Making a Statement about the Crisis in Israel and Gaza

I have mulled this repeatedly: this is my issue, but does that make it the company’s issue? 

By Ami Kassar

When the events struck in Israel last weekend, my life turned upside down. As a proud Jew and supporter of Israel, I felt helpless thousands of miles away. I found some hope by quickly turning my energy into helping organize a grassroots effort of Entrepreneurs’ Organization members worldwide to support our chapter members in Israel. And our local EO chapter in Philadelphia worked hard to craft a statement about the crisis.

Today, I write from my seat as the founder and CEO of MultiFunding. I have mulled this over and over: This is my issue, but does that make it the company’s issue? The answer, I think, is yes.

Ultimately, what binds our team together at MultiFunding is we care about people. We care about each other, and we care about the customers and community we serve. We live our values every day: We try to treat everyone as we would want to be treated.

So when Hamas, a  terrorist organization, crossed into Israel and killed innocent children, women, and seniors and took innocent hostages back into Gaza, their actions violated everything we believe in. When hate crimes follow in the United States against Arabs and Jews, we feel the pain. And when hundreds of Palestinians die in a hospital in Gaza, we cry for them as well. And we wonder what we should do.

We know we can’t solve all of the world’s problems. But we can try to do our share to help. This crisis has hit me personally – and I am focused on it. And while I do this, my team keeps our trains running on time. I am so appreciative of their support. 

A friend called me last week and said, “Ami, tell me the world is going to be okay.” My response was that our best hope is to get involved and do something, whatever you feel you can contribute. If you are so inclined, the best menu of options I know of is on our EO members’ website.

Ami Kassar is CEO of MultiFunding and president of the Philadelphia chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization.