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November 7, 2003/Cheshvan 12 5764, Vol. 56, No. 7
Local Jews support CA fire victims
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
The local Jewish community is taking action to aid victims of the Southern California wildfires.
Michelle and Howard Kaufman and their two children, Seth, 9, and Bailey, 4, moved to Scottsdale from San Diego in July. While living in San Diego, the Kaufman children had attended the Chabad Hebrew Academy of San Diego, whose temporary facilities were destroyed in the fires.
"It was really hard for my son," said Michelle Kaufman. "My daughter doesn't really get it all, but my son ... was really unhappy that the siddurs were burned."
Kaufman said the school has a new facility opening in January, but that friends who currently have children at the school are at a loss about how to manage in the meantime.
In response to the destruction of the Chabad Hebrew Academy, Seth and Bailey's schools, The King David School and Har Zion Early Childhood Center, have started relief efforts. Both schools are running school supply drives, and students in Seth's fourth-grade class will be writing letters to his former classmates at Chabad Hebrew Academy.
Young people at Temple Solel are also taking action, with Temple Solel Temple Youth (TSTY) collecting donations - including gift cards, toys, Judaica items, water, food and monetary donations - to be sent to California next week.
In addition, the executive committee of the Jewish Community Foundation voted on Oct. 29 to allocate emergency reserve funds totaling $5,000 to disaster relief in California. Holders of donor-advised funds were also contacted about making recommendations to disaster relief efforts.
Those wanting to make monetary donations can also contribute by sending checks to the Southern California Fire Relief Fund, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 201, Scottsdale 85254.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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