Federation Mobilizes Nearly $19M Following Terror Attack in Israel
Center for Jewish Philanthropy Doubles Annual Fundraising in a Few Weeks
San Francisco, CA – The Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund announced on Giving Tuesday it had mobilized nearly $19 million through its Israel Emergency Fund. The Fund is addressing urgent and unprecedented emergency medical needs, relocation of entire towns, extensive trauma, and other services to victims of the mass terror attack by Hamas on October 7. 100% of donations to the Fund serve urgent humanitarian needs.
“The Federation is the central address in the Jewish community for support during humanitarian crises and emergencies. Inspired by our Jewish values to repair the world, pursue justice, care for the needy and build community, we are only beginning to provide relief in Israel and address needs locally in the Bay Area stemming from the war,” said CEO Joy Sisisky.
Over the same period the Jewish Federations of North America raised a total of more than $650 million system-wide and to date allocated close to $200 million to a wide range of humanitarian organizations through nearly 6,000 grants. The aid includes 22 tons of medical supplies and humanitarian aid, 300,000 hot meals provided to at-risk communities, and educational and emotional support for 90,000 of the evacuees.
On October 7, 2023, during the holidays of Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Hamas terrorists broke a ceasefire to launch an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza, firing thousands of rockets, breaching the country’s borders, killing over 1,200 Israelis, wounding thousands more, and taking over 200 hostages. Reflecting Israel’s diversity, the victims of the attack included Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews and hailed from more than two dozen countries. As a result, over 200,000 people are refugees within Israel, evacuated from the communities decimated by Hamas and seeking to avoid the nearly 10,000 missiles fired at population centers.
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For over a century, the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund has harnessed innovation, collaboration, and investment to shape diverse and dynamic Bay Area Jewish communities where people find a meaningful connection to Judaism and one other; and where we work together to better lives and communities locally, in Israel, and around the world. Learn more at jewishfed.org.
