Dear ,
In
response to the magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile this weekend, which has
killed more than 700 people and damaged 500,000 homes, The Jewish Federation of
Greater Long Beach has created an emergency fund to provide humanitarian aid
to those in need of immediate assistance.
You may make your donation online (Be sure to put "Chile Relief Fund" in the notes section),
charge by phone at 562-426-7601 or send a check payable to the Jewish Federation to
Jewish Federation Chile Earthquake Relief Fund
3801 E. Willow Street
Long Beach, CA 90815
100%
of contributions will go directly to support non-sectarian needs on the ground; Funds will be
distributed via the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in
coordination with The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief.
You may also donate directly to the JDC Chilean Earthquake Relief Fund.
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The
earthquake struck about 200 miles (325 kilometers) south of the capital city of
Santiago, killing at least 700 people and displacing or injuring some two
million others. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet opened the door to
international aid yesterday, stating that the country faces "a catastrophe
of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort to
recover."
Chile is home to a vibrant and active Jewish community of approximately 16,000,
of whom 90 percent are concentrated in Santiago. Based on information we have
received from our partner, JDC, as well as from ORT-Chile and the
Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Jewish communal institutions have been spared from
major earthquake damage due to Santiago's distance from the earthquake
epicenter. However, there are reports of damage to two synagogues close to the
epicenter and we are awaiting further details. We are tracking the situation
through our relationship with organizations on the ground, particularly JDC,
which is working with the umbrella body of Chilean Jewry, La Comunidad Judía de
Chile.
The Jewish Federations of North America including the Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach has previously partnered with JDC in
responding to international natural disasters such as the Southeast Asian
tsunami and the recent earthquake in Haiti. (Click here for information on Haiti relief efforts.)
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