The war in Israel has impacted the lives of many across the globe. Jews in Indianapolis are no exception. While this community may feel the distance between it and the families facing the daily hardships of war, the resilience of the Jewish people here in Indianapolis is felt around the world.

Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the community has raised $2.45 million for the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Fund, which works with partners to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.

Locally, Jewish Family Services continues to assist the community by providing individualized support and emergency funds for those impacted by the war in Israel and assistance with relocation as needed. Additionally, JFS is offering mental health supports and resources for local Jewish programs and individuals including; Holocaust survivors, young adults, seniors, and families. Contact Julie Sondhelm at jsondhelm@jfgi.org to access these services.

The Indianapolis Jewish community and its allies have come together to stand strong in solidarity. From the first community gathering to the many Shabbat dinners across the community, Israel has been at the forefront of many daily lives.

Each person has a unique connection to the Israel-Hamas war, filled with moments of pain and hardship, but also of resilience, strength, community, and hope. Here are a few stories that illustrate the strength of Israel and its people to become the light in the darkest of days.

Dr. Louis Profeta

Dr. Louis Profeta is an Emergency Physician at St. Vincent Hospital and is no stranger to treating trauma patients. In 2017, Dr. Profeta attended the Emergency Response Group program through Partnership2Gether. Alongside other doctors, Dr. Profeta learned about hospital emergency preparedness with the team at the Galilee Medical Center, located south of the Lebanese border. The Galilee Medical Center is located within Indianapolis’ partnership region which includes the Western Galilee in northern Israel, the city of Akko and a sister city in Budapest, Hungary.

When Dr. Profeta learned about the Hamas attack, he knew he had to do something. On Oct. 27, Dr. Profeta packed his bags and flew to Israel to assist in the medical efforts at the Galilee Medical Center.

In reflecting on the people of Israel, Dr. Profeta shared, “This is an extremely sad but resilient people that are singularly focused on getting their people back and making sure the words ‘never again’ hold true for generations.”

He added “They also know that it is the responsibility of Jews everywhere to fight this fight not only on the soil of Judea but in the halls of the schools in America, the walls of social media, the offices of our representatives, the bimas of our synagogues, and the tables of our shabbats. It is not enough for us to just have empathy, we have to have courage and the strength to act.”

In the Galilee Medical Center's Emergency Department, Dr. Profeta instructed residents in emergency medicine and surgery in the trauma room. He returned home to Indianapolis on Nov. 13.