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Jewish Community News

News: September 2006

Cease fire doesn't mean cease help

By Arielle Hendel

I am writing this article on the fifth day of a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The fragile promise for peace lingers in the air with questions for the future still unanswered. There is still no word on the kidnapped soldiers, Hezbollah will not disarm and we have lost much in Israel. Major portions of the north of Israel are still on fire as a result of the barrage of missiles. With these scenes as a backdrop, Israelis – Jews, Arabs and Druze – are returning to their neighborhoods to assess the damage to their property and to account for friends and family. While the war was raging, the saying for Israelis was “hazak v’ ematz” – be strong and resolute. Now, in the aftermath of the war, Israelis are back to the process of democracy and debate, and it is time for us to take up that motto. We need to be strong and resolute – and steadfast in our support of Israel.

Families from the north that fled to the center of Israel came home to find destruction, damage and theft. Many residents who were not able to travel south, or had no where to go, found themselves in bomb shelters for over a month. The psychological affects of this war are yet to be revealed.

A total of 116 IDF soldiers and 43 civilians were killed. Our hearts go out to the 159 families who have sadly joined the Israel family of bereavement and grief. Sadly, each of these fatalities feels like a personal loss which is connected in fewer than six degrees.

During that past month, our Federation in conjunction with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and other community organizations has organized a very successful rally, a well-attended Israel Action Day and is working to connect with every identified Jewish home in our area to support Israel at this critical time.

We have also launched an Israel Emergency webpage at www.jvalley.org for information and updates. Additionally, we have made an initial financial contribution to the efforts of the United Jewish Communities (UJC) and their partners in Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

These agencies have been working day and night in order to assist in any way as many people, organizations, and localities as possible. As of today, JAFI achieved the following: 30,000 children were sheltered in safe summer camps; 1,500 bomb shelters were equipped with television, air-conditioning, water pumps and additional toilet facilities; 13 absorption centers (facilities for new immigrants) were outfitted with emergency amenities; and; 890 bomb shelters were renovated.

JDC has also accomplished much: 15,834 activity kits for children in bomb shelters were delivered; 1,600 youth were provided emergency psychological support; 142,929 days of community emergency outreach activities were provided in community centers; 127 children with severe physical disabilities were provided emergency programs; elderly shut-ins were provided 7,349 meals, 11,700 telephone check-ins, 13,895 emergency equipment and 3,565 emergency light fixtures; 145 additional staff members were added for Homes for the Aged in the North; 1,232 people with disability were provided with emergency evacuation assistance; and 1,540 disabled adults were provided with respite care and transportation.

These services were provided by systems which were already in place as a result of your donations to the Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation. And, while the war tested the limits of the systems in place, both JAFI and JDC were able to respond and continually monitor the needs of the Israelis because there were pre-existing relationships and conduits for services.

These numbers are astounding and what lies ahead is still to be determined. Experts are anticipating funding needs for social services such as housing, trauma services and psychological counseling. With more than $300 Million of identified costs, your financial support is needed now! I am requesting that you give a gift above and beyond any regular gift to our Annual Campaign. This is an emergency and we must be steadfast in our support of Israel. This is the time to dig deep and find funds to help rebuild our homeland. Our future as American Jews is intertwined with the future of a Jewish State. The people of Israel need us to be strong and resolute. Help. Give. Hope.
To make your donation, please visit us on line at jvalley.org or contact Arielle Hendel, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, (408) 357-7501.

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