Over 6,000 pairs already donated and in use
Members of the Young Israel of Holliswood have mobilized to outfit the IDF, becoming deeply engrossed on a mission to supply frontline soldiers with tactical military-grade boots, a drastic upgrade for reservists stuck with threadbare boots. “We have left our families and communities to defend Israel,” stated a thankful IDF General Daniel Jacobs, who was the first to inquire about the availability of appropriate footgear for his troops. “It is not easy leaving our children at home, but we believe in the cause of protecting the Israeli nation,” said Itay, another fellow in his unit. “You are our only hope!” insisted Gen. Jacobs, who subsequently received the boots.
From the initial call, Yakir Wachstock, an occupational therapist and Hatzolah volunteer, jumped in to assist full throttle. His brother, a dentist by trade, has been involved in Amazon reselling since making aliyah and encouraged Yakir to do the same in the States when Covid dealt his family a financial blow. This endeavor led Yakir to make the acquaintance of Avi Shakarov, a wholesale footwear distributor, also of Holliswood. On October 11, Gen. Jacobs from the Yakir Battalion (most apropos for this venture) phoned Yakir requesting combat boots, making Avi a key player as Boots for Israel launched. As hashgachah played out, Avi had ample stock of U.S. Army-grade tactical boots. On hearing of the need in Israel, Avi pulled the online listing, donated the first shipment to Eretz Yisrael, and pledged to charge the group at cost for the boots required. “We get shipments like every three months,” explained Avi, who has been in the industry for six years, “But due to the chagim, we had not started to work on these military boots.” Avi watches as the volunteers assemble the boots, “It has been really meaningful to be able to assist from America,” concluded Avi. “Our footgear is of top quality and available to us at a third the price due to Avi’s generosity,” added Yakir.
“We had a logistical issue with footwear due to the heavy drafting of reservists,” said IDF Capt. Nadav Tamim of the 460th Armored Corps. Brigade. Within 18 hours of a conversation with Yakir, when combat shoe sizes were provided, three duffel bags were already in his trunk for distribution to soldiers who were set to enter Gaza. Now entering a month of service, Boots for Israel often gets requests fulfilled the next day and has streamlined the process from the time that sizes are provided until the boots are in transit. Organizers were utterly dismayed by unflattering images of tattered, terribly worn, and taped up shoes that combat soldiers were being subjected to wear in battle. Since the first boots touched down in Israel, videos of promise stream in of soldiers donning the group’s quality boots. The message of “Am Yisrael chai!” might seem a tad redundant, but hearing it from Brigade 9221, Battalion 1 hit home. “Together with your support and our strength, we will be able to defeat all of our enemies,” related a Golani Reservist from Regiment 9203.
In its infancy, the program had its own logistical hiccup, compelling Yakir and Danny Gerber, a friend from the Five Towns, to assemble and transport the boots to JFK, where they stayed until well into the dead of the night seeking passengers willing to accept the luggage. Danny and his wife Jenny were formative sponsors and continue to volunteer extensively. Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, rav of Kehilat Sephardim of Ahavat Achim, took on the responsibility of transporting ten duffels, becoming one of the first travelers early on to assist the program. “We had a wonderfully successful day getting 45 duffel bags on a single flight from JFK,” read a volunteer’s SMS. “We have 12 more going on the late-night flight. In total, that is over 3,000 boots sent to Israel. The boots are $90 a pair (all in), and today alone, we will send 627 boots. That is $53,295!”
Seth Sklar, another dedicated volunteer, frequents the airport at a moment’s notice, showcasing a tremendous love for Israel. Flights to Newark Airport have also been accommodated. Yakir’s sister, a resident of Israel, coordinated the efforts there to ensure the boots landed on the feet of the designated soldiers. Dr. Elliot Goldofsky, a Jamaica Estates resident and ENT at North Shore University Hospital, was in Israel on a volunteer mission as the program launched and witnessed the initial deliveries to the grateful recipients. The program quickly evolved from sending a handful of duffels to now working directly with EL AL. On a recent Motzaei Shabbos, the group sent a whopping 58 pieces of luggage, and last Monday sent nearly the same, totaling 4,000 pairs now in Gaza and Lebanon.
As the initiative swelled, Boots for Israel stepped up their volunteerism, taking on well over 100 Jewish New Yorkers of all ages, included children 11-17 years old, to staff Avi’s Freeport, Long Island, warehouse throughout the day and transport the luggage to the airport, each happy to lend a hand to the war effort. Expanding outside of Holliswood, volunteers turn up from neighboring Jamaica Estates and Hillcrest, as well as Great Neck, Oceanside, and the Five Towns. “Once a volunteer touches the boots, the entire operation becomes real and often they take on their efforts tenfold,” noted Yakir.
“This project is unique because we are sent specific sizes from the Israeli soldiers going deep into the war zone,” said Rachel Klein, volunteer coordinator, who ensures the warehouse operates smoothly with up to 15 volunteers, and an additional 10 for airport runs. “We are able to send the warriors the boots they require, usually by next day.”
As sizes dwindled, volunteers improvised, adding socks for boots that were a size too big in the hopes that the thick cotton would be enough for the boot to accommodate the soldier in need. The youth both locally and via yeshivahs and schools were commissioned to design heartwarming cards of appreciation to uplift the soldiers and offer an embrace from afar.
An operation like Boots for Israel runs between $30-50,000 daily and resides primarily on fundraising from likeminded neighbors and friends, some from as far away as Australia, Montreal, Vancouver, and within the U.S. from Chicago, Cleveland, Florida, Kentucky, LA, and Tennessee. “Each day miracles happen to make ends meet,” observed Yakir. The money, collected from hundreds of families, goes directly toward the boots, duffels and EL AL flights.
Please strongly consider making an impact in this Queens-based war endeavor.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
