Prior to the temporary ceasefire with Hezbollah that took effect on November 27th, 2024, Israel had faced many months of intense bombing and combat along the northern border of Lebanon and many IDF soldiers had been called up for a third or even fourth round of reserve duty. The burden on reservists’ families was immense and they often felt alone in the war effort.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Jewish Federation of Detroit to our Partnership Region, a new joint initiative called “Coffee Together” came to life. This initiative, which included families from Migdal HaEmek, Nof HaGalil and Jezreel Valley Regional Council, was designed to give a hug and express support for reservists’ families in our region.
The program was advertised in our Partnership Region through the municipal media channels and local press. Reservists’ families were provided with gift certificates for “coffee and pastries” during the Sukkot holiday break, which they could redeem at 18 coffee carts and cafés spread throughout the partnership region. In this way, the initiative also supported local businesses that have been economically impacted during the war. At the coffee carts, thermal coffee cups that we prepared in advance were waiting for the reservists’ families.
The “Coffee Together” initiative received a great response – 799 reservists registered for the program and the responses to the “Coffee Together” initiative were heartwarming. It showed the partnership at its best: a familial connection between our two communities. This initiative provided an opportunity to express to the reservists how proud we are of them, how much we see them, and how deeply we support them. The participants in the program expressed their deep gratitude to the Detroit Jewish community for their loving gesture of support during a very difficult time.