The Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit has raised $22 million in support of Israel since war broke out following devastating attacks by Hamas militants nearly two weeks ago.
As of Friday, more than 2,300 donors have contributed to the federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign, including major contributions from the William Davidson Foundation and the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. The funds are being used to support the victims of terror attacks, rebuild damaged infrastructure and addresses “unprecedented levels of trauma” in Israel.
The federation also is currently in the process of appointing members to an Allocation Committee to ensure that the funds are spent effectively.
“It’s been a tremendous and generous outpouring of community support,” said David Kurzmann, Senior Director of Community Affairs at the Foundation. “…It just I think speaks to how much this hits home for us.”
Approximately $1 million of the Detroit campaign has been distributed in Israel so far and used by the Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, World ORT, and the Israel Trauma Coalition to provide relief and support on the ground, according to the federation.
“These are groups that we trust and we work with in good times. So when a crisis strikes, we can immediately count on them as the frontline service providers,” Kurzmann said.
The Jewish Federation of North America has set a $500 million fundraising goal across all local branches, Kurzmann said.
The surge in support comes roughly two weeks after Hamas militants stormed Israeli towns near the Gaza border on the Jewish holiday Simchat Torah.
“It really feels like an attack against the whole Jewish people and when the Jewish community anywhere is targeted, it’s our tradition and obligation to stand stand with them,” Kurzmann said. “For us to be in a time of such trauma and and to see the outpouring of support … I think it gives us strength. It gives us our resolve and determination.”
One hundred percent of the funds raised by the Detroit Federation will go to people affected by the violence in Israel, Kurzmann said.
The Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit allocated an additional $100,000 of the emergency funds that have been raised so far to the Jewish Agency’s Fund for the Victims of Terror. The organization helps people in Israel rebuild home damaged by rocket fire and covers long-term rehab costs and post-trauma care, according to the federation’s news release.
The federation is also using its funds to host 80 families from southern Israel in hotels in safer areas and support Israeli troops, it said in the news release. They have delivered 100 backpacks and 400 sets of thermal pants and shirts to Israeli soldiers so far.
The Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit also gave $50,000 to Dror Israel, an educational youth-led movement, to support youth counselors and programming in bomb shelters and day care for the children of essential workers, like hospital staff.
People looking to help can donate to the campaign at jewishdetroit.org. The federation is also collecting friendship bracelets to distribute to children in Israel. People can make bracelets at home and drop them off at Federation, or upload letters and drawings in support of the Israeli Defense Forces to drobox here.
“First and foremost, we want our brothers and sisters in Israel to know that we’re with them, we stand with them,” Kurzmann said.
The federation is also getting ready to roll out its blue ribbon campaign, a global solidarity movement. The blue ribbon symbolizes support and solidarity for the safe return of the hostages taken by Hamas, according to the federation.
“We’re living through a real trauma. And it’s important for us to be united and in solidarity with each other,” Kurzmann said.