The Israel NOW special fund-raising effort launched last September has raised $300,000 to support security and emergency medical needs in Milwaukee’s Partnership 2000 Region. So far, $180,000 has been delivered to the region and unpaid pledges, which continue to be collected, will be forwarded to the region as originally approved.

“For those who have already made pledges to Israel NOW, we are encouraging you to increase those gifts for this emergency campaign,” said Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, chair of the federation’s Community Campaign 2002.

She added, “The Israel Emergency Campaign is a ‘stand alone’ fund-raising effort. As a result, the closing date of the 2002 Community Campaign will be accelerated so we can fully focus on the new effort before we begin the 2003 Community Campaign. The early closing of the 2002 campaign should not further impact local needs in Milwaukee. We’re in the home-stretch now, and local services are not at additional risk by embarking on this new effort.”

According to Marlene Lauwasser, chair of the MJF Women’s Campaign, “We understand the emergency, and I hope the IEC will be a wake-up call on two fronts — to raise money to support Israel and to get our annual campaign pledges in to secure our community. I sense that a lot of people want to do something and that the momentum has been renewed.”

The new funds raised will also provide relief to Jews in Argentina as well, according to Loewenstein, who visited the country last week as a member of a UJC mission.

“Despite the desperate situation in Israel, many Jews are leaving Argentina to begin new lives there,” she said.

From the national IEC effort, $40 million is targeted for Argentina, whose economy collapsed last December when the government defaulted on payments due to the International Monetary Fund.

Loewenstein said that a parent told her that he is sending his son (to Israel) now because there is no future in Argentina. The couple said they will follow because Israel is the land that holds their “hopes, dreams and future.”

As Israel’s urgent needs increase and immigrants continue to arrive, the IEC will be used to fund what is deemed most critical.

Lauwasser added, “We must support the Israelis both spiritually and financially. It’s time for everyone to step up to the plate or we may not have a Jewish state.”

“If we help a family member during a difficult time,” said Loewenstein, “we don’t think of it as philanthropy. And that’s what this is — helping our family.”

For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, call the MJF at 414-390-5700.