"What is might? When you see people about to fall and rescue
them." - Midrash Tehillim 52:24
The Reform community has a long history of generosity when natural disasters devastate communities, when houses of worship burn in the fires of racial prejudice, when terrorism causes havoc, and when other disasters cause harm across the planet. Recent relief efforts have included Haiti Relief, Israel Emergency Relief, Hurricanes, the Asian Tsunami and Sudan. The URJ is a member of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, which allows a unified Jewish response to natural and man-made crises that occur outside of North America.
Contributions may also be mailed to:
Disaster Relief Fund Union for Reform Judaism 633 Third Ave. New York, NY 10017 or Canadian
Council for Reform Judaism 3845 Bathurst St. Suite 301 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 3N2
Please
indicate which relief effort you would like to support on the memo line of your
check or in the comments field for online donations.
Hurricane Irene
In late August, Hurricane Irene whipped across the East Coast of the United States and Canada, leaving over $10 billion in damage, dozens of deaths and thousands of lost homes and businesses in her wake. Flooding devastated agricultural lands and communities from North Carolina to Vermont in the days following the storm and communities are still assessing the impact.
Fortunately, the direct impact of the storm on URJ congregations and member families has been minimal. The URJ is working with our congregations in Woodstock and Brattleboro, VT, to bring relief to those communities, where the flooding was particularly devastating.
Sadly, it is always the most vulnerable who bear the brunt of the storm’s impact. Those without flood insurance or the wherewithal to rebuild ruined homes and businesses will feel the effects of Irene for years to come. Long after the media moves on to other stories, there will be tremendous needs to be met in these communities.
With your support the URJ will continue to provide relief to these desperate families as we have done for victims of natural disasters around the world. Together we can provide hope and help to those in need.
Hurricane Preparation Guide A checklist of suggested actions that our congregations can take before, during and after a hurricane or other tropical system.
East Africa Famine Relief
Countries in the Horn of Africa including, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. As a result, millions of people are in desperate need of food and water. Livestock and crops are deteriorating due to the lack of access to water and malnutrition is on the rise. A famine has been declared in two regions of Somalia, causing roughly 600,000 Somalis to flee to neighboring countries. The population of the largest refugee camp in the world, Dadaab in Kenya, has been overwhelmed with tens of thousands of new refugees fleeing famine in Somalia. URJ leaders traveled to Dadaab in 2009 to deliver mosquito nets through Nothing But Nets to prevent malaria in that teaming refugee camp. Learn more...
The
URJ is working in partnership with the Jewish Coalition for
Disaster Relief
and the American Jewish World Service to provide relief
during this crisis. Contributions can be made directly through those organizations, or through the URJ (see below). Other than direct expenses (such as credit card fees), the URJ takes no administrative overhead from relief funds.
Checks can be sent to:
Union for Reform Judaism (Attn: Africa Relief)
633 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017.
Canadian Donations
The CCRJ Social Action Committee has recommended that donations be made through the Humanitarian Coalition or UJA Federation of Toronto. The Canadian government is matching all donations up to $50 million dollars.
Checks can be sent to:
Humanitarian Coalition
PO Box 7023, Ottawa, ON, K1L 5A0
A series of deadly storms recently swept across the Southeast and Joplin, Missouri, killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless. The URJ is accepting donations for storm relief efforts and will work closely with our congregations in the affected region to assure that funds are used where they are needed most.
Donations can be made online to the URJ Disaster Relief Fund. Checks can be sent to the Union for Reform Judaism (Attn: Storm Relief), 633 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017. Other than direct expenses (such as credit card fees), the URJ takes no administrative overhead from relief funds.
Opportunities to Volunteer:
Temple Emanu-El of Birmingham,
Alabama has started a project, Teyn Yad - Lend a Hand. If your congregation would like to
send volunteers to work in Alabama to help provide relief for tornado victims,
please email Rabbi Miller or his
assistant, Ms. Erika Emody.
Hands on Birmingham -
Volunteer organization recommended by the Jewish Federation of Birmingham.
Earthquake in Haiti
A severe earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010. This is the most severe earthquake to hit that impoverished country in 200 years. The death toll is expected to reach
thousands and it will likely be many days until the impact is fully known. Read more or donate now.
Nothing But Nets
Each year, malaria infects 500 million people, causing over one million deaths, devastating the society and economy of affected regions. For just $10, you can purchase a bed net and help prevent the spread of this terrible disease in Africa through the United Nation Foundation's Nothing But Nets Initiative.Learn more
Crisis in Sudan
The crisis in Sudan is critical, with hundreds of thousands of refugees and victims of atrocities at risk of dying over the next several months. For the first time in its history, the Committee on Conscience of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has declared a “genocide emergency,” saying that genocide is imminent or is actually happening in the Darfur region of Sudan. Learn More...
In times of crisis, the Union activates the Union Disaster Relief Fund for contributions, which are then forwarded to appropriate agencies. In recent years the Union Disaster Relief Fund has provided help to the victims of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tsunamis, as well as after September 11, and when African American churches were burned in the Southern United States. In the wake of the hurricanes that battered the Gulf Coast in 2005, more than $3 million in donated funds were raised to help the victims and relief agencies, as well as the congregations of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Florida. Information about the Union's allocations is made public on our website. The Union retains no funds from relief efforts, with the exception of direct costs, such as credit card fees.
Countries in the Horn of Africa including, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. As a result, millions of people are in desperate need of food and water. Livestock and crops are deteriorating due to the lack of access to water and malnutrition is on the rise. A famine has been declared in two regions of Somalia, causing roughly 600,000 Somalis to flee to neighboring countries. The population of the largest refugee camp in the world, Dadaab in Kenya, has been overwhelmed with tens of thousands of new refugees fleeing famine in Somalia. URJ leaders traveled to Dadaab in 2009 to deliver mosquito nets through Nothing But Nets to prevent malaria in that teaming refugee camp. 
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