Dear Friends,

Tonight, as we mark the end of Shabbat, our hearts and attention are on the unfolding attacks on Iran, Israel, and the wider uncertainties reverberating across the region.

As the situation continues to evolve, our leadership here and in Israel is proactively and closely monitoring all developments as they unfold, and we remain in direct contact with local authorities and institutional partners to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community members on the ground. We hold close the safety of those serving in the IDF and the US Military, and the wellbeing of Israeli and Iranian civilians caught in the violence. May they and you find protection and strength in these difficult days.

This evening, the Year-In-Israel (YII) program gathered for Havdalah, and I am moved to share that Hebrew Union College's Israel and U.S. leadership joined together for this sacred moment of community and solidarity. That gathering was a powerful reminder of who we are as an institution - a community that does not face difficult moments alone.

For our community in Israel, I want to acknowledge something important: this moment does not exist in isolation. Our students, faculty, and staff there and their families have been living through an extended period of trauma and uncertainty, and these latest developments add a new and painful layer of concern to what has already been an extraordinarily difficult time. Their resilience has been remarkable, and our care for them - and our responsibility to them - is unwavering. I am particularly grateful to Dean Nachman Shai and our entire Jerusalem team for their ongoing leadership.

To anyone in our community who is feeling anxious, frightened, or distressed - whether in Israel or here in the United States - please do not hesitate to reach out to your program leadership. You do not have to navigate these emotions alone, and support is available to you.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide timely updates as circumstances develop. Please keep one another close, check in on your colleagues, classmates, and friends, and know that our entire institutional leadership stands with you.

Shavua tov,
Andrew