Dear

I'm sure you have been as touched as I have by the devastation that the people of Haiti are experiencing. The pain inflicted by the worst earthquake in Haiti's history is palpable and nearly 3 million Haitians may be effected.

I am proud that the Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and Federations throughout North America to provide aid and relief to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday.  You can support the JDC Haiti Relief Fund mailbox by clicking the link to the JDC site below.

 
Jewish Federations are coordinating with The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, which brings together the experience, expertise, and additional resources of North American Jewish organizations to assist victims of natural or man-made disasters on a non-sectarian basis. The coalition, managed by JDC, consists of organizations such as the Union for Reform Judaism, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, World ORT, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, American Jewish World Service and American Jewish Committee, to name a few.

The importance of our collective power is particularly evident in situations like this. In the wake of the Southeast Asia tsunami, the Federation movement raised more than $10 million for the JDC's $18 million-plus relief effort. The Federation movement spearheaded a nearly $30 million aid effort for victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, creating a blueprint for collective disaster relief. The Jewish Federations of North America has also opened its own disaster relief mailboxes when Jewish communities were affected in other disasters, such as fires that swept across Southern California.

Thank you for responding generously at this difficult time.


Deborah K. Goldfarb, Executive Director

 

The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) is committed to addressing a myriad of challenges confronting the global Jewish community. Now in its 95th year, JDC is the largest international Jewish humanitarian assistance organization in the world and has played a critical, often life-saving role in most important events in 20th century and 21st century Jewish history. In 2010, JDC carries on its mission in the face of new, harsh economic realities, providing the globe's poorest Jews with life-sustaining aid while helping new and older generations connect with their Jewish heritage.
Building on decades of relief and development experience, JDC also provides effective, non-sectarian assistance to both Jews and non-Jews worldwide who are victims of natural and man-made disasters.