Obituaries

Help Keep IDF Warm Israel Cold Snap Fatal

I

n late December, three friends went
hiking near Hebron in the West Bank.
Two of them, elite soldiers on leave
from their Israel Defense Forces units, were
murdered by Palestinian terrorists who
had been out driving, looking for Jews to
attack. The soldiers fought their attackers,
killing two and wounding another — in
the process saving the life of the young
woman who had accompanied them on
their day of exploring the land that they
loved.
The assault underscores the need for
Israel to keep and maintain checkpoints
especially along the West Bank border. The
winter chill makes operating the check-
points more difficult. Soldiers, many just
teenagers, must remain alert throughout
the night in subfreezing temperatures.
With the need for high-priority items
such as fighter jets, armored tanks and
bulletproof vests straining the IDF budget,
little attention is given to items needed to
keep the soldiers warm. Every year, soldiers
must buy their own cold-weather gear or

face the freezing temperatures with noth-
ing more than the year-round standard
IDF uniform.
In response, One Israel Fund, which
supports Jews living in the West Bank as
well as Israeli soldiers, has joined forces
with Standing Together in a campaign to
raise money, buy cold-weather apparel
like gloves, head coverings and jackets and
deliver them to the soldiers standing guard.
"To hand a shivering soldier a pair of
gloves and jacket may seem like a small
thing, but that soldier will never forget it
or those who brought it. It is an amazing
opportunity to take a moment and help
someone who is truly protecting the lives
of Israelis each and every moment of the
day. And it means so much to the soldiers
to know that people around the world
are thinking of them during their time of
need:' said Scott Feltman, executive vice
president of One Israel Fund.
To give, log on to the Hewlett, N.Y.-
based One Israel Fund Web site,
www.oneisraelfund.org.

❑

Jerusalem Post – An 8-year-old
girl died of hypothermia Tuesday in
Beersheva's Soroka Hospital, after
she was brought in with a core tem-
perature of only 78.8 degrees.
The girl, from one of the Bedouin
villages in the area, is the fifth to die
this week as a result of the unusually
cold weather.
Earlier Tuesday, two homeless peo-
ple were found dead of hypothermia
in Bat Yarn and Netivot.
A 45-year-old homeless man was
found dead under a bush in Netivot on
Tuesday afternoon.
Police found no signs of violence
on the man and suspected that he fell
victim to the cold weather.
Earlier, a 50-year-old homeless
woman was found dead as a result of
hypothermia on a bench in Bat Yam.
Passersby alerted an Magen David
Adorn crew to the scene after they
found the woman unconscious.
Bottles of alcohol were found under

the bench.
A man found in the area was also
treated by the MDA crew and he was
later evacuated to a hospital. His con-
dition was unknown.
On Sunday, two people died as a
result of the extreme cold weather, a
40-year-old man and a 78-year-old
elderly woman from Beersheba.
The Electric Company (IEC) record-
ed an all-time high usage for this time
of year after temperatures across
Israel dropped below 32 degrees.
The usage reached 94 percent of
the amount of electricity the IEC is
capable of generating. Despite the
record-breaking levels, the IEC said it
was not forced to cut power.
Meanwhile, the Social Welfare
Ministry instructed local authorities
to give a one-time assistance grant
to the needy to purchase of blankets,
warm clothing and heaters; and Social
Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog allocat-
ed 1 million shekels for this purpose.

At The Ira Kaufman Chapel,
we help your family with the
final tribute of those you love

The Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit (JCC)
presents "Celebrate 60!
Israel in Oak Park: From Jerusalem
to Tel Aviv-All in One Night"
7:30 pm, Sat, Jan 19, 2008
Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit
15110 W. Ten Mile Road,
Oak Park

Celebrate Israel's 60th Year
of Statehood with a light
Israeli supper and desserts
as Israel comes to Oak Park.

Event also includes live auction,
unique "Shuk" Marketplace
with silent auction treasures.

Entertainment by The
David Appleman Trio and
Jay Kaplan's Broadway Cabaret.

Event benefits JCC Oak Park's
children's concert series.
Advance reservations: $30/person.
$36 at the door.

For more information, call
(248) 967-4030, or visit wwwfccdet.org .

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THE IRA KAUFMAN CHAPEL

Er rging Together Family, Faith & Community

18325 \Vest Nine Mile Road. Smithfield. N1148075
248.569.00 7 0 • fax 248.569.2502 • xm‘‘.irakau finan.com

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January 17 • 2008