December 15, 2008

A Sign of the Times

Until today, the headlines we all have been reading were painful to digest but still somewhat removed. With the collapse of the Madoff investments his past week there has been a seismic shift in the Jewish philanthropic world – something that many agree can never be recovered. Schools, hospitals, universities…it seems as if no one is unscathed by this disaster as the list of casualties rises hourly.

Behind the numbers, though, are real people with real needs that may never be met – and lives that may even be lost. Buried in the news of billions of dollars that have vanished (has anyone noticed that the "new billion" is really like the "old million"? – much like the new age of 60 is really "like the old 50"–numbers have taken on new meaning) are the stories of many non-profit organizations that work hard to improve and save people’s lives. One of the organizations that is reporting potential difficulties is a small but critically important non-profit called The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. What started in 1991 as a truly grass-roots effort-one family’s quest to find a suitable bone marrow donor for their son and brother, Jay Feinberg, has grown to a vital and critically important institution within the Jewish community. Today, Gift of Life can proudly claim that nearly 1500 people received a match through their efforts and over 125,000 have registered to be potential donors. In recent years, Gift of Life has begun a Jewish cord blood registry which can help save the lives of individuals who have been unsuccessful in finding bone marrow or stem cell matches. With both of these registries in place, Gift of Life has positioned itself as one of the pre-eminent sources of life-saving resources for Jews world-wide. It plays a critically important role in Jewish life today.

With the unfortunate events of the past week, Jay Feinberg and Gift of Life find themselves in a difficult position. While the organization did not lose funds, many, many of its principal donors have been adversely affected by recent events and will not be able to continue the important support that they have so generously offered in the past. We would like to hope that everyone realizes the importance Gift of Life holds to the Jewish community and we ask you to visit their web site, http://www.giftoflife.org/, read about the truly outstanding work they have accomplished and consider a donation to keep that work going. None of us will ever know when or if Gift of Life’s services could be the key to our own survival.

December 10, 2008

How Does a Hanukah Gift Beome a Birthday Party?

Turning a Hanukah Gift Into a Birthday Party

Who isn’t spending time right now trying to pick that perfect gift for someone, be it adult or child, who really doesn’t need anything? As I look around the homes of my kids and nieces and nephews I sometimes shudder at the number of toys and games to be found there. What could I possibly buy them that would make a difference? That might not get tossed aside after a few weeks’ play? There has to be something that I can do that will not only make these kids happy but also provide some happiness for needy kids.

We believe that Ruthie Luttenberg, founder of Birthday Angels in Israel, has found the answer. When Ruthie learned how many children never experience the joy of a birthday party (or even know their actual birth date!), she started Birthday Angels with the eventual goal of providing every needy child with this joyful experience. A $36 donation makes it possible for Ruthie’s volunteers to provide a school party for any child who has been referred. …and what a party it is! Ruthie’s creativity and acute sense of what is fun and magical is evident in every aspect of Birthday Angels. Visit her web site (http://www.birthday-angels.org/) and get the full story…it is a particularly meaningful way to celebrate Hanukah, a birthday or just about anything else. I know that the kids who I have honored with a donation to Birthday Angels will feel really good when they receive a thank you from the birthday child.

As one of the birthday children shared with Ruthie her own party, "When they complimented me one by one I almost cried. I didn’t know any one even noticed me before." (Smadar, 10 yrs. Old)

For an even more colorful look at Birthday Angels, we suggest you follow this link to a truly beautiful online brochure which was recently created for the organization by a very talented and generous graphics company. Kol Hakavod to everyone who took part in this special mitzvah!

http://www.dbrochures.biz/files/birthdayangels.exe

December 8, 2008

O Hanukah, O Hanukkah ….

It’s that time of year again…headlines may warn of impending doom and many, many people are feeling, in a most personal way, the effects of the economy’s downturn, but…Hanukah is approaching.

On September 8, this diary shared a story entitled, "Sometimes It Does Take a Village". In it we described the actions of two women in Jerusalem who have enlisted their neighbors’ help in caring for families in the area who are living on the edge economically. Each month they provide a supply of food to each family and on Rosh Hashonah and Pesach they try to add new shoes for the children. On Hanukah, they like to brighten the families’ lives with some special toys or games requested by each child.

This year, the Good People Fund will be sending funds to make many of those gifts possible…while dreidels and sufganiyot are surely fun, nothing quite takes the place of a real toy… a doll… a game.

December 4, 2008

A Lifesaver

For some schools in Israel, specifically those located in very poor communities, there are never enough resources to provide the students with even the most basic of supplies…paper, books – we all know what a school needs to function effectively. Our friend, Yitz Feigenbaum, who shares in the running of Bet Hayeled, (that very special haven for kids from distressed homes that we have written about many times), recently told us a very tragic story. Bet Hayeled is located near Beit Shean (which you may know as the town where there is a huge archeological excavation that can dazzle your mind when you visit) and Yitz has often spoken about the principal of the local school who has made remarkable changes with his dedication and desire to improve the students’ educational experiences.

Aside from the usual educational tools which the school needs, one additional glaring need is basic first aid equipment. The elementary school, junior and senior high school are all located on one campus and serve more than 500 students – first aid equipment such as bandages, oxygen and other life-saving equipment are essential. The critical importance of these items was tragically pointed out this fall when a high school student collapsed in the middle of a physical education class and died for lack of equipment which might have saved his life. With the generosity of some donors who are particularly interested in the welfare of children, we were able to provide half the funds for a defibrillator which will be kept on campus and managed by staff members who are being instructed in the proper use of such equipment. Another fund helped with the purchase of some basic first aid supplies, as well.

For the students in Beit Shean, the foresight of a dedicated educator and the generosity of donors from the United States, have given them some critically important tools which we hope will be rarely, if ever, used. Yasher koach to everyone who took part in this special mitzvah!

December 1, 2008

It Never Really Ends

One of last week’s emails came from our friends at ATZUM in Israel (http://www.atzum.org). We have shared their work with you in this diary several times. Their efforts are directed to three important areas – survivors of terror attacks, Righteous Gentiles living in Israel, and victims of human trafficking, a very serious problem in that country.

Karyn London is ATZUM’s social worker who works with survivors of terror attacks, and her email which arrived this past Friday described a very sad and serious situation which required an immediate response if possible. Karyn shared the story of an Ethiopian family which had survived a terror attack several years ago. The family now includes three young children. Despite the passage of time, the wife still suffers from serious PTSD and cannot work. Fortunately, the father is employed full-time. Despite their every effort to remain independent and pay their bills, the family recently found themselves with a large electric bill which they could not pay. Though they had funds to pay for part of the bill, the company does not allow partial payment and turned off their power. With Shabbat approaching, three young children under the age of five were now living in a dark and no doubt, cold apartment.

We responded to Karyn’s request to help with the electric bill immediately and have sent funds to cover the balance of the bill. Hopefully, their power will be turned back on within the next day or so. Time goes on but the scars of a terror attack never really disappear.

November 18, 2008

Hanukkah in the Big Easy!

A few weeks ago I began a conversation with Orlie Prince and her family – Hanukkah was coming and the family wanted to do something more meaningful than exchanging gifts – they wanted to help other people. As Orlie shared with me:

This year Chanukah is all about giving for us. We feel very fortunate to have as much as we do and feel even more fortunate that we are in a position to help others during this holiday season.

They realized that the city of New Orleans had not yet recovered from the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina and chose to travel there for a week of mitzvahs and Hanukkah celebration. How could we help?

Realizing the difficulties that arise in doing any volunteer work during the Christmas-New Year break, I introduced Orlie to Samantha Lakin, a Teach for America volunteer working with a special education class in one of the area’s poorest neighborhoods. Sam is not only a dynamic young woman, we know from firsthand experience just how creative and inspired she is when it comes to this type of mitzvah work. There was no doubt that connecting Sam to Orlie would produce special opportunities for everyone.

Within about 10 days, all arrangements have been made and the Prince family, including Rachel and Tamar, their two daughters, have made a generous commitment to help Sam’s class in whatever ways are identified by Sam and her fellow teacher. Rachel and Tamar have written letters to the class and even shopped for special DVD’s that Samantha has requested. And, as often happens, Rachel’s public school teacher wants to establish a relationship with Samantha’s class as well… mitzvah goreret mitzvah… one mitzvah surely leads to another!

We are excited about this connection and say Yasher Koach to the Prince family for their generosity and their intention to make Hanukkah a truly "giving" holiday.