Providing support

Editorial

On Yom HaShoah, the Buchori Jewish Community Center was defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti.

Many of the members are new not only to the Valley, but to our nation's shores. They struggle to understand an unfamiliar political system, communal institutions and bureaucracies. And now they have to confront a faceless, gutless enemy who has vandalized not only their building, but also their psyches.

In response, they are looking to the Jewish community for help. The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Beth Joseph Congregation and the Anti-Defamation League have come to their aid, providing support and acting as a go-between with Phoenix City Police.

More than a century ago, the established U.S. Jewish community helped another group of Russian Jewish immigrants, those who arrived between 1881 and 1920. Descendents of Central European Jews who had come to the United States generations before reached out to them to provide employment and address their squalid living conditions.

The challenges the local Buchori community faces represent another opportunity for the established Jewish community to reach out to our brothers and sisters during their time of need.

Hopefully, the hate crime they experienced will prove to be a one-time event. The police investigation is ongoing.

The Buchori Jews came to America to escape anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence. To make this dream a reality, the established Jewish community must continue to stand by their side and keep close contact with the secular authorities.

It's time to give

The shortfall in the 2002 Annual Campaign of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, reported on Page 1 of this issue, is sending shock waves through the federation and its constituent agencies. The federation itself is absorbing staffing and program cuts, as well as reducing allocations to local agencies.

Members of the Valley Jewish community have the capacity to make up the difference. Those who have not made contributions can do so now; those who have can consider giving more. Contributors rarely give to their full capacity.

The challenge also rests with campaign fund-raisers, in presenting a clear argument explaining to current and potential contributors, explaining clearly and completely, where the money will go and the good it will do.

Behind every allocations dollar lost is a program, a need and a human face.

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