Support Israel: Seven Worthy Charities

Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel: Emergency Relief Funds

Our kehillot throughout Israel have reacted as we would have expected them to — by offering help and assistance to people in communities at risk; by opening their homes to guests; by increasing scholarship funds so young children can go to camp and leave areas of risk; and by providing counseling and support. Funds are also needed to support ongoing activities in places where the situation may have resulted in loss of other funding.

http://www.masorti.org/contribute.html

Neve Hanna Youth Village: Caring for Abused and Needy Children

Children and teens between the ages of four and eighteen reside at Neve Hanna, where social-welfare agencies are responsible for placing children from troubled family backgrounds. These children cannot continue to live with their families due to a number of problems, such as, illness, addiction, crime, and prostitution. Many have suffered physical, psychological, and/or sexual abuse. Today, more than sixty-five children live at Neve Hanna. The present situation has created great pressures upon Neve Hanna, and they are in serious need of private donations. Donations may be sent to: American Friends of Neve Hanna c/o Janet and Irwin Tobin, Co-Presidents Rabbi Benjamin Kreitman Wing United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 155 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10010-6802 USA

www.nevehanna.org

Mateh Aharon: Feeding the Needy and Displaced in Safed

At the behest of the Mayor of Safed and in conjunction with the army's "Home Front Command" (Pikud HaOref), Mateh Aharon, under the supervision of Rabbi Mordechai Dov Kaplan, is addressing the primary need of residents of Safed: food. Mateh Aharon is distributing vouchers for people to buy food. Each family will get 300 shekels (about $70). We hope to reach all those in need here in Safed (and in this emergency situation, that means almost everybody). To date, we have commitments for about $60–70,000; which is enough to distribute about 900 vouchers. The mayor estimates that there are 2,000+ families here in Safed.

Our voucher distribution operates as follows:

  • All distribution is being supervised by Rav Mordechai Dov Kaplan, Rabbi of the Old City of Safed and the sixth generation of the family chain of rabbanim holding that position.
  • All distribution is being done in conjunction with the mayor, the welfare department, and the Home Front Command (Pikud Ha'Oref).
  • None of the money we collect and distribute will go into the hands of any of those organizations. All of the money will go directly from "Mateh Aharon" to the people in need (or suppliers).
  • The current emergency is a leveling experience. Everybody here is in need. Even a person who would normally have means is now needy — the economy is at a standstill, nobody has worked for a month; people are paralyzed by fear, stress, physical danger. This is not time to be checking people's credentials.
  • The vouchers will be distributed to the entire community — religious, non-religious, old, young, Sephardi, Ashkenazi. All will be addressed the same — as much as is humanly possible.
  • No cash will be distributed — only vouchers to use in stores.
  • Each purchaser will be required to identify himself with his identity number and to sign for the voucher. The store owners will be reimbursed only on presentation of the used vouchers and a cash-register receipt.
  • Each voucher clearly states that it is not valid for cigarettes or alcohol.

US tax-deductible donations can be sent to the address below. Mateh Aharon is hosted by Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley, California. The money will go into Mateh Aaron's dedicated account. Within a few days, this account should also be able to receive credit card contributions.

The mailing address is:

Mateh Aaron
c/o Congregation Beth Israel
1630 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94703

For more information, please contact Noah Greenberg at bezalel@kinneret.co.il

Jewish National Fund: The Crisis of Destroyed Forests

To date, 2,500 acres of grazing land and 1,500 acres of forest in the north of Israel are burning from direct hits by Katyusha rockets. JNF forest fighters and area volunteers are risking their lives daily to save them, even as the rockets fall.

JNF is helping to provide these firefighters with emergency equipment — shrapnel-proof flexible vests and ceramic helmets — as they work under threat of Katyusha fire. Also needed are special fire-retardant chemicals to slow the spread of fire.

JNF is raising money to purchase emergency-response equipment, including compact fire trucks. These rapid response vehicles are quickly deployed, have easy access to narrow streets and alleyways, and are highly effective in rough terrain.

www.jnf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=security_blanket

Yad Sarah: Helping the Needy with Medical Equipment

The national emergency continues here in Israel, and Yad Sarah is working around the clock to meet the needs of citizens in the north. Yad Sarah runs twenty branches in the north of the country, and the first objective was determining how to operate the greatest number of branches possible in protected structures in order to facilitate continued service to the public while protecting the safety and well-being of the volunteers. Whether supplying mattresses to bomb shelters, transporting patients to critical dialysis treatments in hospitals, or ferrying the wheelchair-bound to the relative quiet of Jerusalem, Yad Sarah van drivers are on the road, despite the constant threat of missile attacks.

Workers and volunteers continue to serve at northern branches, offering services that the elderly and disabled depend upon, even though Yad Sarah in Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Tivon, and Kiryat Motzkin now operates from bomb shelters.

Recently in Haifa, a Yad Sarah van bringing disabled children home from school miraculously missed being hit by a Katyusha rocket that fell 200 meters away. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The driver, Danny Aetius, quickly got the children safely home, just one example of selfless dedication.

www.yadsarah.org

Hatzolah Israel: Saving Lives

Hatzolah Israel is a volunteer, non-profit emergency medical service (EMS) that assists the victims of terrorism and other emergencies throughout Israel. From the Golan in the north, to Arad in the south of Israel, Hatzolah volunteers — who are certified and trained by Magen David Adom (MDA) — provide a life-saving bridge of medical care. The fastest medical response team in Israel, we are also the only team that works in coordination with Magen David Adom.

www.hatzolah.org.il/e-donate.shtml.htm

UJC: Israel Emergency Campaign: The North American Jewish Community Responding to Crisis

The Israel Emergency Campaign was launched by UJC in order to dramatically step up our efforts during these extraordinary times. Your contribution will help Jews in Israel who are threatened by the recent escalation of events. One-hundred percent of funds raised will go directly to help those in need.

www.ujc.org