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25 May 2021
As the region begins to recover from the most dramatic escalation of violence in more than a decade, The Jewish Federation remains committed to helping those struggling in its wake.
With gratitude to those who gave generously to our Israel Emergency Fund, Federation immediately began providing critical emergency aid to meet the needs on the ground. Coupled with our ongoing, core Annual Campaign support to our partners at The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), JDC, and other organizations, we have committed an additional $75,000 in emergency funding to support recovery efforts and rebuilding of cities and shared societies in Israel.
We are directing a portion of this funding to those in need in Ashkelon, the sister-city of our Federation partners in Baltimore, as well as towards the efforts of The Jewish Federations of North America to support our global partners.
Your Generosity and Our Partnerships at Work
In partnership with JAFI, the JDC, and a number of other partners on the ground, our efforts include:
- Crisis Recovery: Traumatized individuals are receiving counseling and therapy services, and have access to a hotline for those most impacted by the crisis. In addition, psychological services and the Ministry of Education are supporting educators in the most affected cities and villages.
- Respite for Emergency Front-Line Workers and Emergency Services for At-Risk Populations: Crisis response, preparedness training, and emergency services have been deployed for more than 150 elder-care facilities and for people with disabilities to ensure safety information is accessible to everyone.
- Financial Assistance: Resources are being directed to rehabilitate homes and buildings damaged by missile fire, ensuring displaced families can return home as quickly as possible.
- Prioritizing Shared Society: Our Federation is proud of our deep ties across Israel, including in Lod and other cities, where the work of building a shared society is both delicate and vital. Our friends and partners in Lod have been at the center of this crisis. A full-year intervention program will be implemented to provide emotional support and counseling to staff, students, and parents in up to ten Lod schools. In addition, when Federation’s Young Leadership met in mid-May for an online Flash Philanthropy giving circle, they awarded $50,000 to organizations working to build a more inclusive, equitable, and just society in Israel.
Thank you for your continued support, and for trusting Federation to care for our sisters and brothers in Israel.
With prayers for continued peace,
Gil Preuss
CEO
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington