Thoughts & Teachings
Chizuk Amuno Responds to Devastating Fire in Northern Israel
We are all concerned for the people and land of Israel following the massive fire in northern Israel. The fire, which broke out last Thursday morning in the Carmel Mountains near Haifa, tragically claimed 42 lives, has burned and damaged villages, destroyed thousands of acres of forest land, five million trees, and much wildlife.
We ask for your contributions to Chizuk Amuno Congregation which we will forward to Israel through the Jewish National Fund for immediate response and relief efforts, as well as for the purchase of additional fire fighting equipment.
We believe it is as a synagogue community we best pool our resources and give voice to our values. When our people are challenged, as well as when we rejoice, we turn to our synagogue community for meaning and response. Please make checks payable to Chizuk Amuno Congregation and mark them for "Israel Fire Relief." Thank you very much.
You may wish to take note of these links.
The first is to further information about JNF's response.
http://www.jnf.org/assets/pdf/fire_pledgecard.pdf
The second is about the Yemin Orde Youth Village, a home for 500 immigrant, disadvantaged, and at-risk children and youth that was seriously damaged during the fire.
http://www.yeminorde.org/pages/villagefire.aspx
Many worthwhile organizations are turning to members of the Jewish community and asking for help, in particular, we support the emergency fire relief campaigns being conducted by the Conservative/Masorti Movement (http://masorti.org/) in Israel and The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore (http://www.theassociated.org) to which Chizuk Amuno is also contributing.
Thank you very much for your consideration and support.
Shalom,
Rabbi Ron Shulman and Rabbi Deborah Wechsler
