Help me support the people of Israel in their time of need!

As I’m sure you know, the last 10 days have been some of the darkest in Israel’s history. Following the brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas, my friends, family and loved ones, and all the people of Israel, are struggling tremendously.

I was lucky enough to live in Israel for 5 1/2 years, and I will always consider Israel home. I had many friends from the US visit me during my time in Israel, and I worked for a travel company bringing young Jews to Israel on Birthright Israel trips. Getting to show people the vibrant, beautiful land of Israel and introduce first-timers to the wonderful people of Israel was one of the greatest joys of my life.

As people around the world vilify Israel for defending itself against terrorism, I feel a deep responsibility to show you another side of Israel- Israel's resilience and Israel's humanity- and to show the people of Israel that they are not alone.

That’s why I need your help!

While some people struggle to even feel at home in one place, I’m so grateful to have 3 places that I call home- Birmingham, Alabama (the place I was born & raised & where my family has lived for generations), Atlanta, Georgia (where I live now & am building a life with my husband & our 2 dogs), and, most important & relevant now, Israel.

Because of my deep roots in each of these communities, I’m running 2 simultaneous fundraising campaigns- 1 on behalf of the Birmingham Jewish Federation and 1 on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta- both to raise funds for Israel.

100% of these funds will go to the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel Emergency Campaign, but since every community across the Federation system has its own fundraising goal for Israel, I feel called to help support both Birmingham and Atlanta in the work they’re doing to support Israel.

Over the next 3 weeks, my goal is to raise $3,600 for Atlanta’s campaign and $3,600 for Birmingham’s campaign. **I will also be matching up to $3,600 for each campaign.**

*Contributions from this page will go to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta's Israel Emergency Campaign. If you'd like to donate my fundraiser for the Birmingham Jewish Federation's Israel Emergency Campaign, click here.

Funds collected for Israel will be allocated to provide:

- Basic Needs

- Evacuation, Housing, Respite, and Support for Frontline Communities

- Funds for Victims of Terror

- Trauma Relief and Psychosocial Care

- Emergency Medical Services and Healthcare

- Targeted assistance to vulnerable populations and their caregivers

- Enhanced capacity and operational support to evacuees, special populations, frontline communities, and those responding to the crisis

Why Crowdfunding?

I strongly believe that by working together we make a much greater impact than anything we could do alone. By setting these fundraisers up as crowdfunding pages, each of you- whether you give $5, $50, or $500- joins a community who are working together to show that you care for & support the people of Israel.

Why Federation?

Jewish Federations of North America represents a network of over 350 independent Jewish communities across the US & Canada. Because of their years of expertise and vast network, they’re able to work with partner organizations in Israel to ensure that funds are being allocated most efficiently to meet the most pressing needs.

Why $3,600?

The word “*chai*” in Hebrew means “life” and is represented by the number 18. That’s why you often see Jewish people giving gifts or making donations in increments of $18, as a symbol of life. The number 36, or “double *chai*” is significant to me, not only as an increment of 18, but also because I’m currently 36 years old. It felt fitting to set this as my fundraising goal for each of these campaigns.

Questions?

If you have any questions about giving or would like more information about the Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign, please reach out!