4 | OCTOBER 26 • 2023 J
N
from Federation
We Stand With Israel;
How You Can Help, Too.
F
ollowing the
devastating assault by
Hamas on Simchat
Torah, the people of Israel
are displaying unprecedented
unity during this war and
have come
together with
extensive
volunteer
efforts and aid
from various
organizations.
The Jewish
Federations of
North America launched
a $500 million campaign,
offering aid and resources
for those affected,
while maintaining close
collaboration with Israeli
authorities and partners on
the ground.
FEDERATION’S
RESPONSE TO DATE
As of Oct. 17, Detroit
Federation’s Israel
Emergency Campaign has
raised $8 million from over
1,800 donors. Federation is
in the process of appointing
an Allocation Committee
to ensure that the funds are
used in the most urgent and
effective manner.
• $1 million from the
Detroit Federation campaign
has already been distributed
in Israel. 100% of the funds
have provided urgent and
desperately needed relief and
support, delivered on the
ground by Jewish Agency for
Israel, JDC, World ORT, the
Israel Trauma Coalition and
others.
• $100,000 was allocated to
JAFI Victims of Terror Fund
for families and individuals
who have been impacted by
acts of terror and violence,
providing immediate grants
to rebuild homes damaged
by rocket fire, and providing
for long-term rehabilitation
and post-trauma care.
• We are currently hosting
80 families from the South
in hotels in safer areas. 100
backpacks were delivered to
troops. 400 sets of thermal
pants and shirts were deliv-
ered to troops in the north.
• $50,000 was given to
Dror Israel, one of our
Gertzman recipients,
to support evacuees, to
provide youth counselors
and programming in bomb
shelters and to provide day
care for children of hospital
staff and other essential
personnel.
Locally, community
security remains a core
priority. Jewish Community
Security Inc. (JCSI)
continues to work closely
with local and national law
enforcement to safeguard the
welfare of our community.
We are grateful to local
police departments for their
ongoing vigilance.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
• Support the Israel
Emergency Campaign.
Support the people of Israel
during this devastating
time through our Israel
Emergency Campaign. The
money directly supports
the victims of terror,
helps rebuild damaged
infrastructure and addresses
the unprecedented levels
of trauma throughout
Israel. (https://tinyurl.com/
bdh8t586)
• Make friendship
bracelets for children and
teens in Israel. Jewish
Federation of Detroit
is collecting friendship
bracelets to send to the
kids and teens in Israel to
show them that we support
them and we are thinking
of them from afar. This is
a community-wide effort.
You can make bracelets at
home and drop them off at
Federation.
• Write a letter to
a soldier. Join others
worldwide in writing
letters or sharing drawings/
pictures for Israeli soldiers
on the front lines. This is
an opportunity to show the
IDF support for defending
the Jewish people and the
State of Israel. Any age
member of your household
can participate in this small
but significant gesture of
support. Letters can be
uploaded to our drop box:
Use the link to upload
messages of hope and
gratitude. (https://tinyurl.
com/4fnc6svt)
• #BlueRibbonsforIsrael.
#BlueRibbonsforIsrael is a
global solidarity campaign.
The blue ribbon symbolizes
support and solidarity for the
safe return of the hostages
taken by Hamas terrorists
in Israel. It symbolizes soli-
darity with the hostages,
their families and all who
care about their safety. These
ribbons will be distributed
to community organizations
in the coming days. Learn
more at blueribbonsforisrael.
org.
Steven
Ingber
PURELY COMMENTARY