A Mission of Action and Compassion.

Alain Lahmi
France

On Thursday, 5 October 2023, I was at the Bruno Mars concert in Tel Aviv's HaYarkon Park. Sitting among tens of thousands of joyful young Israelis, I was struck by just how much they remind me of the young people in Franc; polite, educated, relaxed, confident about the future and connected to their networks.

Two days later, on the morning of 7 October, I was in Jerusalem for the holiday of Simhat Torah. The festive air quickly turned sombre as the news unfolded. I watched the faces of the parents as the pain and anguish set in as their sons and daughters, the young people, would now be mobilized to defend our country. The hopes of having sheltered their children from the traumas and atrocities of war were gone and this generation too would be confronted with the painful realities of war.

I knew I had to act and decided to get involved immediately. I contacted my Israeli friends to offer help in any way I could: logistics, personal support, cleaning, etc. At first, their needs were material: personal hygiene products, clothes, watches, belts, head lamps, etc. I turned to my network of friends, colleagues and family to raise funds which enabled me to buy these products locally in Israel when possible, or sourcing them in France when necessary, and arranging transport to distribute them quickly and directly where needed. I made seven trips to offer not only these essential items and gifts, but my presence, time and energy, to help and support in every way I could.

Helping the land I love so dearly, in every way I can, brings me immense joy and fulfilment.

By April, it was clear that this ongoing war was costing Israel dearly both economically and socially. I felt compelled to understand its broader implications by taking a closer look at how the Israeli economy was coping. Thanks to its resilience, Israel had managed to avoid a recession and limit its deficits. However, the challenges remain significant, and Israel’s economy continues to need funds to strengthen and support it now and into the future.

This understanding led me to Israel Bonds, a practical and meaningful way to support Israel’s economy. I connected with Jonathan Touboul, Israel Bonds Executive Director of French Speaking Countries, and together we organised a series of informational events to engage my network. These gatherings provided an opportunity to expand the reach of Israel Bonds within the community and share insights into the current economic challenges Israel is facing.

Investing in Israel Bonds offered me a tangible way to directly support Israel and its population in an impactful way and I wanted to share this with my network.

In September Jonathan invited me to meet with Dani Naveh, Israel Bonds Global President and CEO, while he was in Paris. It was a meaningful opportunity to share about our collaboration and the French community as well as discuss future plans.

Helping the land I love so dearly, in every way I can, brings me immense joy and fulfilment.