Responding to the humanitarian crisis born of many years of terrorist missile and mortar attacks, the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) is sending $1 million in unrestricted aid to Israel through United Jewish Communities, plus an additional $208,000 in targeted funds to address special needs in JUF’s Partnership 2000 region of Kiryat Gat, Lachish, and Shafir.
These new amounts are in addition to $1 million sent in January specifically to address the needs in southern Israel stemming from the recent post-cease fire crisis in Gaza, bringing JUF’s 2009 Israel emergency allocations to $2,208,000.
JUF has been a key player in providing aid to Israel and the embattled residents in and around Sderot, the southern Israeli city that, until recently, endured the bulk of Hamas’ missile attacks. JUF has provided more than $32 million through its Israel Emergency Campaign to alleviate the impact the war of terror has had on Israel, including sending many thousands of children from Sderot and neighboring communities to summer camp, providing a reprieve from life under fire.
While the missiles were falling, funds were used to expand trauma prevention and relief for Israeli children, including short trips from the area to those places still out of range. The elderly and disabled received extra attention as well. The funds also helped stock bomb shelters with basic necessities and reinforce emergency volunteer networks and hotlines.
With recent increases in Hamas’ missile range, larger areas of Israel became vulnerable, including the southern town of Kiryat Gat and the adjacent Lachish and Shafir regions. Together, these form a community linked to JUF through a program called Partnership 2000 that pairs areas in Israel with Diaspora communities for financial support and cultural exchange.
One Hamas missile landed in the parking lot of JUF’s Partnership 2000 office, shattering its windows. The office had recently been visited by Doug Cohen, General Campaign Chairman of the 2009 JUF Annual Campaign, and JUF Executive Vice President Michael Kotzin.
The $208,000 in targeted allocations for the Partnership 2000 region will be used to provide extra-curricular activities addressing the trauma affecting the area’s children, to improve communications technology and to increase the livability of some 220 bomb shelters— including outfitting them with electricity and running water.
Since 2000, more than 8,000 Qassam rockets and mortars have been launched from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas, killing and injuring civilians, damaging homes, schools, and businesses and traumatizing populations. Among the victims are thousands of terrorized children who suffer from nightmares and other post-traumatic stress disorders.
“Chicago’s Jewish community stands with Israel and its people, and upholds their universal right to live free from terror. Hamas’ missiles are aimed at destroying Israel’s people, its way of life, and its resolve,” said JUF President Steven B. Nasatir. “Our response to this destruction is rebuilding. Our response to terror is healing. Our response is to stand in solidarity with our Israeli brothers and sisters.”
