Amid rockets, JFNA raises $5M for Israel

(JNS.org) Responding to the onslaught of rockets hitting southern Israel from Gaza, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) on Thursday announced the establishment of a new Israel Terror Relief Fund that will contribute up to $5 million to aid victims.

The aid, which will be made up of both existing funds and new donations from 155 Jewish Federations, will support work of JFNA partner agencies such as The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

JAFI’s work to aid Israeli terror victims includes “providing a range of programs and services, including respite for the 23,500 grade-school students who live in affected areas, as well as psychological interventions for parents and children from Israel’s southern region,” according to a JFNA press release. JAFI is also supplying medical equipment, emergency cash grants, basic furnishings, and repair and home equipment.

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JDC, meanwhile, will use aid funds “to distribute food and emergency kits to the elderly and disabled, implement emergency caseworkers to provide emotional and physical support and provide immediate and special care to the most severely disabled or frail elderly in their homes.”

“JDC will also offer children post-trauma interventions and volunteer-led activities in shelters,” JFNA said.

For more information on the fund, visit http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=258825