Nefesh B'Nefesh, Jewish National Fund-USA, and Friends of the IDF have joined forces to launch "Operation Hug" that will provide hundreds of roundtrip airline tickets for one parent of any lone soldier serving in active combat-units during Operation Swords of Iron, from anywhere in the world.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
According to the organizations, there are approximately 5,000 lone soldiers currently serving in active and reserve service without any family support in Israel. Their parents are eager to travel to Israel at this time, both as a sign of support for their children and out of concern for them. The new emergency fund aims to shorten the distance between these parents and their soldiers and enable them to feel closer to where they are serving. The parents will fly to Israel with El AL Israel Airlines, who are generously cooperating with the project.
"We are deeply moved and humbled, during this challenging time, by the daily courage of all the lone soldiers who are bravely serving our Jewish homeland far away from their parents and family," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "We are extra sensitive to the concern this distance is causing the parents of these brave men and women on the front lines and have therefore established our 'Operation Hug' campaign to shorten the physical distances. I am proud that national institutions have come together for this beautiful project."
