Milwaukee has rallied to swiftly raise more than $1.5 million for the Israel Emergency Campaign, launched just nine weeks ago by the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization that represents North American Jewish federations.
The community-wide effort, coordinated by the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, will continue in full-blown fundraising mode through the end of the month.
“Of course,” announced Robert L. Habush, chair of the IEC, following a recent IEC Cabinet meeting, “we will continue to welcome contributions and donors will still be able to make secure online donations at www.milwaukee jewish.org in the immediate future.”
An additional $313,000 was raised through the Israel NOW Campaign that began last fall, concurrently with the MJF’s annual Community Campaign 2002. This fundraising effort was then merged with the IEC campaign when the latter was established in April.
The community has therefore raised a combined total of more than $1.8 million to date. Across North America, $265 million has been raised since Oct. 2001, the largest campaign in support of Israel since 1973.
Jerry Benjamin, chair of the federation’s Israel and Overseas Committee, said, “It is heartening the people of Milwaukee were able to come to together so generously, speaking in one voice at a time when Israel needed to hear from us.
“The funds raised [through the IEC] campaign are so important. But even more important than the dollars themselves is the deep commitment the Jewish community showed person to person, Jew to Jew, as evidenced by the campaign. As we bring it to a close, feeling no less intense about the situation, we’ve acknowledged that when Israel is in danger we are there for our brothers and sisters.”
The money raised in Milwaukee, which is now being disbursed through the UJC, is being divided 75 percent to the IEC campaign and 25 percent to Milwaukee’s Partnership 2000 Region of Sovev Kinneret for the purposes defined for the Israel NOW campaign. The Sovev Kinneret region encompasses the Jordan Valley, Lower Galilee, Tiberias and five smaller communities around the Sea of Galilee.
In addition, UJC is forwarding $48,000 of the funds to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, representing Milwaukee’s share of the Israel NOW Social Relief Program, to help Jews in Argentina who are suffering due to the country’s economic collapse.
“At a parlor meeting where the Israel Emergency Campaign was launched, the donors who were present that evening agreed that a portion of their gifts be allocated in this way, based on their desire to provide humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed,” said Jody Kaufman Loewenstein, MJF campaign chair, who visited Argentina in April as part of a UJC mission.
Federation leaders said that donors have both made direct gifts to the IEC and sent in pledges, and are urging community members to make payment on the latter as soon as possible.
“Because the needs are so critical,” said Richard H. Meyer, MJF executive vice president, “we have forwarded all the money we have received so far. The situation in Israel is so desperate that I intend to recommend to our executive committee that we advance the cash on all as-yet unfilled pledges. We are therefore urging everyone to make payment on their pledges today.”
Funds raised for the IEC Campaign will be used
• Provide financial relief to victims of terror and their families through the Jewish Agency for Israel Fund for Terror Victim Relief.
• Open summer camps to 230,000 Israeli children to ease the months of trauma and give them a safe summer experience.
• Offer psychological counseling services.
• Enhance medical and trauma services.
• Help in the rescue and resettlement of new immigrants — especially those from Argentina.
The funds being sent to the Partnership 2000 area will help prepare for emergencies at Poriyah Government Hospital near Tiberias; provide safety measures to help protect children; and train volunteers to recognize and respond to emergency situations — at schools, day care centers and throughout the region.
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