4 | AUGUST 22 • 2024 
J
N

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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