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10 March 2022
When Russia first invaded Ukraine, we knew from our decades of work on the ground that the Jewish communal needs would be vast. Federation’s Ukraine Emergency Fund opened just hours following the invasion to care for our Jewish family overseas. In the days since, our community has stepped forward in truly incredible ways.
We are deeply grateful to the more than 2,000 community members who have collectively donated more than $1 million to date. One hundred percent of the dollars raised through Federation’s Ukraine Emergency Fund are going to support Ukraine’s Jewish community, and this funding is already making a crucial difference as the war continues.
Together with our global partners — JDC, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and World ORT, and with additional grants made to Hillel International and United Hatzalah — we are meeting urgent humanitarian needs. To date, we have helped:
- 1,000 Jewish Ukrainian refugees, including 100 orphans, arrive and begin the resettling process in Israel.
- 2,000 Jews arrive at Aliyah (immigration to Israel) processing centers run by JAFI and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
- 16,000 Ukrainian Jews reach The Jewish Agency’s emergency hotline.
- 3,000 Jewish refugees secure beds at transit facilities in four neighboring countries.
- 150 Jewish organizations across Ukraine receive immediate security assistance to protect against looting and vandalism.
- 1,500 Jewish refugees, many of them children, receive food and other emergency supplies
This video and the others included below truly highlight the impact our community is making to help those in crisis.
The needs — and costs to meet them — continue to grow. The dollars raised through our Ukraine Emergency Fund will go directly to the national effort to address them. Our partners estimate costs of:
- $9.2 million to identify, secure, and house displaced Jews in safe facilities.
- $1.6 million in security support for communal organizations.
- $1.7 million to provide cash, food, medical, and other emergency assistance to those in need.
- $8.4 million for the continued immigration of thousands to neighboring countries and to Israel.
Watch a recording of Federation’s March Special Briefing on Ukraine with JDC CEO, Ariel Zwang, and The Jewish Agency for Israel CEO and Director General, Amira Ahronoviz, who shared the latest updates from their organizations’ work.
As the war continues, our community’s support is providing hope and saving lives. We will continue to update you on our efforts in the days ahead.
With prayers for peace and thanks for all you do,
Gil Preuss, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington