Dear Friends,

I would have sent this message earlier but my priority was making sure Spirit of America personnel were out of harm’s way. That was accomplished on Friday.

Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Israel tore apart the lives of thousands of people. There is no justification for Hamas’ deliberate targeting, murder, and abduction of innocent men, women, and children. Palestinians are also paying the price for Hamas’ terrorism as they get caught in the crossfire and face a dire humanitarian crisis.

Like all of you, my team at Spirit of America is devastated and deeply concerned about the loss of life and what the future holds. Our staff has close friends, family, and partners across the region who, like all of us, want to raise their families in peace and security. Our thoughts are with all who know someone impacted by the terrorist attacks and their repercussions.

Since the early hours of the crisis, Spirit of America proactively reached out to our US military and State Department partners asking if and how we can help. Our US partners have not yet identified a role for Spirit of America, but we remain closely engaged. As always, anything we might do would be in coordination with our US partners, in response to needs they identify, and in support of their missions.

I founded Spirit of America in the aftermath of 9/11 to help US troops and diplomats, and America’s friends and partners, preserve the promise of a free and better life. The events of the last two weeks remind us that our mission is more important than ever. Peace is always fragile, and there are always those who are willing to shatter it. At Spirit of America we will continue to do all we can to stand up for America’s values.

As we explore ways we can help US troops and diplomats address security threats and humanitarian challenges, we will keep you updated on how you can help.

Thank you for your support as we face this challenging time,

Jim Hake