With the recently signed ceasefire tempering hostilities between Israel and Hamas, I decided to share some thoughts this week about organizations and experiences in Israel that helped broaden my perspective about Israeli society, its relationship to its neighbors, and hopes for the future.
The first step toward restoring justice within a society is identifying injustice—an act that requires honesty, bravery, and open-mindedness. Only then may we begin to address a need, however glaring.
Such thoughtfulness lies at the heart of the Israel Air Force Foundation, which endeavors to make the renowned and prestigious branch of service available to all members of Israeli society. Recognizing that European Ashkenazi Jews had used service in the air force and accompanying commercial and social networks as a launching pad toward success within Israeli society for decades, the Israel Air Force Foundation provides recruitment, training, and educational programs to help interested Israeli children from underserved communities develop the leadership, physical, and academic skills necessary for entry into the Air Force.
Support for the Israel Air Force Foundation can be made at https://iafc-foundation.org/.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel