Our sister community Kibbutz Carmia, still healing from October 7, recently opened its doors to families fleeing attacks in northern Israel.

While living with ongoing security threats in the Gaza envelope, Carmia chose to host families who had nowhere safe to go. And their Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, kids carrying their own fear and trauma, spent time preparing Passover care packages for the families arriving from the north.

Their message to us stopped us in our tracks: “Even in a time of fear, it is possible to choose generosity. Even while carrying pain, it is possible to show up for others.”

This is the community Cincinnati has been in relationship with for years. The families some of you have hosted. The homes some of you have visited.

They are showing us what it means to hold hope and spread joy.