If you are reading this, you are amongst a small group of people I respect, and to whom I believe this will be close to the heart.  As you know, I grew up in Israel, served as a Lieutenant in the IDF and my family is there — I am a proud Israeli and a proud American.  Since the horrific events of Shabbat, October 7th, I have felt utterly helpless (in addition to many other overwhelming emotions).  I am sure you have felt the same.
 
Over the last week, speaking to my closest friends and relatives in Israel, I have learned that many of those impacted by the recent terror and murders are still living their toughest hours.  People who lost parents, children, loved ones, homes, dignity and sanity, do not all have the minimal support required to begin to recover or even get through the day.
 
The Government is slow, overwhelmed, and busy with the war brought upon us.  Those who evacuated or survived the worst are in total limbo, save for the help of brave fellow citizens who are organizing, opening their homes and doing everything they can.  For those of us living outside of Israel it is frustratingly difficult to help.  Terrorists using accounts of the kidnapped are setting up fake charities(!) and it is impossible to know who to really trust, what to do, and how to help.
 
I am boarding a flight to Tel-Aviv in an hour, because I found a way to help — and because I am invigorated by the support of my closest friends and partners who will be financially anchoring this effort - thank you!!!  Now I know we can make a difference, but I will need much more to drive real impact.  I will be doing my day job remotely over the next couple of weeks while building the needed infrastructure to provide aid on the ground. 

Our focus will be on immediate support with basic needs to those impacted – this includes shelter, food, clothing, and mental health to those without it right now, until they are able to get their bearings and the slower public systems catch up with the overwhelming and unprecedented needs.  We will be laser-focused on “essentials first aid” in the home front, not on the longer term rehabilitation.
 
Here is where we are on the critical dimensions as I am leaving for Israel. I expect to make daily progress when I am on the ground and will be sending frequent updates.

Identifying needs.  I am assembling a team on the ground to help me identify those in urgent need.  We do not plan to reinvent the wheel.  There will be situations in which we may directly help individuals, but the general approach is to identify organic groups that can be fully trusted and surgically support them.  I do not plan to fund other foundations with their own infrastructure but to identify heroes who are shoe-stringing solutions to help those around them, already know what to do and are best positioned to do so, but are lacking resources.  The country is full of heroes: one example is a group I am already speaking with of retired Generals from the IDF, Mossad, and the Security Agency (Shabak), each adopting a township in the impacted area, identifying displaced families and addressing immediate needs with minimal resources.  The number, nature, and specificity of the requests for help I am already getting from these brave souls is heartbreaking.  Another group I am speaking with are welfare representatives in the south.  They are fielding calls for help from families who are already on welfare that the additional impact of this war is beyond their ability to withstand. 

Providing help.  We will be working to develop an allocation committee that will be liaising closely with the hero groups we will identify, vet and support.  Until then, I will personally be making all aid decisions.  We will learn a lot in the next couple of weeks on what needs are most pressing, what is the size of the impact we can achieve with targeted and tailored aid, and thus how much support we can take in and effectively deploy.

Setting up operations.  We are setting up a center of operation at the offices of a VC in Tel-Aviv which I personally know well.  The GP, who is a former senior special forces officer and operator, is committed to helping, and we have several smart, capable people on the ground waiting to join the team.

Accepting support.  Initially, we will be piggybacking on the infrastructure of an existing foundation with a 501(c)(3) designation, established by a trusted friend, where I have been a donor for years (ClearGiving, founded by Oren Dobronsky).  It will provide the infrastructure needed to hit the ground running, and we will build a dedicated infrastructure subsequently. 
 
I have not done this before so please forgive the informal manner, but today I am starting a campaign for financial support.  I know Israel, know how to organize people, deploy resources and make decisions.  I am not pushing anyone, do as your heart tells you, but in the coming days I will be in touch with details on how to contribute and more specifically identified efforts to get behind.  I will also be sending progress updates on how things are going, what we are seeing and what we are doing as more and more pieces are in place. 

We can do this!  Israel is a strong, resilient nation, and we will bounce back (we have no choice).  Our goal is to move with urgency and make sure those who are living through their darkest moments are not alone and that they can rise back up!
 
Sam