Join Jewish community organizations around the world to provide critical aid to earthquake victims in Haiti.
Haiti was devastated by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Monday, January 12th. Tens, perhaps hundreds of thousands of people are estimated dead. The injured and dying are walking the streets. All but one of the hospitals in the country have been demolished. Houses, schools, buildings, even the presidential palace have been crushed to ruins.
The Red Cross estimated that the quake affected one in three Haitians, or a total of three million people. The quake is the most severe to hit Haiti in 200 years.
Not suprisingly, given the supreme Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, Jewish community organizations around the world are mobilizing to send relief to Haiti. Please join the Jewish community in giving what you can – be it $5, $25, $100 or $500 – to support relief efforts in Haiti.
Locally, some of our rabbis have joined the call to action.
Rabbi Morris Allen of Beth Jacob sent an email Wednesday afternoon praising the work of the American Jewish World Service and encouraging congregants to contribute financially to their Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
The American Jewish World Service has had volunteers working in Haiti for a number of years — it is on the ground and aiding already in relief efforts. I am asking each of you to go to their website and make a donation and to let us know that you have done so. I would like to be able to say on Shabbas that 100% of our congregation has stepped forward to help in the only way possible–when we are in Minnesota and the disaster is in Haiti.
Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker of Mount Zion sent an email to his congregants late Wednesday with a request for people to donate to the Union for Reform Judaism’s Haiti Relief Fund. He also included this powerful prayer.
May the Holy One of Blessing inspire stamina and inner strength to all relief workers, speed to all rescuers, healing to the wounded and comfort to the bereaved.
Other Jewish organizations mobilizing relief in Haiti include the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and B’nai Brith.
As Rabbi Hillel taught, “If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDLKYSCYP4k
(Photo: Mashable)
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