By Jay Rubin

Todah means “thank you” in Hebrew. Congregation Tiferet Israel (CTI), Austin’s Modern Orthodox Synagogue based on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, is spearheading a community-wide initiative to express gratitude to the thousands of Texas Air and Army National Guardsmen and women deployed on the U.S.-Mexico border during Operation Lone Star.

CTI‘s Rabbi Daniel Millner is one of them. A Texas Air National Guard Chaplain holding the rank of Major, Rabbi Millner is expected to spend most of the next four months providing pastoral and other support to Guard members of all faiths separated from their families, jobs and communities during the border emergency. Rabbi Millner is the sole Jewish chaplain currently deployed along the Rio Grande border.

Working with the Rabbi, a group of CTI congregants, including several who have been deployed overseas in Iraq, Afghani­stan and elsewhere, have come together to encourage fellow congregants and commu­nity members to write “thank you” letters to the troops for their service and sacrifice.

“Delivering letters from fellow Texans expressing gratitude, would really have a big impact on troop morale in what has been and will likely continue to be a tough and unprecedented mission,” Rabbi Millner explained.

Individuals and families can write cards and letters and drop them off in standard envelopes at the security guard station at the entrance to the Dell Jewish Commu­nity Campus between 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

No gifts, packages, boxes or oversized or padded envelopes can be accepted or delivered.

A CTI Operation Todah Texas committee member will collect the cards and letters weekly and arrange to get them to Rabbi Millner who will personally distribute them to troops along the border.

For more information contact, Opera­tionTodahTexas@gmail.com