Eye Squad Emergency Update

TERROR ATTACK AT MERCAZ HARAV KOOK YESHIVA IN JERUSALEM

9:35 PM IST - For the past 35-40 minutes, I have been glued to the television set - watching the carnage at the Mercaz HaRav Kook Yeshiva in Jerusalem where 2 terrorists entered the school and began shooting. At present, 8 have been confirmed dead, and there seem to be many wounded.

When I first heard about the attack, I immediately contacted the Eye Squad Members on-call to brief them on the situation and asked them to pay close attention to any calls they receive tonight and tomorrow about the incident.

In addition, we are trying to contact as many one-year programs as possible to offer to lend a hand with their students should they deem it necessary.

For those of you who want to reach me for any reason, you can try one of two ways:

To assist the 7,500 North Americans and other Anglos who spend a year in Israel, the EYE SQUAD provides a confidential, independent hotline for those who are experiencing any type of distress.

Members of the Eye Squad engage a young adult to communicate that he/she is not alone, and that there is someone (a non-judgmental, impartial person) who exists outside the school/program that will listen, empathize and give constructive advice.

The Eye Squad greatly appreciates the support it receives from individual donors, CYIR: Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, the National Council of Young Israel, and the Jewish Agency for Israel.