By Sol Lizerbram
Jewish National Fund-USA
SAN DIEGO — As the conflict in Israel’s north intensifies, Jewish National Fund-USA remains the main organization at the forefront providing life-saving assistance. Since October 8, 2023 – the day after the worst atrocity inflicted upon the Jewish people since the Holocaust – Hezbollah launched a steady stream of missiles and drones at communities in the north, forcing the evacuation of nearly 120,000 residents who are scattered from Eilat to Tiberias. Some were officially evacuated, some left voluntarily, and some have not been able to leave and are still living there. Each missile is destroying a home or threatening a life.
We have been with them every step of the way and now we need to let them know we will always be with them. Cities across the Galilee, including Kiryat Shmona, Haifa, Nazareth, Akko and more have been relentlessly shelled; children run to shelters in hotels they have lived in for 11 months. This is a human tragedy of enormous proportions. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse have risen, and families’ lives have been broken.
No one is raising their voice for these people – our people – yet Jewish National Fund-USA is their voice, and we need your voice and commitment today.
Just today (Tuesday, Sept. 24), Kiryat Shmona faced over 50 missile launches, with impacts dangerously close to vital infrastructure like our Emergency and Medical Center we are building during this war as it is essential for people when they return home. Damage from the blasts is widespread, affecting areas such as the neighboring elementary school, military base, and cemetery. Roads that were once safe have become hazardous, with a fatal car accident already occurring due to panic during a missile siren. Fires are sweeping across the Galilee causing widespread damage to property, farms and orchards.
Our fire and rescue units cannot race to extinguish the fires as the red fire trucks become terrorist targets, so we need 50 small ATV’s today to fight the fires. The fire fighters risk their lives and they need our help today.
Despite these harrowing challenges, Jewish National Fund-USA continues to build the North. Thanks to your unwavering generosity, we are able to provide critical support to those affected by the ongoing conflict. Here’s how your impact is making a difference:
Supporting Evacuated Families — Your contributions allow us to deliver essential aid through our regional partners, including:
• Psychological therapy for distressed individuals and families grappling with the trauma of war.
• Meeting basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.
• Offering activities for children and families to provide comfort and resilience.
• Supporting impacted small businesses, helping them stay afloat amid the turmoil.
Enhancing Security — Your support has allowed us to provide 150 bomb shelters to protect residents in harm’s way, with 40 additional shelters on the way.
Fire and Rescue Services — In partnership with Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services, we are establishing Emergency Response Centers – which include fire, rescue, and civil defense – to respond to the immediate crisis, including ongoing brushfires caused by missile impacts.
Hope for Tomorrow — Even in these difficult times, we remain committed to building a future full of hope for Israel’s north. This includes:
• The Kiryat Shmona Medical Center, even with missiles raining down, we continue building the Medical Center, which will serve as a critical lifeline for the community. Our building today, brings hope for tomorrow.
• Investing in the future through the Galilee Culinary Institute, slated to open in February. We need to raise scholarship money to offer soldiers a 6-month culinary class to begin a new career, and to offer children cooking therapy sessions.
• Margalit Food-Tech Innovation Center, and new housing site construction.
• Providing job placement programs through the Lauder Employment Center to ensure future opportunities.
• Offering support packages for soldiers and evacuated families which are also helping keep small businesses open
• Mobilizing thousands of Jewish National Fund-USA volunteers who stand ready to help rebuild, just as we have done for the Otef communities
Your support ensures that while the people of Israel’s north endure this ongoing battle, they are not alone. Together, we are protecting lives today and building a brighter tomorrow for these resilient communities.
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Sol Lizerbram, M.D., is President of the Jewish National Fund-USA