WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — Now that the Carmel fire near Haifa is contained, the real work of rebuilding tattered homes, communities, and Israel’s gorgeous northern areas begins.
Accordingly, J Street announced a $10,000 matching fund to help rebuild the communities affected by the disaster. With matching donations from the J Street community, the organization hopes to direct $20,000 to the New Israel Fund’s Carmel Forest Fire Response Fund in the n ear future.
This is a deeply emotional issue for J Street and the entire Jewish community, a J Street spokesperson said. “Many of us have spent considerable time in the North — hiking, living, and exploring a lush and fascinating part of Israel — and some of us have family and friends affected directly by the fires. We want to do our part.”
As a partner of J Street’s in the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement, the New Israel Fund is excellently positioned to make a lasting positive impact on the affected communities.
Here’s an excerpt from the New Israel Fund’s website about the Fund they’ve set up and where J Street will be directing contributions:
“This fire is touching a broad cross section of Israeli society: the victims include Jews, Arabs, Druze and others. As always, NIF will be working to ensure that everyone who has been affected has adequate access to services and care. Moreover, we’ll be there for the long run. Natural disasters grab our attention while they are happening, but NIF is aware that recovery periods are usually measured in years rather than days. When the fire in the Carmel forest is out, our Haifa office will serve as it always does as a nexus for local government and activists, specialists and ordinary people, to come together to rebuild communities and repair the damage.”
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Preceding provided by J Street