July 6, 2021
Sondra Oster Baras
Today, at our Second Annual CFOIC Conference of Communities, we handed out over a million dollars to more than 30 communities and several regional councils for security and community needs. These are funds that you, our trusted friends and supporters, have contributed during these past few months. Some of you donated small sums, whatever you could manage to give. And some of you donated larger sums. But all of you took part in this. YOU deserve our thanks.
Last year, we planned to hold a conference of communities for the first time ever. It would be a time for community representatives to gather together and share experiences, to update CFOIC staff on their newest projects, their gravest concerns and their proudest moments. But most of all, it would be a time of fellowship, between us and the many communities we represent, and between each of the communities and each other. But, just before the conference was supposed to be held, COVID forced us to go virtual. Our first annual conference was on zoom.
This year, we rejoiced as the COVID restrictions in Israel were eased and we were once again able to gather together. We worked hard to prepare for the conference, the first one where we would meet in person. We invited the mayors and community leaders from each community that we work with and nearly all of them were able to come. Dozens of leaders gathered in Karnei Shomron, many of them meeting with us in person for the first time in more than a year. The atmosphere was electric.
Praise and Thanks to God that you were able to meet face to face!
CFOIC be blessed! Wonderful work you and teams are doing, Sondra!
So wonderful after the restrictions and although Zoom is a blessing, there’s nothing like being together rejoicing and sharing triumphs, successes and ideas & visions for the future, unveiling next steps for the individual communities.
May I suggest a possible idea which they have or had, in my state: that of youth visiting the elderly, adoption of substitute grandparent(s) by teenagers, which can lead to the elderly championing the youth & vice versa, ie, mutual appreciation, respect & encouragement. There’s nothing like crossing the generations in mutual sharing & inspiration.
Thank you for this uplifting report, Sondra, which so touched my heart. It’s been an amazing blessing to be a tiny part of what G-d is doing in His beloved land today. Thank you for your obedience to His call on your life and all you do to make the vital importance of the Biblical Heartland known to us non Jewish believers in the Holy One of Israel.
What you doing is a wonderful jobs Israel community needs our closet support and help as the word has said
Thanks am from Africa Tanzania
Fabulous Sondra. I wish I could have been there to hear all the speeches but I guess they would have been in Hebrew anyway. Sounds soooo interesting tho and I love the way you capture the “heart” of the matter. Blessings Joy Australia