4 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
N

From Federation 

Israel Emergency Campaign Update
M

ore than 100 days 
have passed since 
Oct. 7, the most 
devastating and tragic date 
in Israel’s 75-year history. 
Jewish commu-
nities around 
the world have 
responded 
with a historic 
outpouring of 
solidarity and 
support.
The Israel 
Emergency 
Fund, powered 
by local cam-
paigns across 
North America, 
has already 
made a pro-
found difference. 
Federation’s 
partner agencies 
on the ground in 
Israel have been 
working around 
the clock to pro-
vide desperately 
needed relief and 
recovery services to those in 
need, and they will continue to 
be there for the Israeli people 
during the many difficult days 
and months to come.
Our local community 
plays an important role in 
this effort, and we are deeply 
grateful to the thousands of 
Jewish Detroiters who have 
donated to this campaign, as 
well as to all those who have 
found ways to express their 
solidarity and love for the 
people of Israel. 
To date, Detroit has already 
distributed close to $17 
million — including a $9.5 
million allocation to the 
Jewish Federations of North 
American (JFNA), which 

funds 116 partner organiza-
tions working in Israel. 
Below, you’ll find an update 
on the local and national 
(JFNA) campaigns, as well 
as a snapshot on how these 
resources are being used. 

CAMPAIGN ACHIEVEMENT 
AND ALLOCATIONS: 
• $28.6 million: Amount 
raised locally by the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit’s Israel 
Emergency Campaign from 
3,500 donors. 
• $775 million: Total amount of 
Israel Emergency Fund dollars 
raised by Jewish Federations of 
North America (JFNA). 
• $300 million: Amount already 
allocated by JFNA in Israel 
through 116 partner organiza-
tions and NGOs.
• $16.9 million: Amount to-date 
Detroit has allocated through 
designated giving, JFNA and 
our Detroit IEC Committee 
allocations.

HOW THE FUNDS 
ARE BEING USED: 
Lifeline Services: $61,736,540 
These lifeline services includ-
ed food, clothing, financial 
assistance and medicines as 
well as spiritual care such as 

assistance with funerals and 
shivah, practical housing solu-
tions and educational support 
to evacuated children. 

Mental Health & Trauma 
Relief: $19,647,800 
We have supplied hospitals 
with medical equipment and 
capacity; responded with a 
proactive approach to mental 
health and trauma; ensured 
direct care to individuals in 
need, including first respond-
ers, Lone Soldiers, and fami-
lies and caregivers coping with 
the loss, injury or abduction of 
their relatives.

Economic Relief and 
Recovery: $25,830,000
When the attacks forced thou-
sands from their homes, it 
prompted the closure of busi-
nesses nationwide. Families 
grapple with income loss as 
reserve soldiers answer the 
call to duty, and many face an 
uncertain path to recovery. We 
are at the forefront of econom-
ic relief efforts, having invest-
ed in frontline communities 
and in a significant loan fund 
for small- and medium-sized 
businesses struggling to stay 
afloat.

Community Resilience and 
Rebuilding: $3,465,000 
In the months and years 
ahead, we will help enable 
people to return to their 
homes and rebuild their com-
munities. We aim to bolster 
societal resilience, so that 
despite the events of Oct. 7, we 
make possible the growth and 
potential of this generation of 
Israelis.

Other: $50,000 
This includes support for 
communities under fire and 
for new olim (immigrants) 
living in absorption centers 
through evacuations, tempo-
rary housing, children’s activi-
ties and increased security.

DETROIT COMMITTEE 
(DIRECT) ALLOCATIONS 
TO DATE
Direct Support of Victims of 
Terror: $358,140 
These funds aid those whose 
lives have been impacted, 
including evacuees, people 
suffering from PTSD, family 
members of hostages, Kibbutz 
Be’
eri residents and women who 
survived the Hamas attacks.

Hospitals and Rehabilitation: 
$150,000 
Supporting key medical 
and rehabilitation centers in 
Israel to benefit those injured 
in the war, including the 
Shaare Zedek Medical Center 
in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv 
Sourasky Medical Center and 
the Sheba Medical Center Tal 
Hashomer.

Partnership2Gether 
Municipalities: $286,000
Allocated to the three 
municipalities in our 

PURELY COMMENTARY

Gary Torgow

Michael 
Berger

Steven 
Ingber