At the same time, it's impossible to relocate every child and family and therefore many organizations are stepping forward to provide day trips away from the fighting. The Israel Association for Community Centers (Hellerl@actcom.co.il), thanks to a special grant from the JDC which is also supported by local Federations and the UJC, is providing respite to over 22,000 children a day and the Sacta-Rashi Foundation is generously supporting similar efforts. This area continues to remain an important priority.

One can also be extremely proud of the work being carried out by many leading organizations that have successfully mobilized powerful donor basis, such as American Friends of Magen David Adom ($1.2 million) and The Friends of the IDF ($2.5 million), allowing for important services for the soldiers and citizens on the front line. Many organizations have headed the call to provide support for those caught for days in bomb-shelters, including providing air-conditioners, fans, mattresses, televisions and games. These simple items are so important under the circumstances.

There are today (at least) three areas that require immediate philanthropic support: food insecurity, psychological and trauma counseling, and the firefighters.

The Israeli Government is allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to social service organizations that have been badly strained by the war, but the government simply can't provide for all the critical needs. At present, the government is providing local municipalities with funding to feed over 100,000 people a day in the north, but tens of thousands are dependent upon Israel's three largest food kitchens/providers.

Meir Panim last week increased its hot meal program by 40% from 17,500 to 25,000 people per day, reflecting the 7,000 additional daily meals being delivered to the north. The organization further provided an additional 5,000 families (over 20,000 people) with weekly food baskets. (The government provided 50% of the $130 cost per family.) Finally, Meir Panim provided additional food baskets to over 4,000 families evacuated to central Israel, at a cost of over $500,000. In total, the organization spent an additional $800,000 last week just to care for the victims of Hezbollah's missile attacks. While the organization was able to cover last week's costs, there is great concern about the funds required to continue to meet the need.

Similarly, Hazon Hayesha reports that they are spending an additional $12,500 a day to increase the number of hot meals they are providing form 7,000 to 12,000 people (3,000 in the north and 2,000 for evacuees in central Israel.) Yad Eliezer has also increased the number of families it feeds by 1,200, from 6,000 to 7,200, with thousands of additional requests for weekly food baskets. I have also been very impressed with the work of Eshel, a partnership with the Joint Distribution Committee which has accepted responsibility to feed over 3,000 seniors. Support for these organizations and others (Table to Table and Latet) could not be more critical.

I am also deeply concerned by the continued unmet needs facing Israel's Crises and Trauma Centers that care for thousands of people who have been deeply affected by the War. Late last week, all of the organizations in the field met under the auspices of the Israel Trauma Coalition and immediately identified close to $1 million in critical needs, which includes:

· emergency funding for families suffering fatalities and serious injuries;
· the opening of seven centers to help people suffering from "acute stress reaction";
· one-on-one counseling for seniors unable to leave their homes and/or local shelter;
· purchasing additional phone equipment to handle the thousands of additional calls being received;
· psychological support for emergency and hospital personnel; and
· hiring of additional staff to meet the unyielding demand for help.

We recommend supporting Selah (icmc@inter.net.il), Amcha, Natal, Eran and/or the Israel Community Stress Prevention Center.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy
914-654-0008
CEJP@optonline.net