full protective gear in the heat of the summer or spending the holidays on duty instead of with their families, Israeli soldiers sacrifice their personal comforts to protect Israel.  Since its establishment, Standing Together has provided thousands of pizzas, sweets, hot coffees and cold drinks to soldiers at checkpoints and army bases.  These weeknight “surprise parties” give the soldiers on duty a special smile and demonstrate the appreciation of Jews worldwide for their heroic efforts. During the Second Lebanon War as well as last years Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, the organization provided toiletries and undergarments, mobile cell phone charging stations, and other necessities to soldiers as well as amenities that were gratefully appreciated.

On Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, Standing Together’s volunteers entertained soldiers with festive barbecues at army bases and checkpoints around Israel, spreading holiday cheer to those on duty.  These initiatives give Standing Together’s volunteers from both Israel and the Diaspora the opportunity to personally thank Israel’s young guardians for preventing terror attacks and protecting their friends and family and all citizens of Israel.  Standing Together’s activities over the last several years have brought much happiness to thousands of Israeli soldiers, who never imagined that Jews overseas are concerned for their welfare. By supporting Standing Together, Jews throughout the world have a chance to recognize Israel’s unsung heroes and celebrate these defenders of Israel. 

Over 50 volunteers, including young children, grandparents and all ages in between, came to show our support for these soldiers on this special holiday.  On several grills, volunteers cooked thousands of hot dogs, kebobs and hamburgers for the hungry soldiers at lunchtime.  People brought pickles, ketchup, mustard, snacks, paper goods, and more to make this a great party.  The soldiers each were able to come out of the sun, sit down and enjoy a short break from their work and it was filled with love.  Time and time again the soldiers thanked us for the food and we continually assured them that we were the ones thanking them.

One young girl and her sister made hand written notes of support and thanks to the soldiers and distributed over 100 personal thank yous to the hard working soldiers.  It was a great way to express what everyone felt.

A small group of 4 volunteer families spent their day in an Army Base right outside of the village of Karmei Tzur, near Hebron. These families gave about 100 well deserving soldiers a memorable Independence Day bbq, This is a small base in smewhat hostile territory, in less than ideal conditions, where all the “regular” soldiers had a smile on their faces. These soldiers were spending their holiday doing their everyday jobs unlike the soldiers at our other events.  The difference that these families made for the soldiers was monumental.

When a young person comes to Israel and volunteers to join the Israeli Army it is a very special sacrifice.  These “lone” soldiers don’t always have family in Israel to visit for holidays.  This Yom HaAtzmaut, Standing Together volunteers became the families of a large group of lone soldiers based in Jerusalem.

As with all other Standing Together Yom HaAtzmaut BBQs, Standing Together provided the meat, the volunteers provided the rest.  Dr. Jazz and other local talent volunteered their time to make the party even more enjoyable.

The soldiers really felt loved.  “The lone soldiers were so happy to have a place to go to for Yom HaAtzmaut. They couldn’t stop thanking everyone...It was amazing!!! We had so many volunteers from Standing Together and they were all a huge help. Even the little kids were a part cooking, arranging drinks, and passing out food.”

Package Delivery on Pesach 2010 on Ben’s Army Base in the Golan By Shari Mendes, Standing Together Volunteer

For years we received emails from Standing Together and I read them with admiration. Then, in 2003, we made aliyah from Teaneck, NJ to Raanana, a suburb of Tel Aviv. We were busy settling in and didn’t think about Standing Together until this past Pesach, when our second son, Ben, newly inducted into the army, learned he was to spend most of Pesach on his army base. This was to be Ben’s first time away from our seder table and the thought of his absence made us bittersweet. To its credit, the army provides ample kosher l’Pesach food, but missing are the extra treats that are available here on Pesach. Thinking we could sweeten Ben’s and his fellow soldiers’ week while we were vacationing, we began to plan to bring packages to Ben’s base on the holiday.

The army informed us that we would have to bring enough packages for every soldier on the base, amounting to 75 packages! That’s too many for even a dedicated Jewish mother to prepare a week before Pesach. Then I remembered Standing Together. I called and spoke with David Landau and he sprang into action. With the help of contributions from our family and friends from the US, as well as Standing Together, David was able to buy wonderful treats. He and his volunteers stuffed packages and piled them all into his 4 x 4. He met me halfway between Raanana and Jerusalem and we transferred the packages to our minivan.

On the Thursday of chol hamoed Pesach, April 1, we stuffed our other children into our car, in between the 75 packages, and headed north to Ben’s base, together with friends from Raanana. We were met at the base by Ben and his very happy cohorts, who were thrilled to have some relief from their daily matzo. We provided plenty of less than nutritious yummy Pesach treats, cheering up a base of soldiers who weren’t home for Pesach. You can’t imagine how happy they were. Big thanks to Standing Together and David Landau for making this all possible.

See our video for the full story!

If you are not a knitter you can still help. Standing Together is also looking for volunteers to bring the scarves to Israel.  If you are planning to travel to Israel this winter and can bring some of these hand knitted scarves, please send an email with your travel dates and address so we can make arrangements to get the scarves to you.  Monetary donations to Standing Together can be made directly on the website, http://www.stogether.org and will help finance the warm treats that Standing Together volunteers will bring to accompany the scarves.
Standing Together, http://www.stgoether.org, is an organization designed to help people all over the wolrd show thier appreciation for the people protecting Israel.  Standing Together volunteers bring pizza, hot coffee, cold drinks and other treats to Israeli soldiers on duty.  When the soldiers are the only ones working while the nation celebrates holidays, Standing Together brings the celebration to them.  New Years greetings, Donuts for Chanukah, Mshloach Manot Purim Packages, Passover chocolates, Barbecues for Israel Independence Day and more.  We are there thanking the soldiers for protecting the Jewish Homeland all year long.

Starting in November for a period of a few weeks, hundreds of schools, Jewish organizations and synagogues will be working on fundraising projects designed to raise sufficient funds to distribute thousands of donuts. These donuts will be manufactured in Standing Together’s Donut-Mobile. The Donut-Mobile is a traveling donut bakery with the capability of delivering fresh, hot doughnuts to 60,000 Israeli soldiers stationed all across Israel. This year, the Donut-Mobile will deliver thousands of steaming fresh and delicious donuts to our modern day Maccabi heroes. Jews from throughout the world, will unite together in supporting Israel in an unprecedented effort. David Landau, the
driving force behind Standing Together, is optimistic that not only will hundreds thousands of donuts be donated, but also a meaningful bond between Diaspora Jewry and Israel will be created.

A suggested minimum donation of $5 is all it takes to make our soldiers a little happier, and help Standing Together with its future projects. Donate online at Standing Together’s website (http://www.stogether.org), to join in and give a little bit of warmth on a cold winter day, to our Maccabee heroes.

Standing Together was founded in 2003, to provide a framework that would allow and encourage Jews throughout the world to show direct support to Israel’s fighting soldiers. During the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, Standing Together forged a partnership with The Friends of the IDF in Israel. Its projects to date have included distribution of clothing, toiletries and food directly to fighting units on the front, the construction of a mobile cellphone charging unit, Yon HaAtzmaut Barbeques, Pesach Choloate program, National Donut Week, Mishloach Manot for Soldiers, a highly successful Rosh Hashanah email card project and many others. Standing Together has also taken hundreds of Jews from all over the world to meet and personally thank Israeli Soldiers. In the past couple of years, the project has expanded to include many innovative activites to help the community in Sderot such as Challot from Sderot, Watermelon Day and more.

Standing Together’s Director of Development, Miriam Gottlieb will be visiting schools in NY, NJ, AZ, MA and OH to help kick off the campaign.  There are a few spots left in the schedule for additional schools.  Email info@stogether.org to arrange a visit.

For more information about this project, or to be involved with Standing Together, please call David Landau at +972.50.558.0822 or e-mail David@stogether.org.

On Thursday July 9, 2009, Rivka, Rebecca, Avigail, Adina, Ora and Ditzah – six young North American women studying in Jerusalem for the summer – joined Standing Together as guest hostesses for an exceptionally memorable evening.  These young women visited a very different group of young women – Irma, Noa, Limor and Nitzan – who are currently serving their country in the IDF. The two groups of girls had a wonderful evening together and began lasting friendships with one another. 

On a picture-perfect summer evening over pizza and ice cream donated by a generous sponsor of Standing Together, the girls talked, joked and sang in Hebrew, English and as Avigail laughingly put it, “Heblish.” The soldiers were given gifts of toiletry kits in specially embroidered pouches. As the young women examined the contents of the kits together, the differences in their lives melted away. the girls discussed their lives and their backgrounds, and their plans for “after.”

The fact that Americans who are visiting Israel care enough to take time out to visit soldiers, to bring them food and gifts and say “thank you” was very overwhelming for some of the IDF soldiers that Standing Together visited.  They confided that they believe no one cares about them and what they do and how they feel isolated and ostracized even by Jews in North America.  That’s why Standing Together’s mission is so important.

Ditzah noted that the her friends who came from North America had landed exactly one week ago. When she mentioned it, Limor also realized that they had been stationed at the outpost for exactly one week. Ditzah realized that while she and her friends were taking it easy, able to come and go freely, it wouldn’t have been possible without the soldiers on duty, wherever they are. She said, “We don’t even understand what it takes for us to be able to just come from America. It’s because these girls are there doing what they’re doing.” Avigail added, “We got along so well, as if we knew each other a very long time. We didn’t feel any differences from our backgrounds – we were all just friends.” The girls sang, talked and hugged late into the night ending with making plans for a shopping adventure soon.

The young women talked well into the evening, and when it was finally time to go, both groups – now one large group – had a better understanding and appreciation of each other.  What they all learned is that they not only appreciate each other, care deeply for the same homeland but are all young women inside with hopes, dreams, interests and a similar desire to look pretty. 

Standing Together reminds our brave young men and women that thousands of people all over the world appreciate the monumental job that they’re doing by protecting their friends and family, the holy places and the land of Israel. Standing Together strives to make that connection on a regular basis.  The goal of Standing Together is to show IDF soldiers that people all over the world are grateful for the sacrifices they make every day.

Thousands of hamburgers, hot dogs, and kebabs were grilled today by Standing Together volunteers in honor of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independece Day.  Standing Together arranged BBQ’s at several Army Bases across the country. Volunteers came from Haifa, Raanana, Tel Aviv, Maale Adumim, Gush Etzion, Bet Shemesh, Chashmonaim and towns all over Israel.  Standing Together’s donors provided the meat, volunteers provided the pita, drinks, desserts, condiments and man power and everyone had a great time.  If not for Standing Together, these hundreds of soldiers would not have had a celebration at all, when they are the ones who deserve it the most.

One volunteer told this story.  He was standing next to a soldier who was on his cellular phone with his mother.  The soldier said “Ema (mom) you wouldn’t believe what these people just brought.  They brought the whole barbecue to us.  They have everything.  You should come and see it."At a different army base, the volunteers were told they must be from shamayim (heaven), they said no, Standing Together.  A teenage volunteer told us that what moved her the most was that before partaking of the food themselves, the soldiers packed up food for their commerades on patrol.  The theme that repeated itself all day, and continuously is significant in Standing Together’s activities is gratitude.  The soldiers are so grateful that people bring them a delicious, fresh meal or snack that they weren’t expecting and the true appreciation comes from the volunteers for the sacrifices and bravery on the part of the soldiers.
Repeatedly, the reaction from volunteers is that they aren’t sure who enjoyed the experience more.

In addition to the food, the volunteers brought the family feeling of love and support that the soldiers would have gotten had then gone home for the holiday.  Dr. Jazz and several musicians entertained soldiers and volunteers alike at the largest of Standing Together’s barbeques, less than a mile from the Gaza border.  Families came with soccerballs, baseballs, skateboards, frisbees and other fun activities and invited the soldiers to join in the games. 

The largest group of volunteers was from Bet Midrash Torani Leumi (Rabbi David’s Shul) in Bet Shemesh.  Synagogue members contacted Standing Together and coordinated many families to participate in the festivites.  Standing Together looks forward to working with their group again in the near future on behalf of Israels brave soldiers. 

The people directly responsible for Israel’s safety and freedom are our soldiers. No one deserves a bigger celebration than those risking their lives for this freedom.  Although businesses,offices and stores are all closed in celebration of the country’s independence, the young men and women protecting the country do not get the day off. Israel’s Army is committed 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to protecting Israel and her people. Standing Together gathered volunteers from all over the world to bring the celebration of freedom to those safeguarding it.

Standing Together, http://www.stogether.org, is an organization dedicated to supporting Israel’s soldiers and the residents and businesses of Sderot.  With a truck and trailer equipped with and oven, freezer, laptop computer with internet connection and more, director David Landau and volunteers from all over the world visit Israeli Soldiers on duty in order to show appreciation for their scarifices on behalf of the Jewish homeland.

Many times we pass through life, through days, weeks, months and years without taking a moment to glance at our surroundings and people in our lives without taking a split second to recognize the love for mankind, the sacrifices, the devotion and motivation that they have for one another and for enhancing our quality in life. But today I can say that I have.
Yesterday I had the unique opportunity and honor of a lifetime to spend a couple of hours with 27 committed Israeli solders. Standing Together invited me to their annual appreciation dinner at a fancy up class restaurant in Jerusalem where we had a chance to express our great gratitude and appreciation to young devoted solders of Israel. But these solders, “Chayallim Bodedim” as they say in Hebrew, are not any ordinary solders drafted into the Israeli Defense force, however they were foreign born and raised persons from all around the world such as Holland, Russia, South Africa, South America, and many states in North America such as Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey, and Hawaii.
What sparked me the most was a two-fold fact. These solders were clearly young individuals in their early twenty’s who had made a mature decision to leave home, leave behind college, work, careers, family and friends to serve selflessly for the land and the people of their ancestors and heritage. I was sitting across the table from a young girl from my home-city of Los Angeles who happened to have gone to the same college as I did before she decided to move to Israel. The only word that I can say to justify the feeling that I had throughout our conversation is “shocked”. I was shocked that she gave up her highly prestigious job and acceptance to an IVEY league school to move half way across the world to show her love and devotion to the country of Israel.
This young girl was just one of many young individuals that has such a deep love for the presences and future of the land of Israel and Standing Together makes a true effort to show her and other Chaylim that we too have a deep love and appreciation for their hard work and effort in keeping the survival of our country and its citizens.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2009, Standing Together and a group of guest hosts delivered over 850 slices of pizza to an IDF base located on the fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Although the main action of Operation Cast Lead, the

This morning’s trip started out with a little more drama and suspense than usual. The hospitality trailer slipped its hitch while David Landau, founder of Standing Together, was hooking it up to the truck. Luckily David and a couple of volunteers managed to get the trailer reconnected. Once everything was securely in place, David picked up the first group of guest hosts and were on their way to Nahal Oz.

The first stop was a gas station outside Beit Guvrin to fill the trailer generator with fuel and meet up with our second group of guest hosts. On the road we were joined by our third car in the caravan, and just before the Karni crossing, the caravan was let into the Nahal Oz IDF base.

Once inside the base, the real fun started for the Standing Together group. They were taken to the first location inside the base, where the group of hosts started heating and distributing pizza and soda to the soldiers. “Dudu,” the group’s liaison inside the base explained that the soldiers were brought to the hospitality trailer in groups of less than one hundred for security reasons.

First came the soldiers who picked up pies and drinks to bring to their comrades in field locations. While a couple of volunteers were warming up the pies in the trailer’s oven, the rest of the guest hosts circulated among the soldiers, handing out drinks, socks, toiletries, and having a friendly chat with every soldier they met. More than one revealed a strong American accent, volunteer soldiers who joined the IDF to serve the Jewish State.

A short walk to a muddy field revealed a line of tanks that our guest hosts were invited to take pictures on and climb inside.

Over the next few hours, Standing Together handed out hundreds of slices of pizzas to IDF soldiers from all walks of life: recruits, veterans, officers, reservists.

Guest Hosts

Sarah Cole is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She made aliyah a year ago and now lives in the Baka neighborhood in Jerusalem. She herd about Standing Together through a friend and wanted top get involved. She started a collection point in her area, and after speaking to David, she had to come for her herself.

Talya Levin lives in Jerusalem. She’s originally from Memphis, Tennessee. Talya and Sarah are roommates, and there was no way that Talya was going to let Sarah have all the fun! She sends regards to her parents Judy and Wolfe back home.

“Leah” doesn’t want the folks back home to know she’s going on another mission but she couldn’t stay stay away after her first visit with Standing Together on Mission #5 to Gaza.

Martin Roshco hails from Huntington, NY. Coming on the trip fit naturally with his strong Zionist feelings. Martin and his wife Nili Gitig had already made plans to come to Israel as a show of solidarity, but joining the mission as guest hosts was their way to say thank you to the guys who are down there protecting Israel.

Nili Gitig born in Israel in 1948. She and her husband Martin come back often on vacation, and during difficult times they come to show their support. She found out about Standing Together back in the States. A friend had forwarded an email to her and a couple of phone calls later, she’s on the mission. “I was born during the first ‘cease-fire’ in 1948. Here we are 60 years later talking about another cease-fire. Here we are again.”

Roger Kurland is from Efrat. Back in the States Roger lived in Silver Spring MD, and West Hempstead, NY. David had come to discuss something with his wife Agnes who had been doing some volunteer work for the organization. When he heard that David was going back to Gaza, he wanted to pitch in and help as well.

Mia Frey joined us on Mission #4 to Gaza. You remember her as the one in the pictures putting Standing Together stickers on artillery shells. The experience was so incredible that she had to come back again. She’s hoping to put more smiles on the faces of IDF soldiers as they return home.

Izzy & Sandy Ironi live in Beit Gamliel close to Kfar Aviv, where their friends Joe and Paula live. They made aliyah 14 years ago from Canada. They had started collecting stuff for distribution to the soldiers, and found out about David’s organization through the radio interview after his second mission to Gaza. A couple of phone calls later, and they’re on the mission. Izzy repairs tractors.

Joe & Paula Simon are from Kfar Aviv in between Ashdod and Gedera. He is joined by his wife Paula. For the first couple of weeks, they were within rocket range, and had to run for shelter four or five times. They’re on the mission today to say thank you to the soldiers and give something back. “They deserve everything we can give them.” Joe is retired from IAI and enjoys decorative blacksmithing.

Shira is from Kiryat Malachi. She knows David from way back; she goes with him to the checkpoints outside of Shechem.

Michael & Jeri Bergman are from Elizabeth, NJ. Their son Sammy is studying in Yeshivat Shalavim. Jeri and Michael learned about Standing Together from her friend Alon, who suggested they come as soon as they could in order to take part in a very special experience. To the people in JEC Community in Elizabeth, wish you could be here and the next time, it’s your turn to take part in this very special mitzvah!

Gad ben Rozen: is from Ranana.

Moshe Zakuto made aliyah six months ago. He lives in Rechavia while they look for a permanent home. He knows David from a class in Jerusalem, and when he found out David had one last spot on today’s trip he jumped at the chance.

Dan Chodorov is the president of Lions Herzliya. He is on the mission as a personal expression of solidarity

Moshe Zinman is a member of Lions Herzliya who was eager to join the group because his son is serving in the south and he wanted the opportunity to do his part to help.

Janet Agassi is the member of Lions Herzliya who helped organized the project for Lions and is proud to be able to participate.

11:10AM We’re in Sderot. The flags are still everywhere. It’s totally filled, one beautiful sight.
Janet: we had time to stop for coffee and it was business as usual.
(11:40AM) The cars and truck are loaded and we’re ready to go to the soldiers.

12:15PM
Mia, Nechama and Leah got souvenirs from the soldiers as a a thank you for their kindness. It’s hard to see these soldiers still here while so many get to go home now.
Leah The mood was more talkative among the soldiers this time, a lighthearted joy that they accomplished a good thing. One chayal gave me his email address, and then he went back into his tent and gave me a pin. He explained that it was harder to for him to earn the pin than it was to get his beret.

12:40PM
Almost-samal (sergeant) Dustin C. from Anchorage, Alaska joined the Golani in November 2007. He’s carries a machine gun for his unit and was inserted into Gaza seventeen days ago. He was first cycled out this past Sunday. The first thing he did when he came home was called his parents Michelle and David to let them know he was safe, and then used “a proper bathroom.” Dustin says, “The socks, towels, underwear were amazing! We couldn’t get enough! Thank you! Hello to the family back home and especially the most wonderful sister in the world, Arielle. You’re the reason I’m here and why I know I’ll be okay.”

1:20PM
Roger: The soldiers pointed out where they were firing from in Gaza. On the road, we can see two tractors out in the fields. There’s an observation balloon overhead, and life goes on.
Leah: This base was a lot smaller than the last one but the energy was just as amazing and thankful. As we were leaving three soldiers were told they could go home and to see the smiles on their faces was absolutely amazing and the happiness was radiating off them.
Nechama: The soldiers were so appreciative they wrote on a flag thank you and signed it. we all took a pic with it. Now it is attached to the trailer and flying along in the wind.

2:30PM
We’re at the next base setting up.

3:10PM
Sandi: There are a lot of soldiers here and more coming.. David’s putting stuff aside for them so there’s something left. They’re so appreciative seeing us and bringing them stuff. I’m very happy I took the opportunity to come.
Marty: I’m very happy to have spent this day out here with the soldiers. It makes you feel like you’ve done a great thing.
Nili: I’m standing here with magic box of bourekas: they’ve almost all disappeared! Everyone wants towels, shampoo, deodorant.
Gad ben Rozen: I thought my friend was stationed up north and I turned around and there Benny was! I was shaking with excitement and was so relieved to see him. He crushed me in a huge bear hug. It was such a relief to find him safe.
Janet: This is such a simple way to help! You feel like you want to cry any second. I asked one if he was afraid, and he said no, he’d doing it for the children in Ashdod and Sderot and where the rockets are falling. We’re giving the stuff that they really really need like the socks and the towels.

4:00PM
Leah: I was talking to this chayal and telling him that what he does, by fighting, by being in Gaza, its a personal service to me. He is doing it for me, and that I appreciate it more than he could ever know. He looked at me so intently while I was talking. It seemed to really move him. He told me I should tell that to all the soldiers, say it on TV; they need to hear it.

5:30PM
Maya B, a combat soldier from Hod HaSharon was in Gaza for 2 1/2 weeks, and is hoping to return to her home with in a week. “Nothing special happened in Gaza. Just doing doing my job.” About the items that Standing Together has brought, she said, “Behind the material things that you brought us, it’s like a hug from the entire Am Yisrael.”

6:10PM
Leah: i am going back to america tomorrow, so i asked a bunch of chyalim what message they wanted to me send to the jewish community there right away, one chyaelet -girl- said come move here, it is the best place in the world. another one told me to tell the world that they are not the bad guys. that i met them and they are never intend to hurt civilians. he seemed really concerned about the civilians that he might have hurt, as he blew up buildings in gaza. but he wants everyone to know they try as hard as they can to avoid hurting civilians.

6:27PM
Nechama: i was talking to a soldier, he made aliya from hungary. he was expressing how happy that he was to be able to do something for the jewish people. it was a very powerful experience. every place we went all the chayalim created a different atmosphere. most of them wanted to talk. some of them were silent; they nodded and smiled to show that they appreciated that we came. one of them was saying how so many times people have come so far, and given things to them, how much it means to them, to see people and that they’re given what they need.

one thing that i found very impacting was the way not one chayal felt the need to push or take. they accepted so gratefully completely without any sign of - its coming to me.

at one point, one of the soldiers came up to me and asked me if i wanted to see inside one of the tanks. with such happiness he led me in. he explained to me the way it works, where the medic sits, the commander, the one that shoots. he told me that they see this everyday and its nice to see someone who is excited in what they’re doing.

Mia: The chayalllim seemed eager to show us their lives and “give us something in return.” After Nechama received her shirt another soldier came up and handed me a Golani shirt that said “ we put our stamp on everything” on it. As we were leaving, Itan, a medic from Canada offered me his shirt as well- another Golani shirt with the famous tree on it that he signed for me, thanking us for everything we do… Both of these shirts mean so much to me and the experiences the chayallim shared with me; their jobs, what it was like on the field during the war, inside the tanks, and what they want most- like to see their families and eat their mother’s food.  Today was a very emotional day but a very different kind of emotion than we saw at any other point during the war; a happiness and anxiousness to get home and “back to reality”

Today’s Guest Hosts

Asher Mansdorf from Woodmere, NY is joined by his daughter Devorah now studying in Stern College for Women. As soon as they learned about the mission, they knew it would make for a very memorable experience. Devorah is joined by her two friends -

Leora Sperber also hails from Woodmere, and attends Stern. Admits she was a little nervous at first.

Tova Flancbaum from Fairlawn, NJ attends Stern with Leora and Devorah.

Shlomo Lindenfeld with his wife Valerie and their daughter Leah, came from Woodmere, NY to visit their son Noach learning Yeshivat Hakotel for the year. Valerie usually volunteers in a pediatric dental clinic in Jerusalem, but this time wanted to do something a little different. And this was a little different. Valerie explains, “this time the whole family wants to help the whole country.”

12:10PM
Sderot, still decorated with Israeli flags, is still under threat from rocket attacks. It’s amazing how people were just “business as usual.” Store owner was amazed at how much we were buying, and then we told them who it was for. It was great that we lifted their spirits.

12:45PM
A soldier handed Valerie a palm branch from Gush Katif as a souvenir.
Leora: It feels so normal here.
Shlomo: Once in a lifetime experience. We’re meeting them literally as they just got back from battle. I felt very diminished giving out cookies to these modern-day macabiim. They’re very young and they’re assuming so much responsibility.
Devorah: saw a combat medic who is going to med school next year.

1:20PM
Still at the tanks..
Neri, a sergeant with an IDF combat engineers recon battalion had been in Gaza 8 days. He’s been rotated out and is back safe with the rest of his unit. As soon as the base commander gave a speech, he was given breakfast, and them was showered with gifts from Standing Together’s guests hosts! He got socks, towels, a t-shirts and briefs. At a loss for words, all he could say was that it was, “all very nice.”

The towels, hats and gloves were a big hit. They’re very thirsty too. So they’re drinking lots of coke. Met a guy from Ft. Lee, NJ who went to Moshava for five years.
Asher: They’re thanking us! We’re giving them more than socks, we’re giving them hope. They need to understand that we all hope and pray for them all the time. My parents are survivors, and I realized had these people been around during the Holocaust, I would have had to be named after someone else because my grandfathers, both of who, were named Asher, would have still been alive.
Leora: you feel like you were making their day. they were rolling out of Gaza, it was crazy!
Tova: I never thought I would have come, now how could I not? You feel their mood transform as we meet them with food, drinks. Socks are HUGE hit. I spoke with one soldier who delayed his Harvard education for a year to serve in the IDF.
Valerie: We’re thanking them and they’re being shy about it. It’s sweet. I feel like a mother to all of them and would do anything for them. They’re hungry, dirty, but so thankful to us for being here for them. They are so young and such heroes…
(2:05PM) Heading to another base

3:10PM
We’re still on the road to another base.. Apparently we’ve been sent somewhere that no visitors have been to yet.

4:00PM
We’ve finally arrived at a base where hundreds and hundreds of soldiers have just rotated out of Gaza. Families have come to greet soldiers who they haven’t seen in weeks. We’re waiting to clear security in order to set up for the soldiers who are still on the base.

The missions to Gaza have been one success after another. This time, we’re bringing them clean fresh towels in addition to all the other things our soldiers need, want and deserve!

Guest Hosts

Sorra Landau - David’s wife, switched shifts in Bikur Cholim so she could join the mission this morning. “Representing all the soldiers’ mothers, I came to make sure that they all have clean underwear!”

Paul - from Tel Aviv, originally from Paris, France, joined our group in Sderot to help distribute food and essential items to the soldiers. He’s brought a generous amount of money from donors back in France and wants everyone to know, “Nous faisons un petit quelque chose, mais à voir les sourires sur les visages de nos soldats, ils nous donnent l impression que c est ce que nous pouvons faire de mieux!!”

Avi Abelow - on keyboard, Avi’s our tech on the scene bringing you the soldiers on Skype, on the spot pictures from the mission, tweets on the web, facebook updates and more.

Charlie Shrem - on his first mission with Standing Together. He hopped a flight from Flatbush Brooklyn to expose the US media’s bias, see things for himself, and give the soldiers the support, that we care, and that we’re praying for their safety. Hello to everyone who tried to persuade him not to come!

Daryl Ginsberg - originally from Toronto, Canada, he made aliyah four years ago and now lives in Haifa. He found out about the missions through the website, and joins us on his first trip into Sderot and to visit the IDF soldiers with Standing Together. Hellos to Mom & Dad, Rich & Diana back in Canada!

Ricky Mann - also from Brooklyn, also from Flatbush! Ricky’s in yeshiva in Israel for the year, and wouldn’t miss the opportunity to join Standing Together on this mission. “My father came in 2006 and told me it was such an amazing experience, I felt obligated to do something for the soldiers myself.”

Jeffrey & Stephanie Kahn live in Herzliya and signed up as guests hosts for this mission as soon as they heard there was a possibility to volunteer to help out our soldiers.  They made aliyah in July 2007 and want to say hello to all the people back in Miami & South Florida. We’re here for you!

10:45AM
Thousands and thousands of balloons and flags, there isn’t a square inch of Sderot not decorated in blue and white! We’ll find out what the story is and let you know!
(11:18) Apparently, all of Sderot woke up to this surprise. Some organization just decide to cover the city in a blizzard of blue and white. A house that was damaged during the first mission is now being repaired..

12:15PM
We’re at the first base and starting to hand out supplies to the soldiers. All the guest hosts, old and new, simply cannot get over the infectiousness of the smiles.. A few of the soldiers were working with a piece of string. We asked them what they were doing, and they told us that they were preparing an eruv for the Sabbath.
(12:40) Amanda Kemble from Facebook: please pass on lots of hugs to our precious soldiers and tell them they are our heroes. we pray for them every day and for them to all return home safely xxxxx

1:00PM
Lots of soldiers getting ready to go in. Never seen 18 year old guys excited about getting underwear..
Charlie: They’re getting their gear ready to go into Gaza, packing up and loading the tanks..  wow..

2:15PM
They were happy about the candy, but they really appreciated the toothbrushes more. It was unbelievably apparent that they appreciated what we were doing for them.

3:30PM
We are front row at the show! Looking over Beit Hanoun. During the humanitarian
Stephanie: The girls were very happy for the chocolate, and the towels. The camaraderie, the warmth was overwhelming. Nothing else compares to coming out and being with them.
Ricky The soldiers have given me a lot of inspiration. Met a soldier from Baka whose family made aliyah and now he’s here.

4:00PM
Sorrah: We were at the army base. They let us into a bunker overlooking Gaza. We could see the destroyed community Alei Sinai. I called a chayal’s mother on the phone and let her speak to one of the chayalim about her son, who had seen her son and assured her that her son was alright.

4:30PM
We saw about three or four huge plumes of smoke.. A little frightening.
Jeff: We’ve had an amazing day, just to meet these guys.. They’re inspiring.. Just to see them in the staging area, getting ready to go in… Every Jew should do this for a half an hour!

David,

I want to thank you for today. The work that you are doing is so important and such a chesed (rightous act). Having seen the faces of these “boys” myself, I am more secure in the future of Am Yisrael (Nation of Israel) than ever before. Having seen these faces and experienced their joy in receiving us and our small gifts, I know more than ever that we are being protected by “melachim” (angels).

You are doing the work of a Tzadik (saint). I can not say enough about you and your work. I would like to join you again and I would like to help.

Again David, I thank and commend you on this labor of love.

Paysi Golomb

When you only have a few hours to pack, things gets forgotten. We’ve all been there, and we get by.

When you only have a few hours to pack and you’re not sure where you’re going, but you know you’re going into combat, and you don’t know how long you’re going to be away, things definitely gets forgotten.

Standing Together is going back this Thursday to make sure every IDF soldier has whatever they may have forgotten. We’re bringing towels, underwear, thermals, socks, scarves, gloves, hats, toothbrushes, mouthwash, deodorant, “ladies’ products,” toilet paper, soap, shampoo, shoelaces and whatever else we’ve been asked to bring.

We’re asking you to help us on this mission so we can make absolutely sure the soldiers we visit get everything they need. And remember to log on to http://www.stogether.org Thursday morning so you can read all about how you’ve helped make the mission a success.

Dan Leubitz needs no introduction. He’s on his third mission and we’re looking forward to some great photos and stories from him.

Gwenn Normile - from Jerusalem, she made aliyah in August 2008 from Teaneck NJ. She learned about the missions and volunteered to be a drop off point for Baka/Talpiot/Arnona neighborhoods in southern Jerusalem. Not satisfied with simply collecting, Gwenn volunteered to help distribute for today’s mission.

“We have seen such an outporing, nonstop, since we posted on Janglo. Our living room was covered in things for the soldiers. Twice! One grandmother came with her grandchildren with cookies packed in baggies, each with handwritten notes. Another supporter brought packages of garinim with tehillim inside. There have been generous donations of all types, food, clothing, money, coming from every type of person imaginable. One German oleh told me she traveled 1/2 hour to drop off a little something.”

Her initial impression of Sderot was that she would be terrified, by the end of her visit she was totally at ease, “It was completely peaceful.” Hello to Chaya and Mendel Gottesman from Neve Daniel, Israel!

Wendy Gordon - is back again because “it was such an incredible experience.” She hopped on the trruck and is ready to go. Wendy is a new oleh currently at the mercaz klitah in Yeelim.  Hello to Michal & Deborah Rosen and Lee & Michael Geller in Seattle, WA!

Adam Lerch - is a new oleh who hails from Oakland, California. When he found out that Wendy was going back, he wanted to go so he could, “help the soldiers any way I can.” Hello to Kyle, Brent, mom Didi and dad Brian back in the States.

Paysi Golomb - originally from Baltimore, he’s the director of Tehilla.

Ariel Youssefzadeh from Roslyn, NY found out about the missions through the Facebook group. He’s in Israel for the year and wants to say hi to the family back home: dad Cyrus mom Rozita, Jessica, Shaina and Leora.

“Leah’s” parents don’t know that she came. We can’t tell you a lot about her, except that she came to Israel specifically after the operation started so she could be michazek (strengthen) the IDF soldiers.

We’ve been cleared to get closer to the Gaza fence than we were last time. The security officer who cleared us sounded very excited that we brought so much stuff with us.

11:40AM
We find ourselves in the middle of an army convoy. Getting closer to our first base.
Wendy: Sderot was much quieter than my last visit. I did my part to support Sderot by doing some light shopping in the market.

12:30PM
We gave them socks and towels.. which they are taking with them inside the APC.. One of the commanders came over to David.. we are going into battle now.. It means so much to us that you come out here and strengthen us like this.. Many of the soldiers are thanking us! While they are going in at this moment.. and they are thanking us for cake and a towel! We wished them a safe return… and were enthused that they are taking items sent from all over the world with them… They were too excited to eat so much.. but realized the importance of the socks and such..

We are now off to the next base.. our tires are still loaded from all the stuff..

2:00PM
They ate, they drank, they emailed… each base seems to need something else.. I saw them checking out the sports pages online..
Gwenn: I approached a chayal and asked what he else he wants here.. and he said.. I’d like my mother giftwrapped and sent here.

And I want my mother in law in a box… lol glad they have a sense of humor!!

3:00PM
The soldiers are fresh out of training. The commanders keep telling us how we boost morale for everyone. Some of them seemed very nervous about facing live action so soon after training, but the love and support they feel from us really reminded them that they’re doing this for the whole country, Jews and supporters from all around the world.

4:30
At first they didn’t want to let us in, but when they understood why we were here, and that we had permission, they let us in.
Ariel: This is my first time in Israel, and I’m so lucky to be able to do this. They’re going crazy over Snickers bar
“Leah:” The most emotional moment for me on this trip was when I noticed a soldier who had just come back from Gaza. He hadn’t davened (prayed) with his tefillin in days. After he had finished, he turned around and saluted me. It made me cry…

We visited about seven camps, and each time the reaction is the same. They’re just so grateful.

If I’m online and you have Skype, click on the button above to call me!

9:15AM
Left Efrat with the computer and a trailer loaded with warm weather clothing and underwear for the soldiers. Met a group of people from Beit Shemesh who had collected dozens of care packages for us to hand out to the soldiers. Our trailer has never been this full!

10:35AM
Stopped in Sderot to pick up 75lbs of fresh cakes, didn’t stop at the makolet because we’ve received so much of it from donors. We’ll go back next time.
Mia: It makes me very sad that they have to live like this, under constant danger, but they’re keeping it together and it’s inspiring.

11:00AM
It was a quiet stop in Sderot, B"H.

Avi: Driving in fields right next to gaza border, to get to soldiers near the fence. Looking right at Gaza city right in front of us!

11:10AM
Set up at our first camp. News from the north came early here today. Can’t believe crazy civilians just pulled up in a trailer!

11:54AM
We’re being told to leave, Hamas is targeting the area with mortars.

12:12PM
The hospitality trailer is driving through the fields near Gaza border, near kibbutz Alumim
Mia: I feel like I’m doing my part for Israel. I’m a olah chadashah who can’t serve in the army, but it feels great to boost the morale of the soldiers!

12:45PM
We’re setting up the trailer in another IDF camp now.
Bill: It’s a real privilege to be able to come out here to support them. They’re doing all the work and then thank us for coming, when it should be the other way around.

1:11PM
At the artillery base:
It’s unbelievable! The computer is a tremendous success! They’re so happy checking email for the first time in two weeks!  Mia and Dovid left from Sde Eliyahu at 4AM to make sure they made it, and it was totally worth it for them. They are having the most amazing time.

The soldiers were totally shocked that we were handing out underwear. They were hugging it as if they were afraid it would disappear!

1:23PM
Regards to Yoni Riskin & staff at Lachan in Efrat
Regards to Wolf family & friends in Alon Shevut
Mia: it has been an amazing experience to be out here with these guys who are protecting us and fighting for our country. Glad we could bring them a moment’s respite.
We had a jam session with the soldiers for about 25 minutes. Video to come.
Avi Ganz: Glad I brought my harmonica along. That was wild.

2:20PM
We’re on the road again. Supplies are holding up. The weather is clearing. The humanitarian cease-fire is in effect, so we haven’t heard any explosions.
(2:23PM) We’re pulling into the next stop. There are soldiers putting on tefillin now. It might be their first opportunity since coming back from Gaza, it could be a group who goes around for outreach.
The first strain of the underwear song are playing now out of the truck’s loudspeakers

If I’m online and you have Skype, click on the button above to call me!

David Landau, the founder of Standing Together, is making two trips a week to the camps around Gaza delivering hot food and drinks to the soldiers. He brings a select group of guest hosts, even though the danger is enormous.

We’re using Facebook events as a virtual way for people all over the world to attend each mission. We bring the list of attendees to the soldiers, and David explains to them that in addition to the food, drinks, clothing and personal items, he’s bringing the support from thousands of people from all over the world.

During his trip, David stays in touch and liveblogs the mission. About once an hour, the liveblog is updated with what they’ve been up to. If something significant happens, it goes up right away, usually when Qassam rockets are falling in Sderot. Thankfully the trips into the IDF camps have been safe. They’ve been very emotional visits for the guest hosts. You can read the liveblogs from the last two missions at:
http://www.stogether.org/index.php?/news/news_releases/liveblogging_gaza_mission_3/
http://www.stogether.org/index.php?/news/news_releases/liveblogging_gaza_mission_2/

You can see the photo gallery from the third mission at:
http://www.stogether.org/index.php?/photogallery/category/C64/
More photos are being uploaded all the time.

Of course we invite people to help by donating at http://www.stogether.org/gaza . The soldiers are appreciative enough when Standing Together lets them know that thousands of people from all over the world send their best wishes, and that’s good enough for us.

Meet our Guest Hosts
Rami Landau is David’s son. Besides the enjoyment he gets from helping out the soldiers, he’s taking video and photographs of the mission.

Chana Eastman was married in July 2008. Her husband Josh is serving in the Golani brigade. He hasn’t been home in weeks. She’s hoping that they can find where his unit is stationed, and that he’s been rotated out of the action for today. Hey, it could happen..

Anthony Harris, originally from Scotland, grew up in Perth, Australia, and is now living in the Zayit in Efrat. Anthony, who made aliyah too late to serve, is on the mission today because, “In 2006 I had many friends from work who went up to serve in the war. I couldn’t help out last time, but now nothing could keep me away!”

Dan Leubitz just couldn’t stay away. Dan joined Standing Together on their Second Mission to Gaza on New Year’s Day 2009. Dan was born in Cleveland, Ohio and made aliyah in September 2006 from Teaneck, NJ. The last mission was so emotional he had to come back for more.

Brendan Rothschild, from Melbourne, Australia hasn’t made aliyah just yet. He served in the Nachal brigade until 8th months ago when he finished his service. He plans on making aliyah when he completes his degree. About a year ago, Standing Together came to visit him on the base during Chanukah, and he’s glad he as the opportunity to lend a hand today.

Wendy Gordon, an MSW originally from Boca Raton, Florida now living in Beer Sheva joined Standing Together because she felt a strong need to help directly, hands on, with the soldiers who are protecting our country. “It’s amazing how thankful they are when it’s us who should be thanking them.”

9:30AM
Left for the South this morning with a car full of 500 packages include fleece mask, thermals and socks. Heading to Sderot to pick up food and personal items in the grocery.

10:35AM
Still haven’t been able to get to a location with decent reception. Going to try again in a bit.

11:30AM
In the makolet, stocking up on supplies to bring south.
Chana: Im just trying to help where I can. My husband’s doing his part, so I’m doing mine.

Heard a Qassam in the distance (11:45)

12:35PM
As we’re leaving Sderot on the way to Nachal Oz, we heard the Tzeva Adom (Color Red) alert. We didn’t hear anything but we quickly pulled over to a reinforced bus shelter. Three seconds later we heard a loud explosion. For some on the mission it was their first experience in a rocket alert.

!(12:39) Another Tzeva Adom alert. That’s two in five minutes. How do people live like this every day of their lives?

1:00PM
Stopped at an artillery staging area in the middle of nowhere. We came with food and clothes and they were most appreciative of the clothes because it’s freezing down here.

2:30 PM
Followed the smoke about a kilometer and a half to an insertion point. They’ve been there three days straight without a change of clothes. They constantly repeat thank you. Handing out bottles of water. We changed the mood from stressed to festive, we broke the monotony of waiting. We’re taking pictures of them, they’re taking pictures of us!
Wendy: I can’t get over the range of ages of the soldiers! Young, old, and they’re all here fighting for Israel’s very right to exist. I wish there was more I could do.

3:30PM
At a camp now, handing out hundreds of packages of cold weather clothing to soldiers. Soldiers are hanging around the trailer like a little cafe, very funny. Soldiers from all walks of Israeli life. They talk about where they’re from. They’re overwhelmed by Abby’s letter (a couple asked for pictures of her) and the thousands of people from the Facebook group who showed their support and love. Two officers approached us and thanked us, just thanked us.
Anthony: Every soldier says to me “Ein Milim,” there are no words. I never knew I could bring this much pleasure by just coming to visit them, just to support them.
(3:52PM) David: Last cold weather package handed out. 500 soldiers are sleeping warmer tonight, in clean clothes. Thousands more aren’t. Need help for more

4:30PM
We’re starting mincha (evening prayers) with the soldiers. The religious soldiers and the volunteers prayed together between two tanks for safety. The sky is dark grey, filled with shadows. It really moves you to see that in the midst of it all, they stop to pray.

4:53
We’re 500 meters from Gaza right now, within sniper range. We’ve been handing out everything that we have to the soldiers who have just returned from inside Gaza. It was such an uplifting feeling to see them come back safely. Many are just young men who are experiencing combat for the first time. They appreciate what we’re doing even though it’s so little.
Wendy: We need more boxer shorts!

Wherever we’re gone, the soldiers are polite and it’s really a pleasure to mingle and chat with them.

We’re getting ready to go home. We need to leave a little earlier than planned, before it gets too dark to see how to get back.

Ninety-two year old Yehudit Bobker of Sydney, Australia, has been knitting for others for the past decade, since she answered an ad from Sydney’s Jewish Home for the Aged asking for volunteers to knit blankets for wheelchair-bound patients. Two hundred blankets later, Yehudit turned her talents to providing warmth in winter for IDF soldiers. From time to time she has sent these special care packages to Israel for distribution. Now, Standing Together is proud to be the exclusive distributor of Mrs. Bobker’s hand-knit scarves.

When we receive one of her packages we know that the lucky soldiers we’ll visit next are in for a special surprise. This past week, Standing Together was fortunate enough to receive a “BobkerGram” just in time for our Second Mission to Gaza. The soldiers reactions were inspiring. Once they were told the story of the scarves they begged David Landau, founder of Standing Together, to send a message back to Mrs. Bobker thanking her for the scarves. We did one better. We sent her a picture (seen below) of the soldiers getting her thoughtful presents.

We look forward to many more years of partnership with Mrs. Bobker!

For Avram Weissman, a resident of Lawrence, NY, the secular new year began with a tremendous act of chessed (kindness). Avram was a guest host with Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org). He traveled to checkpoints in the southern Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh areas, distributing cake, fresh-brewed coffee and hot pizza to soldiers stationed at checkpoints in Israel’s heartland.

Several weeks ago Avram, executive vice-president of CSU Industries in Cedarhurst, was planning his trip to Israel for a family bar mitzvah. His wife Elana forwarded him an email from Standing Together regarding their annual National Donut Week campaign, which ran during the weeks leading up to Chanukah. Avram decided rather than simply make a donation, he would travel with Standing Together and participate in handing out food to the soldiers himself.

After he arrived, Avram enlisted the help of his cousins Yechiel Friedman, Yechiel Fuchs and Aliza Abittan, to go out with David Landau, founder of Standing Together. What David didn’t know was that Avram had packed a surprise in his suitcase. His daughter Sarah Meira and her friends from Morah Morgenstern’s fourth grade class at HALB drew pictures and wrote cards in Hebrew for Avram to distribute to the soldiers.

Avram pulled out two stacks of cards from his bag, and explained to the soldiers who they had come from. They were deeply touched and spent a few minutes reading the cards while enjoying the late-night snack, trading the children’s cards back and forth.

“The reaction of the soldiers was incredible,” said Avram. “They were so excited to see us. And then when we passed out the cards and the food… the feeling was indescribable.” Avram spoke with a soldier who had finished his regular army service and was now serving in the IDF reserves. He explained to Avram that his unit was scheduled to go into Gaza in a month. “On the one hand, you want to be where the action is, you know, in Gaza. On the other hand, you know that every place is more vulnerable, so our job here is even more important.” The checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem are crucial towards the capital’s safety.

Later in the evening they continued to a base outside of Beit Shemesh where dozens of soldiers came once word had spread that the Standing Together trailer was there. The group immediately got working and handed out the food, drinks and cards. It was there where the group met with a funny coincidence.

One of the female soldiers explained to David that her boyfriend, a reservist in the IDF, had called her that morning from his cell phone. “His phone ran out of batteries yesterday,” she explained, “and where is he going to get more power to charge his phone? Then all of a sudden today I get a call from him. He told me that someone had shown up out of nowhere with a truck, handed out free food and drinks, and gave him a place to recharge his phone. And now here you are!” Earlier in the day, David had traveled to IDF camps on his second mission to Gaza.

Avram said, “It’s been very exciting. Giving hakarot hatov (appreciation) to these soldiers is a very special thing to do. It made the trip that much more special. If you’re going to be in Israel, even for a week, make the time to go out with Standing Together.”

Standing Together brings food, drinks and the appreciation of people from all over the world to IDF soldiers on duty. Learn more and donate at http://www.stogether.org.

Update 10:15AM
The group met up in Efrat, about 20 minutes south of Jerusalem. Joining David as special guest hosts are his son Rami, “Dr. Jazz” Elazar Brandt, Dan Leubitz and Rabbi Ben Packer from North Carolina along with his student Jacob Avanzato. They loaded the truck in Efrat with cookies soda, drinks, deodorant, wet wipes, cakes.

Update 11:30AM
In Sderot with fresh-baked bourekas and cakes. Then they’re going to supermarket for sugar, coffee and paper goods for the soldiers. They’ll reach the soldiers by lunchtime.
Rabbi Packer: It’s great to help Sderot and help the soldiers all at the same time!

Update 12:30PM
It was a quiet trip into Sderot. Every time we come they’re excited to see us. Got there just in time for the soldiers to enjoy breakfast!
Elazar pulled out the banjo and started to play. Lots of smiles!

Update 1:45PM
Moved to another location.
Having a hard time finding parking! We’re in a field surrounded by tanks.
A photojournalist from Getty Images is trying to get in with David, because journalists aren’t being allowed on bases. Ha ha.
We’re going in with some Breslover chassidim. N-Na-Nach! Now we’re getting ready to start distributing.

Update 2:25PM
Met with Rabbi Heshy Billet and Rabbi Avi Weiss on their fact-finding mission.

Update 2:35PM
While traveling from tank base to tank base on route 232, a quasam landed IN FRONT OF THE CAR. We have a picture of the rocket! No damage, B"H to either the road or the vehicles. Moments later we heard another explosion behind us.
We’re now traveling with an reserve army colonel who is guiding us around and finding the hidden bases. Without his help we wouldn’t be able to reach half the soldiers we’re giving food out to! Making short stops every 30 minutes.

Update 2:55PM
We’re setting up at another tank base near Erez crossing.

Update 3:10PM
David: We’re handing out food here on the ground, our soldiers are charging their phones, and a helicopter hovering overhead is firing into Gaza!

Update 3:30PM
We’re on the move again. The commanders don’t want us drawing a crowd. But it was enough for most of their cell phones to be fully charged! Now planes launching rockets into Gaza right overhead.

Update 4:10PM
Dr. Jazz: Been traveling with David all day with my banjo. We’re making some happy music while the soldiers are enjoying coffee and bourekas. “Sisu et Yerushalaim” is a popular one, and soldiers like to sing along. Also What a Wonderful World from Louis Armstrong. Dancing, clapping and one even recognized me from Ben Yehuda Street in Jersalem.

At one stop the Breslover chassidim were out-playing me, so I handed out baloon swords to the soldiers instead. They got such a kick out of it.

I’m dressed in all white, but the mud is knee-deep in some places, so I guess I’m dressed in half-white.

The soldiers are really happy to see us, and the crew I’m with is doing an amazing job!

Message to Krina: Doing fine, honey. Having fun and everything’s okay!

Update 4:30PM
We’re leaving the last camp now. We hear explosions but we’re not sure where they’re coming from.

Dan Leubitz: Thousands of soldiers are waiting for their orders, but we can only get to a handful at a time. It’s important that we help and aid the brave men and women and give them strength.

The heavy feeling here is punctuated by the powerful boom of rockets exploding. While the soldiers cheer when explosions are followed by a dark plume of smoke from the Gaza side of the fence, the mood quickly turns grim as yet another Qassam rocket explodes nearby in response. But when they saw us come in with food, the tense mood in the camps relaxed, and we saw smiles on faces that had little to smile about. When you watch the face of a soldier as they enjoy the food, it transforms them. It brings them home from the battlefront, if only for a moment. They’re kids again.

Let’s Get Started on Mission #3: 1/6/09

Many of us depend on our daily coffee to keep us going, help us face the day.  Unfortunately, the potential dangers that our soldiers face daily are much more serious than most everyday problems.  The least we can do is send a cup of coffee to reassure these young men and women and show them that thew world appreciates what they do for us.  This heartwarming program allows you to send as many cups of coffee as youd like, daily, weekly or monthly to Israeli soldiers.

Standing Together’s Director, David Landau recently met Mala and Simcha Goldberg, and their niece Shira, who is studying in Israel for the year, to distribute pizza and drinks to Israeli Soldiers as a way of saying “thank you” for all their hard work.  Leaving Jerusalem at 9PM, they decided to go to some checkpoints not commonly visited to show support and gratitude for what the soldiers there were doing. On a deserted road to Gush Etzion they made their first stop.  The soldiers were elated and thrilled to see visitors to Israel coming to show their support. After spending time visiting with these chayalim, David, Mala, Simcha and Shira continued to the next stop, a large checkpoint for cars leaving the Gush Etzion area and entering Jerusalem. After an hour of giving out pizza and drinks to soldiers manning this checkpoint and other soldiers passing through, our group got ready to leave. To their dismay, the alarm system on Standing Together’s truck was malfunctioning and the truck couldn’t be started. After calling various service companies and tow trucks, it became clear that it would take some time for help to arrive. David offered to help the Goldbergs get a ride back to Jerusalem, which they refused emphatically, insisting they would persevere and make the best of the situation. While David tried to solve the problem with the truck, the Goldbergs took it upon themselves to warm up the oven and continue to distribute hot pizza and cold drinks to soldiers passing through. By the time the service truck arrived, tried to repair the truck unsuccessfully and sent a tow truck, the Goldbergs had served almost all the pizza that was available. David was able to arrange for a back up vehicle to pull the trailer to the next location. After 2 more stops, the pizza was gone, spirits were high and the whole group returned to Jerusalem at 2 AM.

“This has truly been a remarkable and wonderful experience! The car breaking down was worth the extra 2 hours as it gave us the opportunity to truly experience the “pizza delivery” process and get to know you. Thank you so much for this incredible night”.  Mala wrote.

Kidnapped IDF Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit turned 22 this year and as the vast majority of his fellow soldiers returned to their civilian lives, some going on to university and others taking up careers, the young soldier continues to languish in terrorist hands. Gilad has been in captivity since June 25th, 2006,more than 800 days.

“Politicians care more about the upcoming elections than they do about freeing Gilad Schalit, said Miki Goldwasser, [mother of deceased captured soldier Ehud Goldwasser] who traveled to the southern border on Wednesday to help the young man’s friends mark his 22nd birthday, his third in captivity.” stated an article from The Jerusalem Post August 27th.

Show Gilad and his family that we have not forgotten him.  He is in our prayers for the new year and we hope to deliver your good wishes to Gilad directly.  If this is not possible, people all over the world will stand together and show our support to the Shalit family. 

Young men and women risk their lives everyday, all year long to protect our Jewish homeland.  As Jews worldwide start our new year, we pray for peace and safety for captured soldiers and those throughout Israel.

Join our Rosh Hashana Project now and show them you care.

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More information to follow

With very special thanks to Jeffery and Hillary Markowitz of Westchester, New York, Standing Together is thrilled to announce our new Ice Cream Trailer.  As the weather gets warmer here in Israel, it gets more difficult to protect the Jewish Homeland in full army gear.  Standing Together is pleased to provide a way for you to show your appreciation to these hard working men and women by sending them cool treats.

Our new Ice Cream Trailer is specially outfitted with freezers and refrigeration so volunteers can bring ice cream, cold drinks and other cool treats to those defending our land.

We are very excited for our first Ice Cream Day in Sderot this season.  Last year in order to distribute cool treats to Sderot residents in the hot summer, we had to borrow freezers and fit them into our regular pizza trailer.  This year we can buy even more Ice Cream in the local Sderot stores to distribute to the residents who remain despite the constant threat of Kassam rockets.

Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org), the organization dedicated to supporting Israel’s soldiers, is embarking on a Mishloach Manot Campaign. This campaign, known as Purim Together serves as a practical and simple way to demonstrate your solidarity, support and appreciation of Israel’s young soldiers. This is a wonderful way to show Israel’s young heroes how much you care.

We are targeting a total of 50,000 Mishloach Manot packages. Some 30,000 have already been committed by the Friends of the IDF in Israel, and we are looking for the support of your schools, synagogues and communities for the remaining 20,000.

We believe this project provides a terrific opportunity to express your support and commitment to Israel, her people and her defenders. It is operated by Standing Together and the Friends of the IDF in Israel, as a philanthropic project, and is not a business venture. 

The day-to-day work of an Israel Defense Force soldier can be fraught with danger. Organizations in Israel and abroad can’t do all that much to resolve the dangerous part but we are hoping to ensure that, at the very least, the soldiers can stay warm while doing their jobs this winter.

While Israel is certainly not known for its frigid temperatures, it is important to note that many soldiers work at checkpoints at night or are on patrol in chilly regions, often when temperatures dip below freezing.

Standing Together has teamed up with One Israel Fund, based in Hewlett, NY to collect donations to provide coats, gloves, hats and other apparel for IDF soldiers. On Wednesday, Jan. 23, both organizations travelled to several bases and checkpoints, and personally distributed the first batch of winter gear to the soldiers, in addition to offering them hot drinks and refreshments.

At the checkpoints throughout the country, soldiers literally have to stand outside in the cold. It’s difficult if they do not have the proper attire.
We’re not only bringing clothing, but also giving a message to soldiers that not only does their own country care about them, but people around the world care about them.

Each IDF base has its own budget, so while some have allocated funds for winter clothing, others have had to spend that money on more pressing needs—some security-related.
Obviously, in a lot of areas, they’re focused on life-saving items. One base may have winter clothing for the soldiers; one may have gotten fleece jackets, but not hats or scarves.

Standing Together volunteers delivered thousands of Donuts to Israel Soldiers this Chanukah.  Thanks to schools all over the world who supported this year’s donut campaign, young men and women protecting our Homeland savored a tasty treat that reminded them they are part of the larger picture, a Jewish world.  Watch this video of the soldiers enjoying the special visit from Standing Together and the cards sent by students from outside of Israel.

The students will be given the chance to express their wishes directly in notes to be dispensed with the donuts.  Standing Together will capture the smiles on the faces of the soldiers on camera and post them in the photo gallery section of the website for all to enjoy. 

Standing Together accomplishes its goals of minimizing costs and spending every possible dollar on achieving their mission by using a staff made up predominantly of volunteers, sending newsletters via email rather than traditional mailings and employing modern marketing strategies. New programs and initiatives are constantly being implemented by Standing Together in order to serve more soldiers, better assist the community of Sderot and increase the number of people who are able to express Hakaras Hatov to those who truly deserve it. New additions to the Standing Together projects include special Bar and Bat Mitzvah programs which are quickly becoming one of Standing Together’s more popular activities.  Keep an eye out for information about the Standing Together Pizza-thons that will be run by youth programs all over the world. 
There are countless ways in which you and your whole family can make a difference in the lives of those who make a difference in Israel with Standing Together.  For more information and to schedule or participate in a gathering for Standing Together, contact Miriam Gottlieb directly at info@stogether.org

Tax deductible donations should be made out to the Central Fund for Israel, earmarked for Standing Together and sent to Standing Together c/o Welcher, 643 Branch Blvd, Cedarhurst, NY 11516

Please purchase a gift basket and Support the Sderot economy.  Show the residents of Sderot you care.

Thanks to your generosity, hundreds of children in Sderot will get a brighter start to this school year.

In order to continue helping out the economy of Sderot and challah the we need anyway, Standing Together is offering the oppportunity to purchase your challah and rugelach from the Mehadrin Bakery in Sderot.  You may then pick it up from a local community representative.

Prices are as follows:
2 regular challot 27 NIS
1 Whole Wheat, 1 Regular Challah 28 NIS
2 Whole Wheat challot 30 NIS
All challah orders come with a roll and 1/2 Kilo of rugelach

Just Rugelach 15 NIS

Watch this site for pictures and insights from this trip

We are developing more ways to help and we need your participation to make it work.  A coupon program allowing families in Sderot with limited incomes to shop in thier own local markets is in the development stages.  There are families whose income has vanished due to the situation, yet they remain in Sderot to protect our land or because they do not have the means to move.  You can purchase a gift certificate of 500 or 1000 shekel to be distributed to these families.  Many of those who remain in Sderot simply do not have a choice, they have no where else to go.  A very special way to say thank you to people risking thier lives to keep our homeland safe.

We also encourage you to do your shopping in the stores that are open.  Many of the residents of Sderot have left.  If the stores that have remained open do not get enough traffic they cannot continue to do business.  This will leave the residents who have stayed in their homes no place to buy their milk and bread and other necessities.  One of the most significant ways in which you can make a difference to the residents of Sderot is to support local businesses.

On Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Veteran Rememberance Day) we remember and memorialize Israel’s fallen soldiers.  The next day is Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s independence Day), a day to remember the soldiers that are alive, and well and protecting our homeland from terror.  Just like Americans celebrate Independence Day with barbeques and getting together with family and friends, Israel Independence Day, is the official start of the BBQ season.  Why should the men and women to whom we owe our safety be left out of the festivities??? Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org) and Friends of the IDF in Israel will bring the Barbeques to the Bases!!!

Thousands of Israeli families will be lighting their barbeque grills and joining family and friends to celebrate Israel’s Independence.  The soldiers on active duty will be working hard protecting them. Standing Together, a grass roots organization totally funded by private donations, recognizes the difficulty soldiers face being away from family and friends at holiday time.  It is important to let these soldiers know we are thinking of them and appreciate the sacrifices they make for our safety.

Standing Together encourages tourists visiting Israel to contact us at info@stogether.org to arrange a visit to the young men and women who are hard at work securing our Jewish homeland.  Throughout the year volunteers bring hot coffee and pizza to soldiers on patrol and at checkpoints.  Make your next visit to Israel an unforgettable one.

Standing Together partners with schools, synagogues and youth groups to establish a connection between Israeli soldiers and the Worldwide Jewish Community.  It is so important that the soldiers know their hard work is appreciated.  Whether its an email greeting for Rosh Hashana, a donut for Chanukkah, M’shloach Manot for Purim, chocolate for Pesach or barbeque for Yom HaAtzmaut, a small gesture goes a long way.  Show Israels troops that we are there for them and thank them for being there for us.  Contact info@stogether.org for more information or to make a donation.

The Rochwarger, Azizollahoff, and Simanowitz families along with dozens of other participants made this Pesach holiday much more enjoyable for our soldiers this year.  Standing Together would like to thank our sponsors, donors and those who delivered treats to the soldiers who protect us everyday.  Here in Israel, the pesach holiday is a time for families to get together and spend time traveling and enjoying our beautiful country and the warmer weather.  During our entire holiday season, we are protected by soldiers who are not out relaxing and enjoying the free time.  We are grateful for their hard work and are glad to be able to bring smiles and goodies to brighten their chag.

Our Purim Together campaign was the most successful yet thanks to YOU!! Schools, Synagogues, Organizations and individuals all over the world contributed towards the 31,000 packages that were delivered to soldiers all over Israel.

IDF provides Matzah and wine, who brings the Pesach chocolate?  Only one organization – Standing Together.  After all the Matzah is eaten, the four cups are gone and the songs sung, we all somehow find room for a piece of Pesach chocolate. Standing Together, http://www.stogether.org, an organization increasing the morale of Israeli Soldiers, is launching a new initiative for Pesach bringing Kosher L’Pesach chocolate to soldiers on active duty when the rest of the country is on vacation.  Although most of Israel sees Pesach as a time to spend with family and friends, taking trips and visiting people, many young men and women are hard at work protecting our borders. Email info@stogether.org to learn more about the activities helping soldiers who are helping us.

All year long, Standing Together brings friendly faces, hot pizza and holiday treats to the Chayalim who are out guarding our territories, landmarks and borders.  Especially during holiday time, guard duty can be very lonely.  Imagine the joy when a lonely soldier receives a Purim Package, a Jelly Donut for Chanukkah or a New Years greeting written by a child far away. 

Standing Together has trucks outfitted with pizza ovens, coffee machines, and snack kiosks ready to drive to all of the checkpoints manned by Israeli Soldiers.  Visitors from all over the world are invited to join Standing Together volunteers and bring a hot delicious smile to the faces of these often neglected soldiers.

In conjunction with the Friends of the IDF in Israel, Standing together distributed more than 30,000 Purim Packages to the brave forces of the IDF this year.  A record breaking number of traditional holiday food packages brought happiness to soldiers responsible for our security 24 hours a day. For a minimal donation, members of the Jewish community worldwide made a maximum difference.

In the past year, Standing Together volunteers and donors have been responsible for adding small refrigerators to hospital rooms of wounded soldiers, bringing a mobile cell phone charging unit to remote areas, delivered thousands of Rosh Hashana cards from Jewish people all over the world to members of the IDF, brought toiletries and warm socks to army bases during the Lebanese war, and much much more.

Standing Together has begun making connections with youth groups, synagogues, schools and other organizations in order to share this mitzvah with thousands of people worldwide.  There are countless ways that you can get involved in helping to thank the brave men and women who often go unnoticed. 

There are new opportunities to offer your support being developed all the time.  One new idea on the horizon is a Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program which incorporates the guest of honor, his/or her community and the IDF creating an inspiring connection which could last a lifetime.

Nothing warms the heart of a cold, wet and tired soldier like a visit from someone who cares.  Standing Together, an international organization mostly staffed by volunteers, ensures visits and so much more. 

Israel February, 2007 - The Goldman family from New Jersey were in Israel a few weeks ago, and joined Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org) for an unforgettable experience. This is what Devorah Goldman writes about her families visit:

We are in Israel for winter break and we’ve seen the most beautiful sights from North to South, eaten the most delicious food, visited with friends and relatives and basked in the glow of Jerusalem’s golden light. What else is left to do? Plenty, I assured my sceptical family, as we cut a dinner short with friends on the Saturday night before our departure.

Instead of trolling the shops on Ben Yehuda and drinking latte in a warm Jerusalem cafe, I tuck my husband Edward, and my teenage daughters Elisheva and Hadassah into David Landau’s truck. Before you know it we are driving on those very dark (and chilly) highways out of Jerusalem --- roads that lead to checkpoints with soldiers standing, guarding, checking, all night long, keeping our country safe. Funny, with all of our travels we never really noticed these soldiers before, how young they are, how sweet—how cold it is, and how dark.  Now, David pulls into the first of several checkpoints, opens up his trailer attached to his pickup, and fires up the oven. In moments we are bringing delicious hot pizza and soda to soldiers who are at first stunned and then entirely grateful.

We do this several times, eventually ending up on an army base, where a group of young soldiers comes out to greet us and munch pizza. We simply tell them “Thank you for all that you do for us”—and they cannot believe their ears. When they find out we are on vacation, and are spending our Saturday night driving around in the dark to checkpoints to deliver pizza, they are incredulous, and then appreciative.


Devorah, Elisheva and Hadassah Goldman with soldiers and Standing Together Founder David Landau


We linger after the last slice has been finished off. It is 11:30 p.m. but we don’t want to leave. We are like family that is meeting for the first time and now we don’t want to leave them. We want to take them home with us, tell them peace has arrived and there are no more checkpoints to guard. We take photos, and finally bid everyone “shalom” and realize this evening has been the absolute highlight of our entire 12 days. Thank you, Gadi, Zev, Nate, and the others ---- back here in New Jersey we are thinking of you and praying for peace.


Edward, Devorah, Elisheva and Hadassah Goldman with a happy soldier!


The Goldmans visit was part of Standing Together’s “24/7 for 2007” campaign which encourages organizations, schools and individuals to personally meet soldiers. We call on you all to follow their lead!

Israel’s war with Hezbollah this summer began with the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers across the northern border. It was followed three weeks later by the kidnapping of another soldier by Hamas across the border of the Gaza Strip. As winter comes to the Middle East, Udi Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit remain in the hands of terrorists - alone and cut off from everything they have ever known. We had hoped that a way would have been found to bring them home already, but the passage of time gives us no reason for greater optimism. None of us can stand idly by when we have a chance to raise our voices on their behalf and in concert with the voices of their families.

Join us in our effort to bring international attention to their plight by adding your name to the petition at this website http://www.freethesoldiers.org/

Help us to make sure that their families know that they are not alone in their struggle to bring their sons, their brothers and their husbands home.  It will only take a moment to add your name. Then, we have one more request. Take another moment to send this by e-mail to everyone you know. When we reach one million signatures, you and those you’ve introduced to the website will join others from across the Jewish and non-Jewish world in delivering our petitions to the UN and to the halls of power everywhere.

Join us now, and thank you.

After contacting Standing Together (http://www.stogether.org), a grass-root volunteer organization dedicated to supporting Israel’s soldiers, they embarked on a memorable adventure. It was dark and very cold when Standing Together volunteer Dan Leubitz met up with the whole Nutis family, Joe, Ira, Sam, Sara and Laura. They jumped in to the New Coffee Mobile and set out to meet some soldiers.

Dan took them first to a checkpoint at the western entrance to Bethlehem. On arriving, it was hard to tell who was most enthusiastic about the meeting. Was it the soldiers who were delighted not only to receive hot coffee and cakes, but also to meet kind, caring people from the States? Or was it the Nutis Family themselves, who were excited to be meeting these young men looking after the Jewish people’s security?

Another two checkpoints were visited that evening, and at each place the atmosphere was similar. The soldiers were amazed that a Jewish family from America would take time out from their vacation to personally make hot coffee for them. They were full of admiration and thanks. At one stop they were so happy to meet the visitors, that they insisted on them climbing up to the watch towers, and even showed them there special night-sight equipment. These are the young people who are hard at work day and night securing Israel’s safety.

The support and encouragement showed by such special people as the Nutis family and Ben Leubitz, gives these soldiers more strength and encouragement to help them keep fighting. Both their financial support and their physical efforts are much appreciated. It makes all the difference when these young men and women know that there efforts are not taken for granted. As part of Standing Together’s 2007 campaign, 24/7 for 2007, many more families will also meet soldiers face to face and show their appreciation and support. Well done USA!