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JFGI Connections

These are the voices that connect us as a Jewish community.

WE ARE ONE Stories of Volunteerism in Israel Since Oct. 7: Ellie Cotlar

Ellie Cotlar

Ellie Cotlar went on a 10-day trip to Israel, working for the organizations Lev Achad, Leket, Meir Panim, Citizen’s Kitchen, and Unit 107 in agriculture. She helped with meal prep, agriculture work, sorted donations for soldiers, and led art projects with evacuees. As resourc…

WE ARE ONE Stories of Volunteerism in Israel Since Oct. 7: Jessica Mallah

Jessica Mallah

After the Oct. 7 attacks Indianapolis native Jessica Mallah felt sick about the situation and wanted to do something to help. In early November, Mallah received an email from Taglit Birthright Israel about a two week volunteer opportunity in Israel to take part in food rescue…

WE ARE ONE Stories of Volunteerism in Israel Since Oct. 7: Rabbi Gettinger

 Rabbi Yisrael Gettinger

Following the horrors of Oct. 7, Rabbi Yisrael Gettinger of Congregation B'nai Torah was moved to travel to Israel to help assist in any way that he could. He went, not as part of an organized trip, but as a man moved to service. For 10 days, he served Israel and h…

WE ARE ONE Stories of Volunteerism in Israel Since Oct. 7: Rick Bentley

Rick Bentley

In mid-December, Rick Bentley, a retired Ivy Tech Community College Administrator, boarded a flight for Israel to begin a month-long stay to volunteer throughout the country.

Upon arrival, Bentley quickly caught a ride to a farm in Southern Israel. There, alongside the farmer…

WE ARE ONE Stories of Volunteerism in Israel Since Oct. 7: Roy Yaari

Roy Yaari

Roy Yaari, a Senior Medical Advisor at Eli Lilly and Company and a father of three Hasten Hebrew Academy graduates, decided to use his winter break to help struggling farmers in Israel.


In December 2023, Yaari was planning to attend a family wedding in Israel and to visit his el…