Standing With Israel rss

Dear Friends:

In recent weeks, many hundreds of rockets launched by Hamas have brought havoc and insecurity to southern Israel. No government, no people can tolerate such constant attacks. We are alarmed by the loss of life and other damage, and hope that a truce can be restored in the near future.

On Thursday, we joined with the Jewish Federations of North America in committing money to an Israel Terror Relief Fund to help meet the immediate needs of the people of Israel. The fund will support our long-time overseas beneficiary agencies, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The programs supported include psychological care for parents and children in Israel’s southern region, aid for those displaced by the attacks, medical equipment, and food and emergency kits for the elderly and disabled. In addition, the Israel Trauma Coalition, the organization that we formed in 2001 in response to the second intifada, is already at work throughout the country.

On Saturday evening, leadership from federations, including ours, will travel to Israel to show solidarity. In these ways and others, we seek to clearly communicate that we stand with the people of Israel as they resist violence and pursue peace.

Sincerely,

Jerry W. Levin, Alisa R. Doctoroff, and John S. Ruskay

Jerry W. Levin is President of UJA-Federation of New York, Alisa R. Doctoroff is Chair of the Board, and John S. Ruskay is Executive Vice President & CEO.