donate to israeli charities
My name is Debbie Grossman '08, and I would love your help in making my last semester at Brown a memorable one.
After returning from my 10-day trip to Israel (Taglit birthright Israel) in January 2008, I realized how I could bring Israel back to Brown. I am one of ten CEIers (Campus Entrepreneurs Initiative interns) at Brown, and one of our missions is to involve students in Jewish life at Brown. I would like to do so, with your help, by advocating the Jewish value of tzedek, social justice.
While in Israel, I was fortunate enough to participate in many amazing activities including preparing a Shabbat dinner at Ichlu Re'im soup kitchen in Jerusalem and hanging out with children at the day care/residence in Afula, Providence's sister city, called Emunah Sarah.
My goal is to raise $1,800 for each of the two charities by the end of April 2008. I chose this number because represents the Hebrew word chai, or "life". Please read below for information about each group and ways that you can make a difference. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at Debra_Grossman@Brown.edu, or my coordinator at Shirah_Rubin@Brown.edu.
Ichlu Re'im
I was able to help hungry and needy people by helping to provide a warm Shabbat meal. Whether we, the 70 Brown and RISD students on the trip, peeled potatoes, chopped garlic, diced tomatoes or whatever was needed, we knew we were contributing to a greater good.
Not only does Ichlu Re'im, which means "Go ahead and eat, friends!", provide meals for anyone in need any day of the week (including Shabbat), but also they provide for mental and emotional needs. They prepare hot lunch and dinner, provide clothing and shelter, and when needed, they direct their "clients" to social workers and other sources of aid.
Ichlu Re'im is blessed with many volunteers and donations to help serve about 200 people a day. This includes delivered meals to the sick and homebound and to residents at Bein Hazahav assisted living facility, most of whom are Holocaust survivors, as well as meals to Katamon, a neighborhood in Jerusalem, for children who do not have enough food at home.
However, Ichlu Re'im is always in need of more contributions as the number of people returning and needing help continues to increase. Because of a lack of funds, the soup kitchen has been forced to turn people away. If you would like to contribute to this soup kitchen please know that with your contributions we will be providing kitchen equipment, meeting dining hall needs, and giving Ichlu Re'im the ability to continue to serve more people.
Donate to Ichlu Re'im Below
Emunah Sarah
During Brown RISD Hillel's Winter 2007 Taglit birthright Israel trip, the Emunah Sarah children's center requested that the next trip bring Legos for the 120 children, ages 6-18, at the facility. The 2008 trip of 70 Brown and RISD students were able to make this wish a reality. We each packed bags of Legos in our suitcases for the children and many of us had the privilege of spending an afternoon with them. But something even bigger happened.
We learned about their classes and their residences, where children live alone or with single mothers. We learned about the petting zoo, which allows for children with emotional trauma and scarring to progress in their healing. Often, these children come from a dysfunctional family and suffer from neglect, physical or mental abuse. The animals, which include goat, sheep, hamsters, rabbits, turtles, turkeys, ducks, hens and roosters, are all part of Emunah Sarah's Therapeutic Day Care Intervention. These animals can keep secrets the children share with them, providing a sense of trust, for perhaps the first time.
Emunah Sarah provides a shelter and a family, things every child deserves. The boys and girls who live in this shelter join family units, consisting of a married couple with their biological children and up to ten "adopted" kids from the children's home. In this setting, they are exposed to a warm, caring environment and a fully functioning family in a normal household. Some of these children continue to live with their biological parents while benefiting from the diverse services of the day facility.
Their motto is "Afula Life" — "A Fuller Life" in every sense of the meaning. Your contributions will help provide these children with materials for class, art projects, and toys, food and clothing, and contribute to the upkeep of the facility. If you would like to contribute to this childrens' center please know that with your contributions we will be helping those in need.
Donate to Emunah Sarah Below
Donation
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