The Bottom Line - 14 February 2003
In this new, regular column of the Israel United Appeal – United Communal Fund, we hope to bring you relevant and interesting information on who we are, what we do and where the money goes, which will increase awareness and keep you informed of the vital work we are doing.
Over the past two and a half years, the Palestinian terror campaign in Israel has claimed over 700 lives and over 5000 people have been injured. Recognising the growing pressure on the State of Israel to provide for the increasing number of victims and their devastated families, the Keren Hayesod/Jewish Agency Fund to Aid Victims of Terror in Israel was established in February 2002. The local Israel United Appeal channels its contributions directly to Keren Hayesod.
The current caseload for the fund is extremely high. To date, the Fund has distributed $3.3 million affecting over 2,500 people. In addition $2 million for a special fund for orphans has put aside $5,000 in a savings account for each of the 400 children who have been orphaned since September 2000.
In the recent double suicide attack in Tel Aviv on January 5, 8 out of the 23 people murdered were new immigrants. The Fund awarded immediate emergency assistance in the form of a $2,000 grant to each of the immigrant casualties to help cope with the tragedy. Aside from financial aid, KH personnel were on hand to offer assistance and support to the families of the victims, locate family members both in Israel and overseas and, if necessary, bring relatives to Israel.
Despite the terror and the death, solidarity missions still visit Israel and Aliyah figures have increased. The total number of immigrants who came to Israel in 2002 is 33,465, including 180 from South Africa.
Between January 1 – 31, 2003, a total of 1571 immigrants made Aliyah. These vital efforts have seen tremendous results. It is thanks to Jews throughout the world, including the South African Jewish community that the Jewish people and the Jewish State remain strong. The work of the IUA-UCF and KH expresses in concrete terms that we will always be there for our fellow Jews, locally and in Israel. It should be pointed out that this is a two-way street as in many behind-the-scenes ways Israel watches over Diaspora Jewry… including us in South Africa. Contributions towards local community needs are a vital element of the work of the IUA-UCF. The fantastic work of the CSO is almost totally dependent for funding on the UCF. Other elements of local Jewish life also look to the UCF for funds. Thus, although contributors are free to decide what percentage of their contribution goes to each, we believe that both are deserving of a portion.
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The IUA-UCF annual campaign launch will be taking place in the first week of March. This year, Nava Barak, wife of former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, is the guest speaker at our functions. The Johannesburg event for top donors takes place on March 4 and for the general public on March 5. The function in Cape Town will be held on March 6. We believe the powerful impressions made by Deborah Lipstadt, Yaya and other recent visitors will be maintained.