We began Impossible Light

when the darkness became so acute that we knew we either had to give in and despair, or live. At the time, Mohammed was trapped in Gaza, where he still lives today with his wife and two small children. Allaa, who was born and raised in Gaza and now lives in Europe, was on the phone constantly with Mohammed, his best friend from high school, staying connected day by day by day. Tamie, who spent part of her childhood in Jerusalem, and came to know Allaa through friends of friends, was also in touch with Allaa each day, wondering what they could possibly do to offer concrete, real assistance to the humans trapped in a horror zone and trying to stay alive. Together, the three of us just did what seemed like the next right thing to do—and the next right thing after that. Ask friends for money. Find trusted ways to get the money to Gaza. Buy life-saving items for people in desperate, life-threatening need: tents for people with no shelter at all, milk formula for infants, diapers, winter clothes for children, vegetables, eggs, shoes for those without shoes, bread.

After a while, we learned from trusted people about folks who needed our help in Ukraine, Syria, and Egypt. And so we decided this is the work we are called to, it’s the light calling us to reach for it in these impossible times.