Editor’s Note: The president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Steven J. Morris, on Friday sent out the following message to the community regarding renewed violence along Israel’s borders with Gaza and Egypt. Sha’ar Hanegev, the partnership region of the San Diego Federation, lies alongside Gaza in Israel’s northern Negev Desert.
By Steven J. Morris
SAN DIEGO — I write to you today to inform you of rising tensions in Israel which were triggered by a new barrage of rockets that struck communities in the south. JFNA (Jewish Federations of North America)’s Israel’s office reports that while the attacks have diminished since last week, the situation remains dangerous — and Jewish Federation-supported programs of our overseas partners continue to respond.
Following a few days of relative quiet, terrorists launched about 20 rockets into Israel in the past 24 hours. Tragically, in the latest barrage, a nine-month-old Israeli baby was wounded by shrapnel when a rocket hit a car south of Ashkelon.
I have been informed that Israel has struck back at terrorist targets in Gaza, including targeted rocket-launching sites. According to some reports,
Gaza’s Ismail Asmar, a senior commander in the Islamic Jihad, who financed last week’s major terrorist attacks near Eilat, was killed last night in an Israeli
raid. That attack near Eilat sparked off the latest round of violence in the region.
Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system has continued to successfully intercept many incoming rockets and is providing far greater security in areas where it
has been deployed, such as Ashkelon. Efforts are underway to significantly ramp up production and new deployments of the system.
Unfortunately, over one million Israelis are currently in the range of Gaza rockets and their lives are tense, difficult and frightening. Frequent attacks
require a sprint to the nearest shelter, a task that is almost impossible for groups such as the disabled, the elderly and even young children. Normal life
has been all but abandoned in places like Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ofakim, Sderot and tens of smaller towns, and residents are particularly nervous about
what will happen when the new school year starts next Thursday.
In these tumultuous times, I am proud to report that Jewish Federations, as well as our partners JAFI and JDC, are active on the ground across the entire
southern region in Israel providing relief, giving support, monitoring needs and assessing results.
Federations:
As always, our Israel office is on the ground and monitoring the situation and needs. On Wednesday, Barry Shrage, President of Combined Jewish
Philanthropies of Boston, visited the region, including Ofakim and Be’er Sheva. While there, Barry obtained an in-depth understanding of how residents of
southern Israel have been coping with the recent violence and experience firsthand Federation’s reach and support.
In Be’er Sheva Federation representatives met with local professional and volunteers who are providing support for the city’s disabled population at JDC‘s
Center for Independent Living. In the Western Negev town of Ofakim, representatives met Shula Amuyal, whose home was one of two that were destroyed
last Saturday night, along with professionals from JAFI’s Victims of Terror Fund, who have provided Shula and her neighbors with immediate financial
assistance. They also met with the town’s mayor, Tzvika Gringold, and his leadership team in the city’s Emergency Operation Center, along with colleagues
from the Israel Trauma Coalition, who have begun providing initial guidance to the mayor and his team.
JAFI: Our partners at JAFI (Jewish Agency for Israel)’s Fund for the Victims of Terror continue to provide assistance to residents in need. Once an attack occurs, the staff immediately provides assistance to those whose homes took direct hits by rockets, and later continue to the hospitals to work with the wounded. Finally, in the unfortunate event of deaths, the staff visit the families of those killed, after the shiva period ends, to discuss immediate needs.
The Fund’s staff worked intensively with families affected in Be’er Sheva, Ofakim, and the communities surrounding Gaza. Urgent cases were identified and
in the coming days emergency assistance will be provided to these families.
JDC: Following the recent spate of attacks, JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) activated its emergency response team. Program professionals have been reaching out to the region’s vulnerable residents to assess and respond to their needs. This includes special emphasis on the elderly, people with disabilities, and children and youth at risk. It is also working with its consulting teams to support city leadership.
To meet needs of the elderly and disabled, JDC’s community based programs (including Supportive Communities and the Community Caseworker model) have been providing practical and moral support to their members through phone calls and home visits.
Further, Be’er Sheva’s Center for Independent Living (CIL), a resource for people with disabilities, has an emergency coordinator working exclusively to
recruit volunteers, and to respond to the individual needs of the disabled people in the region.
Finally, JDC’s Centers for Young Adults have mobilized volunteers to provide engaging activities for children, who are confined to local shelters and
protected spaces. JDC continues to monitor the situation.
I am both proud and confident in the strength and resolve of the Federation System and our partners. Although we are thousands of miles away, we stand
strong alongside our brothers and sisters in Israel.
*
Preceding was provided by the Jewish Federation of San Diego County