9,000 Israeli citizens have become displaced persons overnight. They
have been torn from their homes, jobs, friends and communities. Scattered in
42 locations around the country, in hotel rooms, kibbutzim, caravans and
tents, all their household possessions are stored in 20 ft containers
somewhere in the Negev Desert. Many are still wearing the clothes they
were evicted in; their shirts torn in the traditional sign of mourning.
Friends, it is our privilege to help them come to terms with their
trauma and begin to rebuild their lives.
The residents of Gush Katif did not ask to be placed in this situation,
they were always self-supporting, and in fact brought in millions of
dollars to the Israeli economy through their exports of flowers, herbs
and organic produce. Their family and friends gave their lives for what the
Israeli Government deemed to be the security of the country. Yet now
they are dependent on others' generosity as a direct result of the actions
of the Israeli Government (with US approval)- yet the compensation,
solutions and response of the government are totally inadequate. The Government
Disengagement Authority (SELA) and the Statutory Welfare Services, who
are technically responsible for the care of the evacuees have already
proven themselves to be incapable or uninterested in providing effective
care. The people of Gush Katif need your support to help them
reestablish their lives.
Lema'an Achai (RBS) is an award-winning nonprofit social services
agency based in Ramat Beit Shemesh. It has successfully pioneered the concept
of "Smart Chesed" in Israel, combining primary aid to families in
distress, with numerous rehabilitation programs, run by a committed core of
professionals and around 400 volunteers. While continuing to serve the
ongoing needs of our 1000 local recipients, Lema'an Achai will now use
our expertise to separately provide mental health and crisis services to
the evacuees of Gush Katif.
In the weeks leading to the evacuation, Lema'an Achai gathered together
a voluntary team of fifty leading psychologists, psychiatrists and social
workers and established a forum in which they were able to exchange
information and recommendations. In this way, Lema'an Achai was
immediately able to dispatch volunteer social workers and psychologists
to hotels in Jerusalem, Beersheva, Ashkelon, Eilat and the Dead Sea as the
first bewildered evacuees arrived at their temporary accommodations.
Our services were coordinated together with those of other organizations,
such as Paamonim-Lemaan Achai Verei, in order to maximize efficiency and
reach all those in need.
On Sunday, 28th August, these 9,000 people are due to be thrown out of
these hotels and into a void. They want to stay together in their
communities, the only connection that remains to their former lives.
The government has offered no real solutions to their plight.
* Lema'an Achai is launching an emergency campaign to raise funds for
vital programs * that will help the people of Gush Katif to cope with their
trauma and gather together their community resources to rebuild their
lives. Specifically, Lema'an Achai are planning the following short
term and long term programs (adapting to the dynamics in the field) :
- National Trauma & Crisis Relief Services
The goal is to provide a quality level of professional counseling and
therapy to people wherever they are. Some of the evacuated residents
will suffer the effects long-term, even for generations (as happened with
Yamit). For these families, professional trauma and crisis
intervention starting now and continuing until no longer required, will enable them
to regain their balance and to rebuild their lives again as
self-sufficient, industrious and motivated Jews. Your help can keep 1,800 families
together.
- Atzmona/Shalabim/Beit Shemesh - 75 families (a staggering 800
people!) from the village of Atzmona are being hosted in Shalabim and have been
'adopted' by Beit Shemesh. Lema'an Achai (RBS) is taking a leading role
in this, including supplying primary aid (including towels, fans, diapers,
etc..) and professional rehabilitation services.
- Virtual Communities:
The goal is to help the dispersed residents to restore their cohesive
communities through the provision of internet community websites,
forums and list-groups that will enable them to maintain contact with one
another however physically distanced they find themselves. Access to their
virtual community will provide them with the group support and a renewed
identity until they are able to physically come together. Internet and email
communities are relatively unknown to the Israeli public - Lemaan
Achai will recruit hi-tech volunteers to set-up and maintain the virtual
communities and teach the evacuees how to use them. We will provide
free laptops and training so that no evacuee need ever feel alone.
- Show Them You Care
Many of the evacuees feel abused and abandoned by society. They need
to see your concern and support for them. Lema'an Achai is establishing a
service that will allow caring Jews all over the world to scan and send
letters and pictures of support, for us to distribute to these people
during their sorrow. Show them you care. (Until we have the system
running, please email scanned letters as LIGHT jpeg attachments to
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My dear friends, the residents of Gush Katif have been turned into
transitory dwellers, at least for the next few years. Let us show them
that we have the ability and the intent to be there for them, wherever they
may be.
Thank you,
David Morris
Chairperson, Lema'an Achai
DONATIONS:
Israel Tax Deductible Donations should be made out to "Lema'an Achai",
earmarked "Gush Katif Fund",
and sent to:
Lema'an Achai (RBS), 40/7 Nachal Lachish, Ramat Beit Shemesh 99093,
ISRAEL.
Secure Online Donations: Go to:
http://www.lemaanachai.org/donate.asp#Online
Credit Card Donations: Call (+972-2) 999.99.33 for Credit Card
Donations 24
hours a day
US Dollar Check requiring US Tax Deduction:
Please make checks payable to:
"American Friends of Lema'an Achai"; on Memo Line indicate: "Gush
Katif
Fund"
c/o Simon Fleischer
35 West 96th St #1F
New York, NY 10025
UK Tax Deductible Donations: should be made payable to "The Jewish Aid
Committee" and mailed to Lema'an Achai (RBS) in Israel.
Canadian Tax Deductible Donations: should be made payable to "Shaarei
Tefillah" and mailed to Lema'an Achai (RBS) in Israel.
For more information, please
contact
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+9722-999-7107
Please pass this on to you close family and friends, with your personal
recommendations.