PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — While thousands look for flights out of Israel to safety, a Ponte Vedra Beach synagogue is sending a member of its congregation into the warzone.
Chabad at the Beaches is sending supplies to an Israel Defense Force unit.
“Ponte Vedra, we’re not a massive community, but we wanted to make an impact," said Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky. "We thought about how to make a direct impact, so we started with one unit.”
That one unit of the Israel Defense Force includes several Americans serving in the war, friends of friends of the congregation at Chabad at the Beaches.
Kurinsky says they’ve gathered everything from socks and undershirts to helmets and tactical vests. “When things go wrong, good people tend to band together."
One man from the congregation, a veteran himself, is flying over with several suitcases full of gear.
“There is risk involved, hope and pray, but there are times in life when it’s worth taking that risk, and this is one of them," said Kurinsky.
He’s set to fly out of JIA soon, where he may run into a group coming the other direction.
Every one of the group of 54 members of First Baptist Fernandina Beach who were in Galilea when the war broke out have managed to book a flight home.
“We will never forget we were in Israel together at this time," said Susan DeVane, who is in the group.
DeVane says they all are scheduled to fly out by Sunday.
In the meantime, they’ll continue touring biblical locations – safely across the border in Jordan.
“The Jordanians have been amazing as well," said DeVane. "They’re feeding us a lot and taking really good care of us. We have felt blessed.”
Kurinsky mentioned he’s also trying to get his niece on a flight out of Israel while arranging the supply flight to Israel at the same time.
Supplies can be dropped off at Chabad at the Beaches at 521 A1A N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 and monetary donations made here.