UJA-Federation Stands With Israel

The New York Jewish community is playing a central role in providing relief to the besieged residents of the southern Israeli town of Sderot, and other victims of terrorism, including the March 6th murders in Jerusalem. Since Israel's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in August 2005, Sderot and the surrounding region has been subjected to ongoing attacks of Qassam rockets from Gaza, and the population has suffered numerous casualties and severe trauma, and the recent incident in Jerusalem has only exacerbated the situation.

Make a donation to our Sderot Fund to help the residents of Sderot and all other areas subject to rocket attack from Gaza.

The Israel Trauma Coalition, a Consortium of human-service agencies assembled by UJA-Federation, is already mobilizing to help those affected by the terrorist action in Jerusalem.

To help Israelis suffering in the wake of the attacks from Gaza, we are joining with United Jewish Communities — representing federations across North America — to provide more than $3 million in support of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israel Trauma Coalition, and the Ethiopian National Project, in addition to the $20 million that we have provided over the last 18 months, for programs that will:

Help the Helpers

To strengthen the resilience of municipal workers, first responders, educators, and counselors facing unimaginable stress:

• The Israel Trauma Coalition will train professionals in how to work with homebound populations, and teach proper communication skills, first aid, and basic crisis intervention.
• 300 educators and mentors will be trained to work with issues facing children in frontline populations.
• Temporary staffing will be increased to reinforce the morale of existing program staff and guarantee the consistent delivery of high-quality services.
• 175 professionals who operate programs assisting the region's elderly and new immigrant communities will be given a chance to breathe with overnight or day respite trips.
• AMEN Youth Volunteer programs will be expanded to provide crucial assistance while offering teens a sense of purpose and an effective means of coping with trauma.
• Professionals who work with new immigrants will take part in workshops to learn how to recognize and manage their own trauma.
• A basic pool of resources will be created to meet the various needs of the most needy local authority professionals.

Reduce Vulnerability

To help immigrants, children and youth, the elderly, and people with disabilities who are coping with security-related concerns that raise new problems and feelings of anxiety:

• Psychological care, group therapy, respite outside the region, and recreational equipment for bomb shelters will be provided for the residents of the two immigrant absorption centers located in direct line of the Qassam attacks.
• Amharic-speaking social workers will be hired and culturally sensitive violence-prevention and crisis-management seminars will be conducted to alleviate stress on the Ethiopian community.
• 6,800 school-age children will take part in respite activities that include group therapy.
• 750 children will take part in a special Pesach camp outside the bombarded region.
• 1,000 children will receive supplemental learning at local community centers.
• The Havens of Calm program will reach another 2,100 children, providing physical locations in schools where children can find emotional support.
• Teens will be brought together for group meetings where they can gain strength from one another.
• 1,625 elderly who lack resources and mobility will receive respite opportunities outside the region.
• 2,000 impoverished elderly will receive targeted basic emergency assistance.
• 50 individuals with disabilities will enjoy the company of peers and family in a safe environment outside the conflict zone.
• 75 Israelis with disabilities will receive personalized responses to emergency needs.

Boost the Regional Economy

To aid small-business and factory workers whose loss of income is further impacting their psychological condition:

• Workers in 45 Sderot companies will receive psychological care.
• JDC's employment initiative, TEVET, will support the small-business development center in Sderot and provide advice to business owners.
• Specialized services will be offered to help former small-business owners reintegrate into the job market.

Additionally, for the past month, the Jewish Agency for Israel, supported in part by UJA-Federation, has been providing immediate cash assistance to people who have been physically injured by a Qassam or whose house suffered a direct hit.

Together with our overseas agencies and grantees, UJA-Federation will continue to closely monitor the crisis in Sderot and will ensure that the needs of the population of Sderot and the surrounding area are met during this difficult time.

To help our efforts to bring relief to Sderot, please make a donation to our Sderot Fund.

dateline: March 5, 2008