Nov 17, 2016

Greater Miami Jewish Federation Helps Israel Recover From Devastating Fires

We thank the many donors who responded to the needs of our family in Israel with contributions to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Israel Fire Emergency Fund. Working together with on-the-ground authorities, the Israeli government, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), The Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), we are providing immediate, much-needed services to those affected by the fires.

Here’s how Federation and our partners are helping:

· Cash grants are being provided by The Jewish Agency for Israel to about 700 families whose homes were entirely destroyed and/or have been structurally damaged and cannot be lived in for the foreseeable future. In addition, a number of Agency absorption centers have welcomed people evacuated from the fires, including the Amigour housing facility in Kiryat Yam, which provided nursing care for 22 elderly Holocaust survivors who were forced to leave their nursing facilities in Haifa.

· Targeted support is being provided by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to help the elderly, people with disabilities and families at risk to recover, both physically and emotionally, from the damages caused by the fires. In addition to supporting Israel’s most vulnerable residents and strengthening response and preparedness systems, JDC has activated its “Center for Independent Living Online” so people with disabilities can receive real-time help 24/7 from professionals to assist in their recovery efforts.

· Trauma needs are being addressed by the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) in smaller municipalities that have been hit by the blazes. ITC has also provided trauma relief at Carmel Hospital and evacuation centers, and acted as backup to existing welfare teams in Haifa. The municipality in Haifa has requested further assistance from ITC in providing direct care to some 1,800 individuals in the city, 20 emergency welfare teams and 8 institutions that were evacuated.

Federation and our partners were able to respond to these fires the day after this crisis began because we were providing assistance to Israelis in the area the day before it happened. Through your support of the Annual Federation/UJA Campaign, a vast infrastructure of programs and services are in place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – in Israel, in Miami and in 70 other countries around the world.

To make a donation to our Israel Fire Emergency Fund, click here. One hundred percent of all donations to this fund will directly help those affected by this crisis.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the fires. We will continue to assess needs and provide ongoing help.