Summary of Jewish Agency for Israel Relief Efforts during the War

IMRA ^ | 8-28-06

[SJackson]

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Summary of Jewish Agency for Israel Relief Efforts during the War DURING THE WAR. THE JEWISH AGENCY RAISED 200 MILLION SHEKELS, ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHERN COMMUNITIES AND TODAY IT IS RAISING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF SHEKELS TO REHABILITATE THE NORTH

Thousands of Children Were Absorbed in Summer Camps in Central Israel and Thousands of Shelters Were Repaired

Special Assistance was Provided to non-Jewish Communities in the North

Since the outbreak of the war, the Jewish Agency initiated large scale activity on behalf of northern residents, to the tune of about 200 million Israeli Shekels. Within the framework of this assistance, about 40,000 children from the Northern Communities were absorbed in special summer camps in Central Israel; thousands of shelters were repaired and equipped with air conditioners, television sets and emergency lighting in order to afford comfortable conditions to those compelled to remain in the shelters; hundreds of immigrant children were absorbed in Jewish Agency Youth Villages in Central and Southern Israel; and special assistance was allocated to minority non-Jewish Communities

The activities were financed primarily from contributions that were raised from Jewish Communities worldwide via the United Jewish Communities, the Federations of North America as well as Keren Hayesod- United Israel Appeal. Additionally, the Jewish Agency raised substantial contributions from Israeli Companies as well as private Israeli donors, who gave generously. Many citizens turned to the special call in center, which the Jewish Agency opened seeking to donate money or to send checks by mail on behalf of children from the North.

Within the framework of the project "Placing the Children in the Center", the Jewish Agency hosted about 40,000 children and youths from the Northern Communities in special summer camps in Central Israel. Their removal from Katyusha range, was rendered possible via collaboration which the Jewish Agency launched and financed in cooperation with such absorbing bodies and institutions as the youth movements, including HaNoar HaOved ve HaLomed, the Wingate Institute, the Migdal Or Institutions, the Society for the Preservation of Nature, youth villages of the Settlement Education Administration, Egged Tours, the "Olam Aher" Company etc. The children enjoyed full board while conducting educational and recreational activities.

About 500 immigrant children, residing in absorption centers in Northern Israel, were absorbed in Jewish Agency youth villages in Central and Southern Israel (Kiryat Yearim, Hadassah Neurim, Ben Yakir and Nitzana). The children enjoyed full board in dormitory accommodations, fun days, counseling, Hebrew Studies, educational activities, etc. In the next few days the children from the North including children of immigrant families who were housed at camps in Central Israel will return to their homes and absorption centers in the northern communities.

Special assistance was allocated toward improving the living conditions of people compelled to remain in shelters: about 2000 air conditioners, thousands of television sets, and thousands of emergency lighting and emergency kits were purchased and installed in about 2000 shelters in the North. The work was carried out in the major cities and communities which suffered from bombardment, including the Arab and Druze Communities. The project, in cooperation with the Amigur Company of the Jewish Agency benefitted most of the public shelters, as well and some private ones. Likewise, community centers in the Druze and Arab villages in the North were equipped in order to facilitate activities for hundreds of children outside the shelters.

Additionally, the Jewish Agency was a partner to "take a breather" weeks for the northern residents-a special project for hosting about 10,000 residents of the North, who had stayed for a month in the shelters and extending them a week's vacation in Central Israel. The residents enjoyed rest and recreation activities.

Presently the Jewish Agency is leading a special effort to rehabilitate the northern communities and restore the residents to normalcy -via special assistance in the sum of hundreds of millions of Shekels. The funds are earmarked for assisting businesses, rehabilitating buildings, aid to local municipalities, returning children to normalcy and preparing them for the forthcoming school year, etc. The Jewish Agency will continue coordinating between the governmental authorities and the philanthropic appeals to ascertain the needs on the ground, in order to provide a fitting response to the severe problems which have awakened.

For further details, please contact: Michael Jankelowitz Liaison to Foreign Press Jewish Agency for Israel www.jewishagency.org

[SJackson]

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