Terrorism refocuses CJA

Umbrella group calls for increased financial support.

KYLE BERGER REPORTER

As the current war against terrorism continues to hold the focus of people around the world, and as citizens begin to wonder where and when the next terrorist will strike, the need for fund-raising has become more relevant than ever.

As a result, United Jewish Communities (UJC), the umbrella organization for all of North America's Jewish federation offices and annual campaigns, sent a statement to all the executive and campaign directors to encourage timely and significant fund-raising.

"Now, more than ever, we identify with the financial and emotional impact that terrorism has had on Israel over the past year," read the letter, which was signed by Rae Ringel and Deborah Grayson Riegel, two senior UJC officials. "While all of America contributes to domestic terror relief efforts, American Jews accept special responsibility for our extended family in Israel who continue to suffer from the trauma of violence."

The statement did not suggest that Jewish North Americans should withhold financial donations to the American disaster relief but rather that they should increase their annual giving in light of the recent events.

With that, UJC offered answers to some likely questions that might be asked by potential donors to local Combined Jewish Appeal (CJA) campaigns.

One question dealt specifically with the possibility that some people may feel more compelled to offer their financial gifts to the American disaster relief this year rather than to Israel. The letter suggested that, at a time like this, Jews throughout the world need to do both.

"We must not allow our ability to support our family in Israel and family elsewhere in the world to diminish," it read. "In this special time of crisis, even as we raise significant new funds for our fellow citizens in North America who have been killed, injured and traumatized by the recent attacks, we must not let others who are depending on us suffer."

The letter also claimed that, since the events in New York and Washington felt so close to home for many North American Jews, they should better understand how terrorism has hurt Israel for so many years.

"I think for the first time we can really understand the severity of the Israel crises," it read. "And while the impact of terrorism is quantitatively different, it is not qualitatively different at all.

"Israel shares the mission of providing citizens with security and to guarantee that our democracies and peoples flourish," the letter continued. "As part of that partnership, Israel is looking more than ever to the American Jewish community and its historic support of this state and its people."

Locally, the co-director of the Greater Vancouver's CJA campaign, Dina Wachtel, agreed that it is important that we support Jews around the globe all the time.

She referred to a quote from Tanhuma N'tzavim, from the Midrash commentary on Deuteronomy, that states, "Separate reeds are weak and easily broken, but bound together, they are strong and hard to tear apart."

"The expanded support at this time will demonstrate, in a tangible way, the continued and growing solidarity with the people of Israel," she said. "The fact is that, throughout history, the Jewish people have always chosen life over despair. From the destruction of the Temple, to the pogroms, to the Holocaust, to Sept. 11, we have seen destruction in its most devastating forms. And, once again, we choose life. To build, to invest and to redouble our commitment and state that we are here to stay."

For more information about donations to the CJA, call 604-257-5100.

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