Jewish Federation of San Diego sets up emergency fund for Haifa fire

By Steven Morris

SAN DIEGO — As you may have heard, a forest fire is raging in the north of Israel that is being called the worst in the country’s history. The fire, centered in the Carmel Forest outside Haifa, has already killed more than 40 people, burned buildings and forced the evacuation of thousands of people.

Israel has appealed to nations including Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Russia and the United States for help in battling the blaze, and officials have called it a disaster of unprecedented proportions. Israel’s Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, has mobilized IDF troops to help firefighters and others fight the fire, which was not expected to be contained until at least Friday. News reports did not say what is believed to have caused the fire, though Israel has been experiencing a heat wave.

A bus carrying guards and inmates from the Damon prison was engulfed in flames as it tried to leave the area, and 40 prison guards were reportedly killed. Homes in the Carmel hills were burned and residents of Kibbutz Beit Oren were forced to flee. The University of Haifa was evacuated as a precaution.

We will continue to update you as we learn more about this crisis. Jewish Federations of North America has created a special information resource page on the crisis, which includes news stories and other resources.

To make your tax-deductible gift to the Israel Wildfire Emergency Relief Fund, please click here or send your check with the notation “Israel Wildfire Emergency Relief Fund” to:

Jewish Federation of San Diego County
4950 Murphy Canyon Road
San Diego, California 92123

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the fire, their friends and family as well as with the people of Israel as they work to confront this challenge and to perform a Chanukah miracle.

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your generosity.

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Morris is president and chief executive officerof the Jewish Federation of San Diego County