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October 26, 2001/Cheshvan 9, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 7
No place like home
FLO ECKSTEIN
Publisher
Extraordinary times call for extraordinary acts. And so the Jewish community and other groups of Americans joined forces instantly to help families impacted by the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Among these efforts, the New York UJA-Federation network is providing a wide range of essential services: counseling, legal, employment, financial aid and day care. Of an estimated $1 billion raised nationally for relief efforts as of mid-October, American Jewish groups contributed more than $6 million, including nearly $40,000 through the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
Alas, the Jewish people are experienced crisis managers. Since biblical times, we've cared for family members, neighbors and often strangers through periods of personal difficulty and through both natural and man-made disasters.
It's now six weeks since Sept. 11. Workers continue the nearly unending recovery work. People directly affected by the terror attacks are rebuilding their homes, offices and lives. The rest of us go about our days at home, at work and in our community much as before - except we are more watchful, more cautious, perhaps more anxious. We have resumed most of the activities and responsibilities that shape our lives, including our habitual participation in and support for our community.
We've had a lot of practice and achieved a high level of skill. Last year alone, more than 700,000 American Jews contributed $2 billion to the United Jewish Communities for humanitarian work in our nation, in Israel and in 60 countries around the world. UJC is but one of scores of Jewish organizations and thousands of general community groups we support.
That said, in recent weeks we have necessarily directed both attention and resources toward the massive task of recovering from the terror attacks. In doing so, we may have neglected certain accustomed responsibilities, like writing checks to food banks, women's shelters and programs for the poor. Ironically, this diversion of money has created problems elsewhere, leaving some groups grappling with the prospect of turning away clients or even closing their doors.
Many "fund-raising events and direct mail campaigns are bringing in less than expected (as givers) send contributions instead to relief funds for New York's victims," according to a story in The New York Times. "The loss of support in the year-end giving season could seriously hamper (the groups') ability to provide services," the story goes on. "For social service agencies, next year's prospects look bleak."
Barry Cohen's story on Page 1 of this issue tells what's happening for some local organizations.
Fortunately, most of us have continued to meet our obligations to people in need in our hometown. Just one example is the 4,400 pounds of food Temple Kol Ami's recently gathered for the Paradise Valley Food Bank at a Sukkot food drive.
Between the High Holidays and through the end of December, we'll be writing checks to charities. This year, let's do so mindful not only of the reasons we normally contribute but also of our need to make up for the current shortfall, and as a rejoinder to the terrorists who have tried so brutally to destroy our way of life.
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