| October 11, 2023 Dear HTC Alumni and Friends: I'm writing to you from Eretz Yisrael, where I spent Sukkos with my family and where I await a return flight home. The events of this past week have been absolutely devastating for Israel and the Jewish People. Yet being here in person for these extra few days has also given me a chance to see up close and in person the achdus that is the backbone of Am Yisrael. Israeli soldiers bravely running into duty; doctors and volunteers who weren't called up running to serve; people lining the streets to bestow food and gifts upon the soldiers; and people across the country running to volunteer and help in every way possible, from donating blood to preparing care packages at every turn. And of course, it's not just on the ground in Israel. Our community members in Chicago immediately participated in emergency Tehillim sessions after Yom Tov, and many of our students returned early from their Sukkos break for extra seder learning and to attend community events like yesterday's rally organized by the Jewish United Fund, which has already advanced $5M to Israel though its Israel Emergency Fund. Our community members have gathered to support Israel in every way possible – b'chol levavcha, b'chol nafshecha, u'vchol meodecha. If there is any silver lining to be had from these terrible days, it is to know that when faced with the darkest of tragedies, the Jewish People did not turn away, but rather, turned toward Hashem and each other, even after a summer with pronounced divisions. We will get through this, and the people of Israel will get through this, b'ezras Hashem. Back on campus, we have been in touch with local law enforcement and our other security partners, and continue to take the appropriate steps to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. And of course, our entire Yeshiva community will continue to daven and learn as a zechus for all of Klal Yisrael.
Thank you to everyone who submitted names of relatives serving in the IDF. Our Yeshiva talmidim each have a name of a soldier to daven and learn for a safe return, and all are included in our Yeshiva tefilos. You can submit additional names here. Below please find a list of FYHS/HTC alumni currently serving in Tzahal/The Israel Defense Forces; please join the HTC community in keeping them, and all our chayalim, in your tefilos.
May Hashem watch over our community and our chayalim and ensure their safe return home to their families; provide the injured with a refuah shlaimah; deliver comfort to those who have lost loved ones; and speedily bring peace for all of Am Yisrael. Sincerely, Shmuel L. Schuman CEO | 
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