Israelis of war-torn south to sell at HAFTR shuk

More than 30 vendors from Israel’s hard hit southern communities will be showcasing their wares at HAFTR’s middle school in Lawrence on Sunday, Sept. 14, in an effort to help these businesses get back on their feet.

The brainchild of former North Woodmere resident Stuart Katz, the event is billed as “shuk to our core,” “shuk for Israel,” and the “Long Island Jewish Community Market For Southern Israel.”

Participating Israeli communities include Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, Beer Tuvia, Kiryat Malachi, Netivot, Ofakim, Saad, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, and Yavne. Products to be sold include art, chocolate, jewelry, Judaica, kitchenware, toys, and kippot.

“It’s very painful to see what’s happened down there,” Katz said. “However, as one united people we will help each other continue to survive and flourish.”

While helping out in the south during Tsuk Eitan, Katz realized that many individuals and businesses were subsisting on government checks because businesses couldn’t stay open and customers couldn’t come under rocket fire.

“It’s a short–term Band-Aid that doesn’t help the economy,” he said.

The shuk project was spearheaded by Katz and his business, TAL Tours, by Areyvut, a chesed organization, and by community volunteers. Additional fairs will be held at Lincoln Square Synagogue on Sept. 7, Solomon Schechter School of Westchester on Sept. 8, Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck on Sept. 9, the Staten Island JCC on Sept. 10, HANC in West Hempstead on Sept. 11, and the Kingsway Jewish Center in Brooklyn on Sept. 15.

Jordan Hiller of North Woodmere has been handling the logistics of this event on this side of the Atlantic, insuring that the vendors have “a place to go and that it’s a well attended event.”

Hiller said the shuk project is “a comfortable community trying to help an uncomfortable one.”

Hiller praised HAFTR for “seizing the opportunity” and providing space, and said that he worked with One Israel Fund on “planning and promotion.”

The shuk demonstrates that American Jews are “not just talking about [what’s going on in the south] but showing solidarity with them in a real and meaningful way.… It’s boosting the economy that was already at risk to nonexistent.

“Those going to vacation in Israel are not going to a war zone.”