Limmud FSU: IDF troops risk lives to get aid to Syria victims
Consul general of Israel in the New York in speaks about soldiers putting their lives on the line to help civilians in war-torn Syria
Israeli soldiers have been ferrying humanitarian aid to civilians in war-torn Syria, one of Israel’s leading diplomats told an audience at Limmud FSU.
Dani Dayan, consul general of Israel in New York, told a standing-room-only session that soldiers both in and out of uniform were risking their lives taking food, medical equipment, blankets and clothing to victims of the ongoing conflict.
“They have even ripped labels in Ivrit out of clothing so that the people receiving them are not put at risk,” he told a hushed room.
This was in addition to medical treatment given to hundreds of Syrian casualties in the past three years by hospitals in northern Israel, he added.
In a wide-ranging address, he said that the shekel was now one of the world’s strongest currencies and that those who had thought Israel might become isolated were wrong.
Economically and techno-logically, he continued, Israel was doing very well.
He took his audience on a brief world tour of countries which a quarter of a century ago had little or nothing to do with Israel, but are now significant trading partners. Examples quoted included India, China, Argentina, Brazil and a number of countries in Africa with whom Israel now had important trade agreements in place.
However, other than an alliance with Mediterranean neighbours Greece and Cyprus, he failed to mention the European Union.
When asked why, he conceded that it was a “weak spot”. The main economic contacts were with East European countries, he noted, while others tended to be with individual countries rather than the European bloc as a whole.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
