In response Beit Shemesh is the first Israeli town to open its public facilities and has absorbed the largest number of Israeli refugees. Lema'an Achai and Deputy Mayor of Beit Shemesh, Shalom Lerner, have been mandated to raise the funds for this massive humanitarian effort. There are currently no Government Funds available (there's a war going on) and so the money either has to be raised privately, or the refugees will have to be sent back to the rockets and terror. Meanwhile, the phone is constantly ringing with pleas from families, indeed whole communities, now seeking refuge in Beit Shemesh.
500 people are currently sheltering in Beit Shemesh and up to 1000 people are expected to pass through the temporary accommodation in local schools as the conflict intensifies. Immense pressure is on a community-wide alliance to cover costs of meals and shelter.
Lema'an Achai, www.lemaanachai.org, the largest charitable welfare organization in Beit Shemesh, with over 400 qualified professional volunteers, has agreed to cover expenses to feed the families seeking shelter. Existing funds have now depleted during this past week. Urgent funding is now required to provide food (three meals a day) and all basic social needs. The cost is $10 a day per person, which means $5000 is needed every single day. Nobody knows how long the war will last - but the plan is to accommodate 1000 refugees, for a period of a month. A $300,000 humanitarian operation.
In this War, Israel's friends and supporters are not being asked to put their lives on the line. But they are being asked to help, to the utmost of their ability, with meeting the costs of this humanitarian crisis in Israel.
We ask you to donate generously to the dedicated Lema'an Achai "Refugee Relief Fund", all of which is specifically to meet these emergency needs.
In the (happy!) event that any funds raised are not required for Refugee Relief (the War finishes, the families go home...) they will be used for other critical charitable services.
US Tax Deductible Donations:
Checks payable to: "US Friends of Lema'an Achai"
Memo line - "Refugee Relief"
PO Box 532, Oceanside, NY 11572-0532
UK Tax Deductible Donations:
Cheques payable to "Jewish Aid Committee"
c/o Refugee Relief Fund - Lema'an Achai,
40/7 Nachal Lachish,
Ramat Beit Shemesh,
99093, Israel.
Canadian Tax Deductible Donations:
Checks payable to: "Shaarei Tefilah Charity Fund" -
Memo Line: Refugee Relief Fund - Lema'an Achai
C/O Murray Shore, 31 Marwill Street, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 3L2
Israel Tax Deductible Donations:
Checks Payable to "Lema'an Achai - Refugee Relief Fund"
40/7 Nachal Lachish,
Ramat Beit Shemesh,
99093, Israel.
24 Hour Credit Card Service in Israel - +972 (0)2. 99.999.33
Any questions - feel free to contact me
Thank you for your most generous support.
"Rak Besorot Tovot" - We should hear only good news.
David
