One thousand resilience kits have been delivered to Israeli children, including Druze and Arabs, thanks to the efforts of Jewish teens in the UK.

Around 200 Project ImpACT volunteers from across the Jewish community and coming from 25 different schools packed Kits for Kids with stress-relieving toys and calming games to support the wellbeing of children from the south of Israel, whose schools are closed and whose daily routines have been upended. The packs were delivered in Israel by the volunteering organisation Step Up.

ImpACT CEO Chayli Fehler said: “Having been in Israel since the war broke out and having just returned, I wanted to bring together British teenagers to get involved and make a difference for the children in Israel. I’m delighted so many teens joined and contributed.”

Teenage volunteer Maya said: “I am so happy to have taken part in this wonderful event. It has given me the chance to do something meaningful at a time when we all want to reach out and help Israel.”

The event at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue included speakers Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife and two daughters were murdered by Hamas in April and Dov Forman, social media influencer, who said: “You can make a difference by choosing to unite at events. You have the power to use your voices, to inspire change with acts of kindness like we’re seeing today.” The talks were arranged by I-gnite, which addresses Israel and antisemitism education.

There was also a live link with survivors from Ofakim, a city 20km east of Gaza, which was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

Rabbi Konig who runs the soup kitchen in Ofakim shared that there has been a huge increase in demand for food support since the atrocities.