Thank you for sharing this update, Ezra, and I’m sorry for your losses. As an Israeli-American currently living abroad, I’ve felt uncertain about the most effective ways to help both in terms of giving my money and time/energy—and of what I should even be optimizing for—which has been frustrating as an EA/human being. I remember after the earthquake in Turkey, I believe it was Kelsey Piper who had a piece about how the greatest need for donations is usually not in the immediate aftermath (when more money comes in than charities can effectively spend) but rather later down the line when the story has disappeared from the headlines (as have the donations). So, maybe time will provide more clarity, although it feels emotionally unsatisfying to not be able to do more now.
Two random personal observations:
When I first heard about EA, the ideas resonated with me precisely because of my experiences with Israel and Palestine. Even though it is not an “EA issue,” the conflict seems like a perfect case study in (mostly) well-intentioned people doing immense harm not just to Israelis but also to Palestinians. Even the way the situation is framed by unaffected Westerners as needing to pick a “side” seems inherently reductive and problematic and more likely to perpetuate rather than resolve the conflict.
My Israeli and Jewish friends in the Diaspora who work for more “traditional” non-EA nonprofits have all faced xenophobia and antisemitism, and at least one person I know is considering quitting if the situation in her workplace doesn't improve. I can’t speak to EA as a whole (and I work remotely, so maybe I’m in a bubble), but my experience has been the exact opposite. I’ve felt supported both in terms of people reaching out and more tangibly in terms of flexibility with work hours, for example, which matters to me more than a statement (this is just my personal take, though). I attribute the difference between my friends' experiences and my own experience as being due to the culture of EA, which at least tries to promote values like radical empathy, rationality, and nuance and not getting too wrapped up in group-think.
Anyway, thanks again for keeping us updated, and stay safe!
Thank you for sharing this update, Ezra, and I’m sorry for your losses. As an Israeli-American currently living abroad, I’ve felt uncertain about the most effective ways to help both in terms of giving my money and time/energy—and of what I should even be optimizing for—which has been frustrating as an EA/human being. I remember after the earthquake in Turkey, I believe it was Kelsey Piper who had a piece about how the greatest need for donations is usually not in the immediate aftermath (when more money comes in than charities can effectively spend) but rather later down the line when the story has disappeared from the headlines (as have the donations). So, maybe time will provide more clarity, although it feels emotionally unsatisfying to not be able to do more now.
Two random personal observations:
Anyway, thanks again for keeping us updated, and stay safe!