On Thursday, August 18, terrorists armed with heavy weapons, guns and explosives launched a deadly series of attacks near Eilat in southern Israel, killing at least seven and wounding more than twenty. The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County unites with our Jewish family in grief, as our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters in Israel who are once again the victims of terrorism. 

We also rise together in outrage and call on the international community to join in condemnation of these brutal attacks by terrorists who seek to destabilize the region.

We applaud the US State Department for condemning these attacks "in the strongest terms,” as well as for clearly expressing strong concerns about security in the Sinai Peninsula and urging the Egyptian Government to find a lasting resolution. We are grateful to our new Consul General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico, Chaim Shacham, for quickly convening a telephone briefing of leaders of our Jewish Community Relations Council, along with leaders of Federations throughout the State of Florida.

As always, our Jewish community stands together in proud solidarity with the State of Israel as our homeland faces this significant security situation. We have confidence in the State of Israel’s leaders to provide for the continued security of the State and our extended Israeli family there, as they address these escalating challenges.

B' Shalom, 

Ellen R. Sarnoff
Chair of the Board, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County