“It is imperative that Jews in the Diaspora show their support for the people of Israel at this difficult time,” Smith said. “We fully support Israel’s effort to stop Hamas rocket attacks on Israel so Israelis do not have to live day after day under the threat of terrorism.”

Smith, B’nai B’rith World Center in Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider, and Jorge Stainfeld of Uruguay, a special advisor to the president, are visiting communities of Sderot, Ashkelon, and Beersheba, which have taken the brunt of Hamas rocket attacks.

B’nai B’rith International has opened an Israel Emergency Fund in response to events in Israel and the Gaza Strip to assist Israeli residents and to help meet the ongoing personal needs of the IDF soldiers fighting in Gaza. Funds will be distributed by the World Center.

Since Hamas broke a six-month cease-fire on December 19 and Israel began its Gaza operation, Hamas has continued to fire rockets on the citizens of Israel.

Smith’s solidarity mission includes meetings with local and national Israeli officials to get a first-hand account of the impact of the Hamas attacks on Israel. The group got a sense of daily life in the south of Israel as they had to take shelter during a red alert on the first full day of the mission.