Saying thank you to Israel’s warriors with BBQ

How do grateful Israelis show their thanks to the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces for defending Israel? One response has been quintessentially Israeli — by feeding them well with kosher meat.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, volunteers have joined organizations such Grilling for Israel (formerly Grilling for IDF), Grills of Hope and others to provide delicious meals in a show of gratitude.

For troops returning to base, battle weary, hungry and exhausted, the promise of a sizzling barbecue coupled with the support of the volunteers who show up event after event is more than a morale booster — it is a reminder of who and what they are fighting for.

Elliott Auerbacher, who made aliyah from Englewood, NJ, and lives in Modi’in, founded Grilling for Israel together with Dave Kaplan, an immigrant from Toronto, in 2020.

Prior to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Grilling for Israel had served 11,000 meals to IDF soldiers. Since Oct. 7, more than 209,000 meals have been served, with more than 10,000 volunteers joining at least one event.

Auerbacher and his crew barbecue for wounded soldiers in hospitals across Israel as well as for soldiers on base.

Their most meaningful events are the popular “Tuesday Night BBQs” at Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer) in Tel Aviv, titled “Feeding Bodies, Lifting Spirits.”

Some soldiers arrive on their crutches, others in wheelchairs, a few carry guitars to help “create a vibe that gives them respite from their physical pain.” Auerbacher’s now legendary brisket is a crowd pleaser, along with steaks, burgers, salads, drinks and desserts. 

“It’s not simply a barbecue — it’s the fuel for their engine,” Auerbacher concluded.

Grills of Hope was founded by meat-loving former South Africans, including Rafi Sandler and Jonathan Bloomin, in the days after the attacks of Oct. 7.

“It was Oct. 8. Everyone was at home, glued to the news, feeling helpless. By the next day, I realized we couldn’t just sit and watch,” Sandler told JNS. “One of the most urgent needs coming from the field was hot food. Many soldiers had been rushed to remote locations without proper supplies and they were literally hungry.”

Sandler called their first barbecue on Oct. 9 “incredible.”

“The soldiers were motivated but alone, nervous and exhausted,” he recalled. “They needed it and honestly, so did we. I posted on Facebook, saying, ‘If you’re a unit that needs food, send us your details.’ Within hours, over 100 requests came in. Very quickly, we built a logo, printed t-shirts, launched donation links, and started a WhatsApp group. Volunteers poured in. Donations came from abroad. A grassroots effort became a full-blown operation.”

Co-founder Bloom said, “Once we get through the security at the various bases and the soldiers see the meat and the spread we bring, the whole mood changes and they call all their friends. For many, this is the first decent meal they will get, possibly for weeks.”

There are also more somber, even heartbreaking days.

“We have had days where barbecues have been cancelled because soldiers in that particular unit have been killed that day,” Bloom said. “We have done barbecues where someone we met was killed a day or two later.”

Grills of Hope runs a WhatsApp group led by Bloom. Details about upcoming barbecues and requirements are posted there. Volunteers can help with prepping salads, buying supplies, grilling or just coming along to boost morale.

Sandler shared an anecdote that left a lasting impression. “A Yemenite Jewish soldier met one of our volunteers, an older British woman. He looked at her and said, ‘You remind me of my grandmother.’ That kind of connection breaks barriers. It was beautiful.”

For Israel’s soldiers and everyone involved in maintaining the grills and providing tasty barbecues, it is not just about the food, but lasting memories. “We’ve grilled during blackouts, danced in rain, hugged soldiers who hadn’t seen home in weeks,” Sandler said. “These barbecues have become spaces of healing.”