4 | AUGUST 22 • 2024
J
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Federation Update
Detroit Stands with Israel
M
ore than 10 months have passed since
Oct. 7, the most devastating and
tragic date in Israel’s 75-year history.
Since then, Jewish communities worldwide have
responded with a historic outpouring of solidarity
and support.
As always, when needs arise in the Jewish world,
our Detroit community has also
answered with outsized generosity
and commitment. Throughout the
ongoing conflict in Israel, your
unwavering support and incredible
generosity have been a lifeline for so
many individuals and communities.
Here’s an update on the Detroit and
national Jewish Federations of North
America (JFNA) Israel Emergency
campaigns, and a snapshot of how
these resources are being used.
• $28.8M: Amount raised
locally by the Jewish Federation
of Detroit’s Israel Emergency
Campaign from 3,668 donors.
• $848M: Total amount of Israel
Emergency Fund dollars raised
by JFNA.
• $469M: Amount already
allocated by JFNA in Israel through
520 partner organizations and NGOs.
The impact of this support has
touched every facet of Israeli society
with a particular focus on the Gaza
border region and the North.
• $18.8+M: Amount already allocated by
the Detroit campaign through designated
giving, JFNA and distributions made by our IEC
Committee.
WHAT WE’RE FUNDING
Our Israel and Emergency Allocations Committee
is working to evaluate all requests we receive
in coordination with national efforts to fulfill
immediate and long-term needs. Many of our
allocations have been focused on, but not limited
to, communities in the Central Galilee, our
partnership region where we have been working
with people on the ground for nearly 30 years.
Here are the five main areas where we have
focused our efforts:
• $10 million to the JFNA Combined
Federations Emergency Fund: The impact of this
historic effort has touched every facet of Israeli
society with a particular focus on the Gaza border
region and the North. Priority areas include lifeline
services, medical and trauma relief, economic
relief and recovery, and community resilience and
rebuilding. Our longstanding partnerships with
the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
were instrumental in coordinating an effective
emergency response, and they received the largest
allocations among 520 supported NGOs.
• $1,662,967 for direct support of victims of
terror: Addressing the urgent needs of evacuees
and traumatized victims. This includes evacuee
centers, trauma intervention programs, support for
hostage families and the survivors from kibbutz
Be’eri.
• $248,300 for hospitals and rehabilitation:
This includes funding for a completely new
rehabilitation center at the Sheba Medical Center
Tal Hashomer with the primary goal of providing
comprehensive care and rehabilitation services to
people injured in the current war.
• $118,855 for support of IDF soldiers:
Supporting the men and women on the frontlines
of Israel’s defense against terror. Includes the
purchase and delivery of protective eyewear, boots,
sleeping bags and other supplies.
• $1,043,945: for our Partnership2Gether
municipalities: Funds to care for displaced
families, to renovate and reinforce safe houses and
to help prepare the region for escalation in the
North are among the ways we have helped our
Partnership2Gether family.
We have also nearly doubled the number of
Israeli kids brought over as part of our Elaine
and Michael Serling Israeli Camper Program to
include evacuees from the North and South for
a much-needed respite. We are grateful to our
partner agency, Tamarack Camps, for making
space for the extra kids and staff and for being so
accommodating in altering activities that might
evoke anxiety for kids coming from a country
immersed in war.
You can learn more about both the Detroit
and Jewish Federations of North America at
jewishdetroit.org/israel/iec-funding.
SNAPSHOT OF OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT
Our extraordinary fundraising success reflects
the collective efforts of all 146 Federations and
hundreds of Network Communities. See graphic.
ISRAEL WILL CONTINUE TO NEED
OUR SUPPORT — TOMORROW
AND FOR YEARS TO COME
We are immensely grateful to all who contributed
to this effort. Together, we will continue to do
everything in our power to support and sustain the
people of Israel during this dark and difficult time.
Together we will help ensure a bright, secure future
for Israel and for Jewish people everywhere.
If you haven’t contributed already, please
consider giving to our Detroit Stands With Israel
Emergency Campaign (jewishdetroit.org/israel/
iec-donate). 100% of every donation goes directly
to help those in Israel affected by this horrible
violence.
May the memories of all the Israeli lives lost be
for a blessing.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Gary Torgow is president of the Jewish Federation of Detroit and
co-chair of the Israel Emergency Campaign. Michael Berger is
president of United Jewish Foundation of Detroit and co-chair
of the Israel Emergency Campaign. Steven Ingber is CEO of the
Jewish Federation of Detroit.
Gary Torgow
Michael
Berger
Steven
Ingber
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