Nov 19, 2012
Federation Support Helping the People of Israel
Hundreds of deadly rockets continue to hit Israel, launched by Hamas and other terrorist groups from Gaza. The Greater Miami Jewish Federation Israel Crisis Response Effort is bringing direct and immediate aid to the people of Israel.
To make a donation, click here.
Federation is part of a national effort led by The Jewish Federations of North America, whose Israel Terror Relief Fund has already made an emergency grant of $5 million to aid the people of Israel. Miami has advanced cash representing Federation’s full fair share of this allocation to help partners on the ground – the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), the Israel Trauma Coalition and World ORT – deliver emergency services and critical assistance.
This funding is providing portable bomb shelters, trauma counseling, emergency cash grants, food and emergency kits for the elderly and disabled, medical equipment and treatment, over and above that which is being provided by the State. The support also allows emergency caseworkers to offer emotional and physical support, as well as special care to those who cannot leave their homes, respite for schoolchildren living in affected areas and much more.
Federation and its overseas partners were able to respond immediately to the needs brought on by the escalation of attacks because a vital infrastructure of humanitarian and social services, funded by the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign, was in place and working even before the crisis began.
The following are some specific examples of the Israel Terror Relief Fund in action:
- Federation’s partners are making it a priority to help children who have been trapped in shelters since the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense, providing them with assistance while in the shelters and activities away from the epicenter of the violence. The assistance is helping children with disabilities and special needs, seniors and adults with disabilities who need immediate help with food and home care, and families who are victims of terror.
- Federation’s partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) is providing respite care for thousands of children from Israel’s South, taking them out of rocket range. On Sunday, November 18, children enjoyed Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo, the Israel Museum, a Beitar Jerusalem soccer game, Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Mall, and KifTzuba, a children’s amusement park. Additional respite activities are being planned for later this week, in partnership with JFNA.
- At the Ibim Absorption Center, two JAFI social workers and a team of 17 volunteers are providing emotional support and recreational activities to 415 very recent Ethiopian immigrants.
- The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is distributing supplies and food for the elderly and disabled in the 0-7 kilometer range of Gaza (Sderot, Eshkol Regional Council, Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev Regional Council, Hof Ashkelon, and Ashkelon). It is providing portable toilets for people with severe disabilities, initially in Beersheva, Sderot, Ashdod and Ashkelon. Volunteers are using 200 activity kits with arts and crafts materials, games and other supplies to help the children in shelters find creative outlets for their emotions.
To make a donation to the Israel Crisis Response, click here. Federation will direct 100% of all contributions to this effort directly to the people affected by the crisis in Israel. The people of Israel need our continued help…and deserve our support.
Read messages from Miami’s friends and family in Israel by clicking here. Share your own stories by emailing [email protected].
Follow Federation on Facebook and Twitter.
