Aug 25, 2014

Despite Ceasefire in Israel, Needs Continue

Israeli students and teachers are expected to return to their classrooms for the start of the new school year this Monday, September 1, following a tense and traumatic summer of Hamas rocket attacks and Red Alert sirens.  But life is not yet back to normal for thousands of Israelis, who remain fearful that the tenuous ceasefire will be broken at any time and that they will once again need to run to the safety of a bomb shelter at a moment’s notice.

Thanks to community members like you, who have contributed generously to the Israel Emergency Fund, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and our overseas partners have been there for our Israeli family throughout the crisis – and we will continue to offer assistance wherever it is needed for a long time to come.

To the professionals whose work is supported by the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign and who help those affected by traumatic and tragic events year-round in Israel and worldwide, it is clear that certain activities provide welcome relief from situations of constant stress and promote emotional healing. This summer, the Israel Emergency Fund provided extra support to those helping Israeli children and their families emotionally cope with the crisis.  These initiatives have included:

• Respite trips for more than 80,000 children from Israeli’s south, taking them to fun activities out of harm’s way and away from bleak shelters. Guided programming during these trips also have enable participants to have their feelings acknowledged and validated, and provide mechanisms for dealing with future traumatic events.
• Specialized play activities – such as puppets and drama therapy – that enable youngsters to share their fears and concerns
• Individual therapy and group counseling programs, which enable participants to hear that they are not alone in their worries     
• Trauma support by telephone, including hotlines for those who do not speak Hebrew

While it may take months or years of therapy for some to overcome the trauma of this summer, Federation and our partner agencies are committed to being there for Israelis in need. Programs funded by the Israel Emergency Fund will continue for some time to come.

If you have already made a donation to the Israel Emergency Fund, we thank you. If you have not yet made a contribution, please do so now by clicking here. You also may send a check to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33137, with a notation for Israel Emergency Fund, or call 305.576.4000 for personal assistance.