- A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.
- The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.
- To be eligible for a deduction on the 2009 tax return, donations must be made after Jan. 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
- In order to be deductible, contributions must be made to qualified charities and can not be designated for the benefit of specific individuals or families.
- The new law applies only to cash contributions.
- Cash contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card may be claimed on your federal tax return.
- You must itemize your deductions in order to claim these donations on your tax return.
- You have the option of deducting these contributions on either your 2009 or 2010 tax return, but not both.
- Contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. You can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development ( www.usaid.gov).
- Federal law requires that you keep a record of any deductible donations you make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it shows the name of the organization receiving your donation, the date of the contribution, and the amount given. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check or a receipt from the charity. Receipts should show the name of the charity, the date and amount of the contribution.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Ten Facts About Claiming Donations Made to Haiti
'Israel could face earthquake similar to Haiti one' | Yediot Ahronot
01.26.10, 13:14
Chairman of inter-ministerial committee for earthquake preparation says in special Knesset debate that Israel isn't prepared for earthquakes due to ongoing building failures. More . . .
IDF closes field hospital in Haiti | Jerusalem Post
Last night, two weeks after the IDF rushed to Haiti with hundreds of doctors to help treat those wounded in the devastating earthquake, the field hospital which it had opened - and which came to symbolize the exceptional Israeli rescue effort - finally closed its doors.
As of Monday, 1,102 Haitians had been treated at the facility. Among that number, 13 women gave birth naturally, three babies were delivered using Caesarian sections, and 314 operations were performed. More . . .
After two weeks, Israel team winds down Haiti mission | Haaretz
By Amos Harel
26/01/2010
The Israel Defense Forces team in Haiti is finishing up its mission and will return home on Thursday. The decision was based on the recommendation of the Home Front Command, whose senior officers feel hey have fulfilled their role in helping the earthquake victims. In view of the large number of personnel and resources the command is deploying in Haiti and the U.S., it is believed the time has come to wrap up the mission. More . . .
26/01/2010
The Israel Defense Forces team in Haiti is finishing up its mission and will return home on Thursday. The decision was based on the recommendation of the Home Front Command, whose senior officers feel hey have fulfilled their role in helping the earthquake victims. In view of the large number of personnel and resources the command is deploying in Haiti and the U.S., it is believed the time has come to wrap up the mission. More . . .
'What happened in Haiti will happen in Israel' | Haaretz
By Jonathan Lis
26/01/2010
An earthquake of the same magnitude as the one two weeks ago in Haiti or stronger is certain to strike Israel, Avi Shapira, chairman of the National Earthquake Preparedness Committee, said on Tuesday.
"I just returned from Haiti," Shapira told a special Knesset committee that gathered in the wake of the Haiti disaster to discuss Israel's readiness to deal with earthquakes. "What happened there will also happen here." More . . .
26/01/2010
An earthquake of the same magnitude as the one two weeks ago in Haiti or stronger is certain to strike Israel, Avi Shapira, chairman of the National Earthquake Preparedness Committee, said on Tuesday.
"I just returned from Haiti," Shapira told a special Knesset committee that gathered in the wake of the Haiti disaster to discuss Israel's readiness to deal with earthquakes. "What happened there will also happen here." More . . .
Monday, January 25, 2010
Op-Ed: In Haiti, Israel puts ‘tikkun olam’ in action | JTA
January 24, 2010
NEW YORK (JTA) -- The terrible disaster in Haiti has shown the world not only the power of Mother Nature but the power of the human heart. All over the world, aid has been pouring in to rescue trapped survivors and provide medial services to the hundreds of thousands of victims. Read more . . .
Haiti/Israel Field Hospital | United Nations
U.N spokesperson in Haiti commends Israeli team on a "magnificant job".Watch at MINUSTAH
Miracle Rescues 10 Days after Earthquake | CBS News
(CBS/ AP) After being trapped in rubble for nearly 10 days, an Israeli Search and Rescue team saved a 22-year-old Haitian man from a collapsed three-story building. The man was transferred to an Israeli Defense Field Hospital and is in stable condition. More and video.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
From NYC Councilmember Gale Brewer
To my friends at the JCRC:
I know that you have heard this before, and the papers have lots of stories, but I thought you would be interested in this e-mail that I received from African-American and Haitian friends. None of this amazing work by the Israelis is surprising to anyone who knows them, but I am glad that the rest of the world is finding out.
Best, Gale
From:
To:
Subject: Brief update on medical aid coordination in Haiti
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:56:40 -0500
Dear M__,
There is currently a lack of coordination of the aid sitting at the airport and not getting to the residents. The US leadership must coordinate with Haitian Physicians on the ground whom know the facilities to distribute medical supplies. The military must use their truck to disbribute aid and transport medical supplies, not just armed military all over. U.S. air traffic controllers in charge of the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture are diverting aircraft carrying medical supplies and other humanitarian aid. U.S. military flights were getting top priority. About 200 flights a day are taking off and landing at the one-runway airport each day. With the seaport closed by earthquake damage, hundreds of tons of aid sit waiting at the airport, the only port of entry. U.S. military helicopters routinely load the cargo at a grassy landing zone between the runway and a crowded tarmac and airlift it to at least eight distribution points throughout the city. The military intends to open two other airports within the next two days, Allyn said Tuesday. One will be about 25 miles from Port-au-Prince, while the other will be in the adjacent to the Dominican republic. The U.S. military has 2,000 troops on the ground and will increase that level to 10,000 in the next few weeks, the general said. The military has distributed 400,000 bottles of water and 300,000 meals since the earthquake. But many aid workers -- or those who would like to help find themselves increasingly frustrated. At Sylvio Cator Stadium, where hundreds of displaced Haitian families have set up camp, a team of Israeli doctors has treated about 500 patients in the past three days. The Israeli disaster relief doctors have electricity, imaging technology, icu, and neonatal incubators and and telemedicine capability on the ground. The world should take note of the impressive Israeli ability that should a model for disaster relief that should be followed in the future and in the reconstruction of Haiti. The Israeli effort is a welcomed contrast to their excessive military operations in Palestine in the past.
I know that you have heard this before, and the papers have lots of stories, but I thought you would be interested in this e-mail that I received from African-American and Haitian friends. None of this amazing work by the Israelis is surprising to anyone who knows them, but I am glad that the rest of the world is finding out.
Best, Gale
From:
To:
Subject: Brief update on medical aid coordination in Haiti
Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:56:40 -0500
Dear M__,
There is currently a lack of coordination of the aid sitting at the airport and not getting to the residents. The US leadership must coordinate with Haitian Physicians on the ground whom know the facilities to distribute medical supplies. The military must use their truck to disbribute aid and transport medical supplies, not just armed military all over. U.S. air traffic controllers in charge of the Aeroport International Toussaint Louverture are diverting aircraft carrying medical supplies and other humanitarian aid. U.S. military flights were getting top priority. About 200 flights a day are taking off and landing at the one-runway airport each day. With the seaport closed by earthquake damage, hundreds of tons of aid sit waiting at the airport, the only port of entry. U.S. military helicopters routinely load the cargo at a grassy landing zone between the runway and a crowded tarmac and airlift it to at least eight distribution points throughout the city. The military intends to open two other airports within the next two days, Allyn said Tuesday. One will be about 25 miles from Port-au-Prince, while the other will be in the adjacent to the Dominican republic. The U.S. military has 2,000 troops on the ground and will increase that level to 10,000 in the next few weeks, the general said. The military has distributed 400,000 bottles of water and 300,000 meals since the earthquake. But many aid workers -- or those who would like to help find themselves increasingly frustrated. At Sylvio Cator Stadium, where hundreds of displaced Haitian families have set up camp, a team of Israeli doctors has treated about 500 patients in the past three days. The Israeli disaster relief doctors have electricity, imaging technology, icu, and neonatal incubators and and telemedicine capability on the ground. The world should take note of the impressive Israeli ability that should a model for disaster relief that should be followed in the future and in the reconstruction of Haiti. The Israeli effort is a welcomed contrast to their excessive military operations in Palestine in the past.
Bin Laden: Attacks on U.S. to go on as long as it supports Israel | Reuters
A purported audio tape of Osama bin Laden aired on Al Jazeera television claimed responsibility for a Dec. 25 attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound plane, and vowed to continue attacks on the United States, as long as it supports Israel. Read more. . .
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Haiti's Medical Crisis: Treating Crushed Survivors | Time
by Jay Newton Small
Jan. 21, 2010
Jean Marc Loremas, 46, carried his niece more than a mile from their home in the La Plaine area of Port-au-Prince to a sparsely populated industrial zone. There he nodded to two foreign guards in olive green fatigues and about a dozen semiambulatory earthquake victims who were already lined up on various pallets, crutches and canes before pounding on a metal sliding gate.
"Shalom?" came the response as the eyehole shot back. Loremas explained his needs, and soon an Israeli doctor came out to examine the woman's broken femur. Read more . . .
Jan. 21, 2010
Jean Marc Loremas, 46, carried his niece more than a mile from their home in the La Plaine area of Port-au-Prince to a sparsely populated industrial zone. There he nodded to two foreign guards in olive green fatigues and about a dozen semiambulatory earthquake victims who were already lined up on various pallets, crutches and canes before pounding on a metal sliding gate.
"Shalom?" came the response as the eyehole shot back. Loremas explained his needs, and soon an Israeli doctor came out to examine the woman's broken femur. Read more . . .
NY Red Cross Update
TO: ARC/GNY Staff
FROM: Terry Bischoff, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: January 22, 2010
Nine days after the earthquake in Haiti that caused so much devastation and destruction, affecting lives, buildings and the infrastructure of the country, the American Red Cross continues to accelerate its efforts on the ground, engage and support the Haitian communities in the United States and raise the funding that will be required to support the response and recovery work that will be needed. Here are the highlights since our last communication and I also encourage you to look on our website: www.nyredcross.org and the NHQ website: www.redcross.org where many of these highlights are reported in more detail.
There is much left to be done which I will share with you in the days and weeks ahead.
FROM: Terry Bischoff, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: January 22, 2010
Nine days after the earthquake in Haiti that caused so much devastation and destruction, affecting lives, buildings and the infrastructure of the country, the American Red Cross continues to accelerate its efforts on the ground, engage and support the Haitian communities in the United States and raise the funding that will be required to support the response and recovery work that will be needed. Here are the highlights since our last communication and I also encourage you to look on our website: www.nyredcross.org and the NHQ website: www.redcross.org where many of these highlights are reported in more detail.
- President & CEO, Gail McGovern, accompanied International Services Senior Vice President, David Meltzer to the Dominican Republic on Tuesday where she began planning for a multi-year recovery operation with other Red Cross leaders from around the world and heads of state in the region. As learned from our response and recovery efforts after the Tsunami, it is essential to provide the immediate on the ground aid and at the same time begin to plan for the long term recovery of this devastated country.
On Wednesday Gail and David witnessed the extensive damage and need as well as the growing presence of Red Cross services. Through first aid posts, hospitals, relief distribution sites, water trucking programs and family links stations, volunteers and staff from seven Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, including the Magen David Adom, are beginning to make life better for the survivors. This is the largest single-country deployment in global Red Cross history. - More than 70 Creole speaking American Red Cross volunteers have been trained and today will join the USNS Comfort, offshore in Haiti , to translate for patients receiving medical care from the US Military. I am proud to tell you that 43 of those volunteers come from the New York area and our People Resources and Disaster Services teams worked tirelessly to get these selfless volunteers, screened, oriented and supplied with the essential information they need for this 30 day deployment, while Marketing/PR worked with the media to share this remarkable story.
On Wednesday evening, the New York volunteers who joined this specific mission attended a “Send-Off” attended by Vice Chair of the Board, Blake Moore and Board member, the Rev. Calvin Butts. They were joined by NYC council member Dr. Mathieu Eugene, who is Haitian and represents the community in Brooklyn , Diahann Billings-Burford, Chief Service Officer for the Mayor’s Office of NYC Service, and representatives of the NAACP, Local 1199 SEIU and Haitian Americans United for Progress. - Here in New York , particularly in Brooklyn with the largest Haitian community in our area, we are providing significant crisis counseling support through the schools and the churches. We also remain in touch with many of our partner groups who work in the affected communities.
- The Chapter’s Emergency Communication Center continues to field calls from our community with questions regarding donations, volunteers and connecting families. Since the earthquake struck, they have answered over 4,300 calls.
- There are a number of telethons this coming weekend and we have been supporting them with pre-recorded messages that will be incorporated into these events – these include MTV (Friday), Univision (Saturday) and A & E (Sunday). In addition I have been interviewed by Crain’s for an article that was very positive and we are still receiving requests for updates from our various local television stations. Yesterday, Rosemary Mackey accompanied by more than 20 volunteers in their Red Cross jackets had the opportunity to open the NASDAQ and talk about the Red Cross’ relief efforts and to remind the listeners that individual and community preparedness is important for us all as we never know when disaster may strike. Bob Imbornoni will be the Sunday morning guest at 11:30am on WABC’s program TIEMPO – a station that targets Hispanic issues.
- he development department continues to receive contributions from generous corporations, foundations and individual donors in our community. With the help of volunteers, we have processed 150 3rd-party agreements with individuals and organizations who are arranging fund-raisers in support of the Red Cross for Haitian relief efforts.
- Bonnie McElveen-Hunter visited the Chapter briefly yesterday to thank the staff for the incredible work they are doing. She briefed us on the visit by President Obama and the First Lady to National Headquarters earlier this week and then she made calls to some of our major donors to thank them for their past support and to encourage them to continue their generosity. Board members, Blake Moore and Bill Gray have also telephoned some of our major corporate leaders and major individual donors to thank them for their support.
There is much left to be done which I will share with you in the days and weeks ahead.
Haiti’s Jewish Remnant Keeps the Faith and Lends a Hand Amid the Crisis | Forward
By Gabrielle Birkner
Published January 20, 2010
Each year on Yom Kippur, Rudolph Dana locks himself in his Pétionville, Haiti, home — protected by guard dogs and security personnel — and passes the Day of Atonement fasting, praying and reciting the traditional liturgy of repentance and forgiveness.
Up until about 10 years ago, Haiti’s tiny Jewish community would gather in a home on Yom Kippur and pray alongside a video recording of a Yom Kippur service that Dana’s brother-in-law, a cantor at a New Jersey synagogue, had mailed to him. But in recent years, the community has become too small and disjointed to warrant even such modest holiday gatherings. Read more . . .
Published January 20, 2010
Each year on Yom Kippur, Rudolph Dana locks himself in his Pétionville, Haiti, home — protected by guard dogs and security personnel — and passes the Day of Atonement fasting, praying and reciting the traditional liturgy of repentance and forgiveness.
Up until about 10 years ago, Haiti’s tiny Jewish community would gather in a home on Yom Kippur and pray alongside a video recording of a Yom Kippur service that Dana’s brother-in-law, a cantor at a New Jersey synagogue, had mailed to him. But in recent years, the community has become too small and disjointed to warrant even such modest holiday gatherings. Read more . . .
Israel’s Relief Effort in Haiti Saves Lives, Boosts Image | Forward.com
By Nathan Guttman
Published January 20, 2010
The crowd broke out in cheers as an ambulance pulled out of what was once Haiti’s main tax administration office, carrying a survivor rescued from the wreckage by an Israeli team four days after this city’s devastating earthquake.
“Bravo!” the onlookers shouted. “We love you, Israel.”
It was a picture-perfect moment for Israeli public diplomacy.
Israel’s Relief Effort in Haiti Saves Lives, Boosts Image – Forward.com
Published January 20, 2010
The crowd broke out in cheers as an ambulance pulled out of what was once Haiti’s main tax administration office, carrying a survivor rescued from the wreckage by an Israeli team four days after this city’s devastating earthquake.
“Bravo!” the onlookers shouted. “We love you, Israel.”
It was a picture-perfect moment for Israeli public diplomacy.
Israel’s Relief Effort in Haiti Saves Lives, Boosts Image – Forward.com
Friday, January 22, 2010
My mission, my country, my lucky escape | Jerusalem Post
Jan. 21, 2010
by Hilary Leila Krieger
Cantave Jean-Baptiste had just left work last Tuesday afternoon in Port-au-Prince and was maneuvering his car through rush hour traffic when he felt a huge jolt that propelled his vehicle through the air.
"I felt like a very big truck hit my car, but when I turned back I didn't see any car," recalled Jean-Baptiste.
His vehicle had landed with a hard thud. He then noticed that a six-story school beside him had collapsed and people all around him were screaming and crying.
Slowly he realized that he had just experienced a massive earthquake, surviving without so much as a scratch. Read more . . .
by Hilary Leila Krieger
Cantave Jean-Baptiste had just left work last Tuesday afternoon in Port-au-Prince and was maneuvering his car through rush hour traffic when he felt a huge jolt that propelled his vehicle through the air.
"I felt like a very big truck hit my car, but when I turned back I didn't see any car," recalled Jean-Baptiste.
His vehicle had landed with a hard thud. He then noticed that a six-story school beside him had collapsed and people all around him were screaming and crying.
Slowly he realized that he had just experienced a massive earthquake, surviving without so much as a scratch. Read more . . .
A Flight Is Diverted by a Prayer Seen as Ominous | New York Times
By James Barron
Published: January 21, 2010
The plane, a 50-seat regional aircraft that was less than a third full when it took off from La Guardia Airport, had been climbing through the early-morning sky for about 25 minutes. A 17-year-old passenger in a whitish sweater took out something he had carried onboard, and strapped it onto his wrist and his head. Read more. . .
Published: January 21, 2010
The plane, a 50-seat regional aircraft that was less than a third full when it took off from La Guardia Airport, had been climbing through the early-morning sky for about 25 minutes. A 17-year-old passenger in a whitish sweater took out something he had carried onboard, and strapped it onto his wrist and his head. Read more. . .
For Israelis, Mixed Feelings on Aid Effort | New York Times
By Ethan Bronner
Published: January 21, 2010
JERUSALEM — The editorial cartoon in Thursday’s mass-circulation Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot showed American soldiers digging among the ruins of Haiti. From within the rubble, a voice calls out, “Would you mind checking to see if the Israelis are available?” Read more . . .
Published: January 21, 2010
JERUSALEM — The editorial cartoon in Thursday’s mass-circulation Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot showed American soldiers digging among the ruins of Haiti. From within the rubble, a voice calls out, “Would you mind checking to see if the Israelis are available?” Read more . . .
Thursday, January 21, 2010
JDC's Haiti Relief-One Week Later
Millions of lives-and the future of a nation-are still in jeopardy.
One week after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, global relief efforts are battling the clock and multiple aftershocks to meet the vast humanitarian needs of the Haitian people. The good news is that JDC and its partners on the ground are reaching victims every hour with critical medical, nutritional, and material relief.
Supporters of JDC are directly responsible for this progress to date:
JDC's work and impact will be felt long after images of the devastation disappear from the news. As with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, JDC will reserve a large portion of funds raised for Haiti relief for intermediate and long-term rebuilding and reconstruction programs. The goal is to effect sustainable improvements in health, education, and employment throughout the island nation.
JDC brings unparalleled experience to this effort through its International Development Program (IDP), which has provided immediate relief and long-term development assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters in more than 60 countries.
To Make a Contribution:
Online: www.JDC.org
By Phone: 212-687-6200
By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017
One week after a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, global relief efforts are battling the clock and multiple aftershocks to meet the vast humanitarian needs of the Haitian people. The good news is that JDC and its partners on the ground are reaching victims every hour with critical medical, nutritional, and material relief.
Supporters of JDC are directly responsible for this progress to date:
- As of January 20, JDC has received more than 8,000 individual gifts-exceeding $1.5 million-for Haiti relief. An additional $2 million has been raised for JDC Haiti relief by the Jewish Federations of North America.
- Within days of the disaster, JDC-supported relief agency Heart to Heart International and its team of doctors and nurses were on the ground providing critical medical aid first in Port-au-Prince and later in Leogane, an isolated town where little other assistance has reached.
- The Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces, another JDC partner, is operating a field hospital in Port-au-Prince that is saving lives and administering vital medical care. JDC helped equip the hospital with high-demand orthopedic devices and infant incubators for its neonatal unit. This effort has been widely reported in the news, including on CNN
Online: www.JDC.org
By Phone: 212-687-6200
By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017
UN, US ask Israel to send cops to Haiti
By Yaakov Lappin Updated Jan 21, 2010 10:02
Following a request from the United States and the United Nations, the Israel Police will send dozens of armed officers to join peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, the Public Security Ministry announced on Wednesday. Read more . . .
Following a request from the United States and the United Nations, the Israel Police will send dozens of armed officers to join peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, the Public Security Ministry announced on Wednesday. Read more . . .
Israeli aid effort helps Haitians—and Israel’s image | JTA
By Uriel Heilman · January 19, 2010
NEW YORK (JTA) -- The text messages started coming in to Shachar Zahavi’s cell phone in the middle of the night: "What are we going to do about Haiti?”
Zahavi, chairman of IsraAid, a coordinating organization for 17 Israeli and Jewish humanitarian groups, hadn’t even heard yet about the earthquake that had rocked Port-au-Prince, leaving untold thousands dead. Read more . . .
NEW YORK (JTA) -- The text messages started coming in to Shachar Zahavi’s cell phone in the middle of the night: "What are we going to do about Haiti?”
Zahavi, chairman of IsraAid, a coordinating organization for 17 Israeli and Jewish humanitarian groups, hadn’t even heard yet about the earthquake that had rocked Port-au-Prince, leaving untold thousands dead. Read more . . .
The big lie of Israeli 'Organ Harvesting' resurfaces re Haiti Earthquake
New York, NY, January 21, 2010 … In a disturbing illustration of what can happen when one person takes a message of hate and incitement to the Internet, the Big Lie of Israeli organ harvesting for profit has again resurfaced and gone global practically overnight, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Claims that the Israel Defense Forces mobile hospital unit in Haiti may be involved in stealing organs were first made in a video posted on YouTube by a Seattle man who identified himself as “T. West” of “AfriSynergy Productions.”
The allegations in his video spread globally in less than a day – a phenomenon that ADL said “demonstrates both the power of the Internet to spread disinformation, and the ability of any individual to disseminate the Big Lie with ease.”
“We have entered a new era where any individual can perpetuate a lie and spread it globally from the confines of his home,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “The video-sharing technology enables one person to pick up something that is completely wrong and to push it out as fact.”
Several anti-Israel Web sites and Middle East news sources have reported as credible the allegations made by “T. West” that the Israeli medical mission in Haiti may be involved in stealing organs from earthquake victims. According to ADL, the charges of organ harvesting for profit have appeared on various Web sites, including that of Press TV, a state-funded Iranian TV news channel; the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, an armed wing of the terrorist group Hamas; and the site of Alex Jones, an American anti-Israel conspiracy theorist.
Each of the reports directly cites the YouTube video post from Seattle, in which “T. West” charges that the Israel Defense Forces in Haiti may attempt to steal organs. “People have to be aware of personalities who are out for money,” T. West states. “The IDF has participated in the past in steal [sic] organ transplants of Palestinians and others.”
“The world is watching the images coming out of Haiti, and Israel’s state-of-the-art medical facility has become a focus of many news reports,” said Mr. Foxman. “It is hardly surprising that Israel’s enemies are looking for ways to turn the story of Israel’s success in saving lives into a negative. What is surprising is the alacrity with which they pick up on any thread of spurious information on the Internet that may cast a negative light on the Jewish state, no matter how dubious or untrustworthy the source.”
In September 2009, rumors of Israeli organ harvesting in the Palestinian territories spread globally following the publication of a false and malicious article in a Swedish newspaper that Israeli soldiers were harvesting Palestinian organs for profit. Similar rumors were reported in newspapers across the Middle East. The false story quickly mushroomed into a full-blown conspiracy theory alleging a Jewish plot to harvest organs from Algerian children, and others.
ADL has called the rumors of organ harvesting for profit “a new version of the ancient blood libel” which alleged that Jews use the blood of Christian children to bake their Passover bread.
“T. West” is an online moniker used by Theautries West, a Seattle activist who has posted a number of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic videos on YouTube. In a six-part series of videos in August and September 2009, T. West advanced the allegation of Israeli organ harvesting. In one video he states: “Not only in Israel against the Palestinian people … but possibly in other countries around the world, Israelis have been taking body organs and selling them for a very high price to others around the world and inside of Israel.”
In his videos West seems to maintain that Zionists and some Jews do not have a legitimate claim to their identity. He frequently refers to Jews in quotation marks, and calls for African-Americans to cut ties with Jews, who he claims are being “used and abused by many among a group of people who are among the wealthiest in the world.”
Claims that the Israel Defense Forces mobile hospital unit in Haiti may be involved in stealing organs were first made in a video posted on YouTube by a Seattle man who identified himself as “T. West” of “AfriSynergy Productions.”
The allegations in his video spread globally in less than a day – a phenomenon that ADL said “demonstrates both the power of the Internet to spread disinformation, and the ability of any individual to disseminate the Big Lie with ease.”
“We have entered a new era where any individual can perpetuate a lie and spread it globally from the confines of his home,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “The video-sharing technology enables one person to pick up something that is completely wrong and to push it out as fact.”
Several anti-Israel Web sites and Middle East news sources have reported as credible the allegations made by “T. West” that the Israeli medical mission in Haiti may be involved in stealing organs from earthquake victims. According to ADL, the charges of organ harvesting for profit have appeared on various Web sites, including that of Press TV, a state-funded Iranian TV news channel; the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, an armed wing of the terrorist group Hamas; and the site of Alex Jones, an American anti-Israel conspiracy theorist.
Each of the reports directly cites the YouTube video post from Seattle, in which “T. West” charges that the Israel Defense Forces in Haiti may attempt to steal organs. “People have to be aware of personalities who are out for money,” T. West states. “The IDF has participated in the past in steal [sic] organ transplants of Palestinians and others.”
“The world is watching the images coming out of Haiti, and Israel’s state-of-the-art medical facility has become a focus of many news reports,” said Mr. Foxman. “It is hardly surprising that Israel’s enemies are looking for ways to turn the story of Israel’s success in saving lives into a negative. What is surprising is the alacrity with which they pick up on any thread of spurious information on the Internet that may cast a negative light on the Jewish state, no matter how dubious or untrustworthy the source.”
In September 2009, rumors of Israeli organ harvesting in the Palestinian territories spread globally following the publication of a false and malicious article in a Swedish newspaper that Israeli soldiers were harvesting Palestinian organs for profit. Similar rumors were reported in newspapers across the Middle East. The false story quickly mushroomed into a full-blown conspiracy theory alleging a Jewish plot to harvest organs from Algerian children, and others.
ADL has called the rumors of organ harvesting for profit “a new version of the ancient blood libel” which alleged that Jews use the blood of Christian children to bake their Passover bread.
“T. West” is an online moniker used by Theautries West, a Seattle activist who has posted a number of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic videos on YouTube. In a six-part series of videos in August and September 2009, T. West advanced the allegation of Israeli organ harvesting. In one video he states: “Not only in Israel against the Palestinian people … but possibly in other countries around the world, Israelis have been taking body organs and selling them for a very high price to others around the world and inside of Israel.”
In his videos West seems to maintain that Zionists and some Jews do not have a legitimate claim to their identity. He frequently refers to Jews in quotation marks, and calls for African-Americans to cut ties with Jews, who he claims are being “used and abused by many among a group of people who are among the wealthiest in the world.”
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Haiti: Facts Important to Response and Recovery
Dr. Paula G. Panzer, Director of the Martha K. Selig Educational Institute Center for Trauma Program Innovation of the Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services suggests another good resource:
This Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) fact sheet contains information specific to Haiti, including demograhpics, health status, and economy, which will aid responders in understanding the population and environment in Haiti.
Check here for other related resources.
This Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) fact sheet contains information specific to Haiti, including demograhpics, health status, and economy, which will aid responders in understanding the population and environment in Haiti.
Check here for other related resources.
Jewish Artists for Haiti
| When: | Thursday, January 28, 2010 |
| Time: | 7:00pm - 10:00pm |
| Where: | Stephen Wise Free Synagogue (30 W. 68th St. @ CPW) |
Workmen's Circle invites you to spend an evening with artists, activists and friends on honor and support of our Haitian brothers and sisters. Doors will open at 6 pm.
Tickets at a min $18 donation- but give what you can. Advanced tickets available at http://www.circle.org or a the door.
100% of funds raised will be donated to the following organizations:
American Jewish World Service's Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
Artists Include: Aaron Alexander, Adrienne Cooper, Alicia Svigals, Amy Coleman, Art Bailey, Avi Fox-Rosen, Basya Schaechter, Benji Fox Rosen, Cantor Dan Singer, Dan Rosengard, Eve Sicular, Frank London & The Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Gary Lucas, Greg Wall, Isle of Klezbos (Pam Fleming, Debra Kreisberg, Eve Sicular, Melissa Fogarty, Shoko Nagai, Saskia Lane), Jennifer Miller, Jeremiah Lockwood with Sway Machinery, Judith Sloan, Matt Darriau, Neshama Carlebach &The Green Pastures Baptist Choir, Noah Solomon, Richie Barshay, Soulfarm, Veretski Pass (Joshua Horowitz and Cookie Siegelstein), Yiddish Princess (Sarah Gordon, Avi Fox Rosen, Yoshi Fruchter), and Zalmen Mlotek
To purchase your ticket in advance visit http://www.circle.org or call 212.889.6800 x 212 to order with Kathy.
Tickets at a min $18 donation- but give what you can. Advanced tickets available at http://www.circle.org or a the door.
100% of funds raised will be donated to the following organizations:
American Jewish World Service's Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
Artists Include: Aaron Alexander, Adrienne Cooper, Alicia Svigals, Amy Coleman, Art Bailey, Avi Fox-Rosen, Basya Schaechter, Benji Fox Rosen, Cantor Dan Singer, Dan Rosengard, Eve Sicular, Frank London & The Klezmer Brass All-Stars, Gary Lucas, Greg Wall, Isle of Klezbos (Pam Fleming, Debra Kreisberg, Eve Sicular, Melissa Fogarty, Shoko Nagai, Saskia Lane), Jennifer Miller, Jeremiah Lockwood with Sway Machinery, Judith Sloan, Matt Darriau, Neshama Carlebach &The Green Pastures Baptist Choir, Noah Solomon, Richie Barshay, Soulfarm, Veretski Pass (Joshua Horowitz and Cookie Siegelstein), Yiddish Princess (Sarah Gordon, Avi Fox Rosen, Yoshi Fruchter), and Zalmen Mlotek
To purchase your ticket in advance visit http://www.circle.org or call 212.889.6800 x 212 to order with Kathy.
Opening Hearts, Wallets for Haitians | Jewish Week
Steve Lipman | 1.19.2010
At a Jewish Y on Long Island, Jewish employees take up a collection for the families in Haiti of two maintenance men. In Brooklyn, members of the haredi Orthodox community hold a historic meeting with representatives of the borough’s Haitian-Americans. In southern Florida, a former New Yorker travels to Haiti on short notice to help the relatives of his Haitian-born employees. More. . .
At a Jewish Y on Long Island, Jewish employees take up a collection for the families in Haiti of two maintenance men. In Brooklyn, members of the haredi Orthodox community hold a historic meeting with representatives of the borough’s Haitian-Americans. In southern Florida, a former New Yorker travels to Haiti on short notice to help the relatives of his Haitian-born employees. More. . .
The IDF field hospital treated two children who were saved from ruins by a New York rescue team | IDF
As part of that briefing, Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Arye, the commander of the delegation, informed that the search for survivors in the ruins will be stopped. The Home Front Command forces operating in Haiti as part of the IDF delegation will stay prepared, and will only be called to action when they receive a precise report on the discovery of a person buried under rubble at a specific place.
During Tuesday night (Jan. 19), two children were found alive under the ruins of a building, where they had been trapped for almost a week. A joint team of New York fire department and police forces succeeded in rescuing them. The children were transferred to the IDF field hospital in Port-au-Prince. Their condition is defined as stable and they have not suffered serious injuries.
ZAKA mission to Haiti 'proudly desecrating Shabbat' | Yediot Ahronot
Amit Levy | 01.17.10, 10:23
Religious rescue team holds Shabbat prayer with members of international missions in Port au-Prince. More.
Religious rescue team holds Shabbat prayer with members of international missions in Port au-Prince. More.
Jewish prayer for Haiti | Yediot Ahronot
Rafi Ostroff | 1.19.10, 18:22
Haiti quake a reminder that Jews must hold love for all nations of the world. More.
Haiti quake a reminder that Jews must hold love for all nations of the world. More.
'We're proud to be part of the aid here' | Jerusalem Post
"Even hours of training and drills do not prepare any person for the sheer scale of destruction we are witnessing and our helplessness when facing the local population's expectations," the head of Magen David Adom's team in earthquake-shattered Haiti wrote in a message back home on Wednesday, moments before another quake shook the country.
DCS chaplain deploys to Haiti
NEW YORK, 19 January, 2010 -- Disaster Chaplaincy Services' (DCS) chaplain, Rev. Noster Montas is being deployed with a group from the New York area on a 30-day mission aboard the USNS Comfort off the coast of Haiti. Montas is part of a 47 person contingent deployed by the American Red Cross in Greater New York and the Miami Red Cross chapter to be translators on the medical ship. In addition to the DCS chaplain, included in the team are volunteers from the American Red Cross, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers, and the Haitian Americans United for Progress, all of whom are fluent in Kreyol and English.
Montas and the rest of the Greater New York Red Cross volunteers leave tomorrow to meet the USNS Comfort already en route to Haiti. While Montas is out of the country, DCS will be staying in touch with his wife and two children to offer them support through this time.
Montas is a great example of what it means to be a Disaster Chaplaincy Services volunteer. On one hour notice he cleared his schedule for the next month and made himself available for this difficult deployment. His understanding that service is a sacrifice inspires all of us to use the gifts we have been given to help others in their time of need.
Thank you to Vince Porcelli who is our On-call Lead this month and has spent countless hours on the phone and email scheduling and organizing DCS' local response. And a special thank you to all the DCS chaplains who have deployed to the various sites around the city to listen, companion, and support all those in the Haitian community affected by this heartbreaking earthquake. DCS chaplains continue to be on alert and on call.
Our thoughts and prayers go with everyone on the USNS Comfort and to all the people of Haiti.
"L'union fait la force"--"In unity there is strength"
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Julie Taylor
Executive Director
Donate now to support the ongoing work of Disaster Chaplaincy Services.
Please visit our website for updated information www.disasterchaplaincy.org.
Montas and the rest of the Greater New York Red Cross volunteers leave tomorrow to meet the USNS Comfort already en route to Haiti. While Montas is out of the country, DCS will be staying in touch with his wife and two children to offer them support through this time.
Montas is a great example of what it means to be a Disaster Chaplaincy Services volunteer. On one hour notice he cleared his schedule for the next month and made himself available for this difficult deployment. His understanding that service is a sacrifice inspires all of us to use the gifts we have been given to help others in their time of need.
Thank you to Vince Porcelli who is our On-call Lead this month and has spent countless hours on the phone and email scheduling and organizing DCS' local response. And a special thank you to all the DCS chaplains who have deployed to the various sites around the city to listen, companion, and support all those in the Haitian community affected by this heartbreaking earthquake. DCS chaplains continue to be on alert and on call.
Our thoughts and prayers go with everyone on the USNS Comfort and to all the people of Haiti.
"L'union fait la force"--"In unity there is strength"
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Julie Taylor
Executive Director
Please visit our website for updated information www.disasterchaplaincy.org.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Peres thanks Israel's rescue team in Haiti
Ynet
Published: 01.19.10, 18:15 / Israel News
President places phone call to members of Israeli aid delegation at field hospital they set up in Port-au-Prince to express his appreciation. 'You are people's defense force,' he says. Yediot Ahronot report.
Published: 01.19.10, 18:15 / Israel News
President places phone call to members of Israeli aid delegation at field hospital they set up in Port-au-Prince to express his appreciation. 'You are people's defense force,' he says. Yediot Ahronot report.
National Child Stress Network Resources: Earthquakes
Paula G. Panzer, MD, Director of the Martha K. Selig Educational Institute & Center for Trauma Program Innovation at the Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, recommends materials from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
They were written by experts, for this crisis, with a culturally appropriate lens and review team (the Creole translation is in the works. Check out their information and materials.
They were written by experts, for this crisis, with a culturally appropriate lens and review team (the Creole translation is in the works. Check out their information and materials.
IDF Home Front chief heads to Haiti with reinforcements
OC Home Front Command Maj.-Gen. Yair Golan left Monday night to head a second IDF delegation to assist the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, and will deliver staff reinforcements and additional medicine and equipment to the field hospital in Port-au-Prince. Jerusalem Post report.
Israeli medical unit in Haiti: Where will orphans go?
Lone baby and young girl with broken leg among many injured being treated at IDF hospital. Staff: So many orphans arrive here but where will they go afterwards? Adults also find themselves homeless. Yedioth Ahronoth reports from Port-au-Prince.
Praise for Israeli mission in Haiti: 'Only ones operating'
Israeli field hospital earns accolades as only aid mission able to do complex surgery in devastated country. CNN reports other missions transfer patients to Israeli base. ABC reports on young woman giving birth there. Yediot Ahronot reports.
Israeli rescuers to stay in Haiti for another month - Haaretz - Israel News
The Israeli rescue crew dispatched to Haiti will remain on the earthquake-stricken Caribbean island for at least another month to oversee a field hospital it set up after the disaster struck there last week, the Israel Defense Forces announced on Tuesday. More from Haaretz
Sci-Tech Today | Pro-Palestinian Group Hacks Jewish Paper's Site
| Pro-Palestinian Group Hacks Jewish Paper's Site By Adam Dickter
| |||
Monday, January 18, 2010
Special Israeline Edition from NY Consulate on aid to Haiti
Shalom,
As news of the earthquake in Haiti started to emerge, the Israeli government immediately began to make plans to send a delegation to aid in the relief efforts.
"Our decision to immediately dispatch a large delegation of doctors, nurses, medics, rescue forces as well as drugs and medical equipment to Haiti expresses the deep values which have characterized the Jewish people and the State of Israel throughout history," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
On Friday, two Israeli jets carrying nearly 10 tons of medical equipment, doctors, nurses, medics, police forces and an elite search and rescue team landed in Haiti. The 220-person delegation is led by Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Aryeh (Res.), the commander of the Home Front Command's National Search and Rescue Unit.
Thus far, the Israeli search and rescue units have rescued 70 people from beneath the rubble.
In addition to deploying search and rescue units to find survivors, Israel established a field hospital that includes 40 doctors, 24 nurses, medics, paramedics, x-ray equipment and personnel, a pharmacy, an emergency room, two surgery rooms, an incubation ward, a children's ward, a maternity ward, and more. The field hospital is capable of treating nearly 500 victims per day and performing initial surgeries.
The IDF's chief medical officer, Brig. Gen. Nachman Esh, said that while the field hospital will largely treat trauma patients, similar to those encountered in a war, specialists in various other fields have also been sent.
"We expect to have to deal mainly with trauma cases, but when we arrive there, we also expect to encounter the secondary wave of infections and diseases, as well as the routine cases that the local hospitals would usually deal with," Brig. Gen. Esh said.
May they know pain no more.
Consulate of Israel
As news of the earthquake in Haiti started to emerge, the Israeli government immediately began to make plans to send a delegation to aid in the relief efforts.
"Our decision to immediately dispatch a large delegation of doctors, nurses, medics, rescue forces as well as drugs and medical equipment to Haiti expresses the deep values which have characterized the Jewish people and the State of Israel throughout history," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
On Friday, two Israeli jets carrying nearly 10 tons of medical equipment, doctors, nurses, medics, police forces and an elite search and rescue team landed in Haiti. The 220-person delegation is led by Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Aryeh (Res.), the commander of the Home Front Command's National Search and Rescue Unit.
Thus far, the Israeli search and rescue units have rescued 70 people from beneath the rubble.
In addition to deploying search and rescue units to find survivors, Israel established a field hospital that includes 40 doctors, 24 nurses, medics, paramedics, x-ray equipment and personnel, a pharmacy, an emergency room, two surgery rooms, an incubation ward, a children's ward, a maternity ward, and more. The field hospital is capable of treating nearly 500 victims per day and performing initial surgeries.
The IDF's chief medical officer, Brig. Gen. Nachman Esh, said that while the field hospital will largely treat trauma patients, similar to those encountered in a war, specialists in various other fields have also been sent.
"We expect to have to deal mainly with trauma cases, but when we arrive there, we also expect to encounter the secondary wave of infections and diseases, as well as the routine cases that the local hospitals would usually deal with," Brig. Gen. Esh said.
- To see a special report on CNN about the Israeli Field Hospital, click here.
- To see how the Israeli Field Hospital saved the lives of a newborn baby and its mother, watch this ABC Special.
- To view the latest directly from the Israeli delegation in Haiti, click here.
May they know pain no more.
Consulate of Israel
121-member IDF medical and rescue team saves Haitian government worker
Jan. 18, 2010
Judy Siegel-Itzkovich , THE JERUSALEM POST
Among the chaos and lack of law and order in Haiti since the earthquake that may have killed hundreds of thousands of people, the IDF medical and rescue team has seen a few points of light.
Not long after their arrival in Port-au-Prince, the team members saved the life of a customs clerk who was trapped in his office for 125 hours by debris, and then treated him in the Israeli field hospital - by far the largest, most equipped and best organized in the country.
It was the 121-member IDF team's first rescue since its arrival and establishment of the field hospital on Shabbat. More than 100 survivors have been treated, with three in 10 in serious condition and 50 percent moderately injured. Children comprise more than half of the injured, most with limb injuries and bone fractures. Nearly a dozen lifesaving operations have been performed.
The field hospital, said its commander Col. Dr. Itzik Kreis, "is currently the most significant medical center in the area struck by the earthquake."
On Sunday morning, the parents of a baby born in the field hospital named him Israel. It was an ordinary delivery, and there are two more women about to deliver there.
Deputy hospital director Dr. Carmi Bar-Tal, a Beer Sheba physician in charge of triage and hospitalization who as a civilian works in Soroka University Medical Center's internal medicine department, told health reporters in a conference call: "The most serious patients - both wounded in the quake and sick - arrived from clinics run by the Americans, Russians and other groups who cannot handle these most serious cases."
Bar-Tal said the huge hospital operates in a well-guarded, fenced soccer stadium in the center of Port-au-Prince. There are open fractures, crush injuries and other orthopedic problems.
"Some limbs had to be amputated. There are battles in the streets over food and water, with people waiting outside. We opened a community clinic near the fence so patients who needed to be bandaged would not have to be admitted to the hospital," he said.
The deputy director said the hospital was completely full. "We discharge patients but don't know what awaits them afterwards. At least we gave them a chance to live. Some, such as a man paralyzed with a spinal injury, could not be admitted because doctors knew they could not help him."
The staff members are well taken care of and
lack for nothing. They share the food brought in from Israel with patients and their relatives.
The Israeli rescuers have been well received by the Haitians. TV cameramen photographed survivors applauding and singing next to the IDF search and rescue team after they pulled someone out of a collapsed building. They were singing a refrain of "Good job, Israel."
At first they didn't know who we are. They thought Americans or Canadians. They were surprised to hear we are Israelis, but now they identify us. The most obvious thing is that they are very sad; You can see it in their eyes. They are not hysterical but resigned," said Bar-Tal.
Meanwhile, ZAKA - Israel's experts in extricating survivors and the dead - reported that its team members have been begged by desperate people to extricate their loved ones, after being dispatched to save people at one location and being unable to stop to give children water, because if they gave one bottle, they'd be surrounded and unable to go where most needed. They reported that the US forces have taken control and give ZAKA instructions on where to go, with an armed UN jeep as their escort.
Several Israeli medical centers are represented by doctors, nurses and other professionals in Haiti. One is Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek, which recently launched a major project to develop the Dr. Jack Matloff Family Disaster and Emergency Response Center. This project will create a comprehensive emergency preparedness and disaster management center and is designed to serve as an urgent care facility for mass casualty incidents and an training center for medical professionals and first-aid responders.
"The fact that four of our senior medical professionals have been chosen for this mission in Haiti is an important indicator of the central role played by Shaare Zedek in the realm of emergency management," said hospital director-general Prof. Jonathan Halevy. "We wish them all the greatest of success in this mission and look forward to their safe return as soon as possible."
Magen David Adom coordinator Dudi Abadi said that the earthquake appears to be one of the largest humanitarian crisis in history. The organization's paramedics left immediately to cooperate with the Federation of the International Red Cross. They arrived via the neighboring Dominican Republic and joined the Norwegian Red Cross team that will set up an additional field hospital.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147915110&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Judy Siegel-Itzkovich , THE JERUSALEM POST
Among the chaos and lack of law and order in Haiti since the earthquake that may have killed hundreds of thousands of people, the IDF medical and rescue team has seen a few points of light.
Not long after their arrival in Port-au-Prince, the team members saved the life of a customs clerk who was trapped in his office for 125 hours by debris, and then treated him in the Israeli field hospital - by far the largest, most equipped and best organized in the country.
It was the 121-member IDF team's first rescue since its arrival and establishment of the field hospital on Shabbat. More than 100 survivors have been treated, with three in 10 in serious condition and 50 percent moderately injured. Children comprise more than half of the injured, most with limb injuries and bone fractures. Nearly a dozen lifesaving operations have been performed.
The field hospital, said its commander Col. Dr. Itzik Kreis, "is currently the most significant medical center in the area struck by the earthquake."
On Sunday morning, the parents of a baby born in the field hospital named him Israel. It was an ordinary delivery, and there are two more women about to deliver there.
Deputy hospital director Dr. Carmi Bar-Tal, a Beer Sheba physician in charge of triage and hospitalization who as a civilian works in Soroka University Medical Center's internal medicine department, told health reporters in a conference call: "The most serious patients - both wounded in the quake and sick - arrived from clinics run by the Americans, Russians and other groups who cannot handle these most serious cases."
Bar-Tal said the huge hospital operates in a well-guarded, fenced soccer stadium in the center of Port-au-Prince. There are open fractures, crush injuries and other orthopedic problems.
"Some limbs had to be amputated. There are battles in the streets over food and water, with people waiting outside. We opened a community clinic near the fence so patients who needed to be bandaged would not have to be admitted to the hospital," he said.
The deputy director said the hospital was completely full. "We discharge patients but don't know what awaits them afterwards. At least we gave them a chance to live. Some, such as a man paralyzed with a spinal injury, could not be admitted because doctors knew they could not help him."
The staff members are well taken care of and
lack for nothing. They share the food brought in from Israel with patients and their relatives.
The Israeli rescuers have been well received by the Haitians. TV cameramen photographed survivors applauding and singing next to the IDF search and rescue team after they pulled someone out of a collapsed building. They were singing a refrain of "Good job, Israel."
At first they didn't know who we are. They thought Americans or Canadians. They were surprised to hear we are Israelis, but now they identify us. The most obvious thing is that they are very sad; You can see it in their eyes. They are not hysterical but resigned," said Bar-Tal.
Meanwhile, ZAKA - Israel's experts in extricating survivors and the dead - reported that its team members have been begged by desperate people to extricate their loved ones, after being dispatched to save people at one location and being unable to stop to give children water, because if they gave one bottle, they'd be surrounded and unable to go where most needed. They reported that the US forces have taken control and give ZAKA instructions on where to go, with an armed UN jeep as their escort.
Several Israeli medical centers are represented by doctors, nurses and other professionals in Haiti. One is Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek, which recently launched a major project to develop the Dr. Jack Matloff Family Disaster and Emergency Response Center. This project will create a comprehensive emergency preparedness and disaster management center and is designed to serve as an urgent care facility for mass casualty incidents and an training center for medical professionals and first-aid responders.
"The fact that four of our senior medical professionals have been chosen for this mission in Haiti is an important indicator of the central role played by Shaare Zedek in the realm of emergency management," said hospital director-general Prof. Jonathan Halevy. "We wish them all the greatest of success in this mission and look forward to their safe return as soon as possible."
Magen David Adom coordinator Dudi Abadi said that the earthquake appears to be one of the largest humanitarian crisis in history. The organization's paramedics left immediately to cooperate with the Federation of the International Red Cross. They arrived via the neighboring Dominican Republic and joined the Norwegian Red Cross team that will set up an additional field hospital.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1263147915110&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
JDC Haiti Relief Update January 15
- JDC is the official humanitarian assistance
organization for the organized Jewish community and the Jewish Federations of North America - JDC is supporting the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Force whose team of medical professionals has landed in Haiti and is setting up a field hospital to care for those affected by the quake. JDC funds have purchased medical equipment, including infant incubators for a neonatal unit and orthopedic devices
- JDC is working with Heart to Heart International, a U.S. nongovernmental organization (NGO) on the ground to provide emergency medical assistance, equipment, and other services
- Working with the Afya Foundation, a container of mattresses and much-needed medical supplies has been sent to Partners in Health, a well respected NGO started in Haiti by Dr. Paul Farmer. JDC is also supporting the shipment of 2 additional containers
- JDC is supporting EcoWorks International which, working through local sources, will be operating a soup kitchen
- Further partnerships are being explored by JDC with local NGOs to provide emergency assistance during this initial stage disaster response
- JDC continues to coordinate activities with the White House and Department of State
- Consistent with its International Development Program (JDC-IDP) operations historically, JDC will likely provide for some amount of immediate emergency relief but reserve the bulk of our operations for intermediate and long-term rebuilding and reconstruction programs that are sustainable by the affected community
- The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief—an alliance of 45 U.S. and foreign Jewish agencies that provides a united Jewish response to humanitarian disasters—has formed a new coalition for Haiti relief which will be coordinated by JDC.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Disaster Chaplaincy Services Responds to the Earthquake in Haiti
Throughout the weekend DCS chaplains have given support to the Haitian community and are scheduled at a number of locations in the upcoming week.
Thank you to the many chaplains and staff who stepped up to this call. We continue to be in contact and communication with municipal agencies as well as our non-governmental agency partners regarding how DCS can best be of assistance in meeting the ongoing and emerging needs of the community.
Please consider making a donation to one of the many great organizations working on the relief effort.
Visit their website for updated information: http://www.disasterchaplaincy.org.
Coping With Disasters and Traumatic World Events
Disasters can cause us to re-experience feelings and memories related to previous disasters, such as the events of 9/11. In addition, other grief and loss experiences may resurface. The emotional impact that a disaster has varies from person to person. While those directly affected are more likely to need additional mental health support, it is not uncommon for individuals living thousands of miles away to experience stress and anxiety.
Five important things that you need to know are:
- What are normal reactions to a disaster?
- What can I do to cope better?
- How can I help my children?
- How do I know when to ask for help?
- Where can I get help if I need it?
Life amid death: Baby born in Israeli field hospital in Haiti - Haaretz - Israel News
Amid the tragedy and devastation encompassing the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince since Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, a happy event took place Sunday inside the field hospital erected by the Israeli relief delegation in the city. Doctor Shir Dar, who works at Hadassah Ein-Karem, delivered the first healthy baby in the Israeli hospital.
The mother told Dar that she would name her son Israel. "Amid all the death around us," the doctor said, "it is very symbolic." He said that childbirth in impoverished Haiti doesn't normally take place in hospitals, and that this particular woman received the best care from the best doctors. Read more. Life amid death: Baby born in Israeli field hospital in Haiti - Haaretz - Israel News
The mother told Dar that she would name her son Israel. "Amid all the death around us," the doctor said, "it is very symbolic." He said that childbirth in impoverished Haiti doesn't normally take place in hospitals, and that this particular woman received the best care from the best doctors. Read more. Life amid death: Baby born in Israeli field hospital in Haiti - Haaretz - Israel News
Remarks by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Haiti
Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting today (1/17/2010):
"I would like to say a few words about the horrific tragedy that took place in Haiti. What happened there is a large-scale disaster of very great proportions. The lack of protective measures only deepened the tragedy. I think that it is our obligation, as the State of Israel, as the state of the Jewish People, to mobilize immediately – and this we have done. As soon as I learned of the dimensions of the disaster, I ordered that a team be dispatched. It left with the speed characteristic of the IDF, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.
The defense establishment sent a team which has begun to work and is already saving lives. It is a field hospital with doctors, x-ray machines and other vital pieces of equipment that are in short supply in Haiti. I think that this is in the best tradition of the Jewish People; this is the true covenant of the State of Israel and the Jewish People.
This follows operations we have carried out in Kenya and Turkey; despite being a small country, we have responded with a big heart. The fact is, I know, that this was an expression of our Jewish heritage and the Jewish ethic of helping one's fellow. I hope that the team saves lives and that Haiti succeeds in recovering from this awful tragedy.
"I would like to say a few words about the horrific tragedy that took place in Haiti. What happened there is a large-scale disaster of very great proportions. The lack of protective measures only deepened the tragedy. I think that it is our obligation, as the State of Israel, as the state of the Jewish People, to mobilize immediately – and this we have done. As soon as I learned of the dimensions of the disaster, I ordered that a team be dispatched. It left with the speed characteristic of the IDF, in coordination with the Foreign Ministry.
The defense establishment sent a team which has begun to work and is already saving lives. It is a field hospital with doctors, x-ray machines and other vital pieces of equipment that are in short supply in Haiti. I think that this is in the best tradition of the Jewish People; this is the true covenant of the State of Israel and the Jewish People.
This follows operations we have carried out in Kenya and Turkey; despite being a small country, we have responded with a big heart. The fact is, I know, that this was an expression of our Jewish heritage and the Jewish ethic of helping one's fellow. I hope that the team saves lives and that Haiti succeeds in recovering from this awful tragedy.
Israeli aid arrives in Haiti, field hospital set up
See updates from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Israeli aid arrives in Haiti, field hospital set up 17-Jan-2010
New Yorkers Can Donate Supplies through JDC Partners
NEW YORK, NY, January 15, 2010-The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world's largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, in collaboration with the Afya Foundation, began loading their first container of supplies in New York City this morning at 9:30 a.m. to be shipped to victims of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake. The container, which is filled with hundreds of mattresses and blankets donated by Jewish Home Lifecare in New York City, will be shipped for Partners in Health International to manage the logistics of distribution on the ground in Haiti.
New Yorkers can participate right now by donating the following supplies to the drop-off location –
Afya’s Warehouse at 510 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701.
- Sheets
- Blankets
- Sleeping Bags
- Towels
- Clothing
- Water Purification Tablets
- Water
- Electrolyte Tablets
- Small Water Buckets
- Ensure (or any liquid food supplement)
- Respiratory Masks
- Personal Care Items
- Gauze
- Bandages
- IV Starter Kits
- Syringes
- Gloves
- Needles
- Ringers
- Hand Sanitizer
- Topical Antiseptic
- Casting Materials
- Cotton
- Closed Toed Shoes
Please note supplies cannot be accepted which are expired or less than 5 months from expiration.
The Afya Foundation has been working in collaboration with Partners in Health International for many years to collect and deliver medical supplies that are donated by hospitals, health organizations, companies and people to communities in Haiti.
JDC continues to conduct a full and rapid assessment of the situation on the ground, and is reaching out to its network of partners to determine immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas. These efforts are part of JDC's International Development Program (IDP), which provides immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters. JDC and its partners worldwide have implemented similar relief efforts in more than 60 countries. Many IDP-operated programs are ongoing and are helping to rebuild infrastructure and community life in disaster-stricken regions.
About the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
Since 1914, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has given global expression to the principle that all Jews are responsible for one another. Working today in over 70 countries, JDC acts on behalf of North America's Jewish communities and others to rescue Jews in danger, provide relief to those in distress, revitalize overseas Jewish communities and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens. JDC also provides non-sectarian emergency relief and long-term development assistance worldwide. For more information, please log on to: www.JDC.org
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
UPDATE: Relief for Haiti earthquake victims
See today's report: Jewish Groups Mobilizing Aid for Haiti Quake from the JTA.
- Cash donations avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing donated goods and cash donations also help get the local economy back on its feet. According to NYC OEM, New York City government operations will not be able to support efforts to gather and distribute donated goods.
- Learn about new IRS regulations about Haiti-related donations here.
- Beware of fraud. Some fraudsters have already come forward to take advantage of people's generosity, see the FBI alert here.
- Credible responding agencies. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security donors to visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities
- The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief (an arm of the JDC) is the lead agency for the Jewish Federations of North America (including our own UJA-Federation of New York). JDC is currently supporting Heart to Heart International to support search-and-rescue efforts; food, water and clothing; temporary shelters; medical aid, equipment, and psycho-trauma services to victims of the earthquake. JDC is also working with the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces and has purchased critical medical equipment for its field hospital, including infant incubators for its neonatal unit and orthopedic devices. Further partnerships are being explored for the next phase of JDC's support for Haiti's victims. Click here to donate through UJA-Federation. Find out more about their efforts.
- American Jewish Committee.
- American Jewish World Service
- American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross. To help immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill ($4 million was raised through texting yesterday). Read Terry Bischoff's moving description of ARC's activities here.
- B'nai B'rith International.
- K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations)
- Magen David Adom
- Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
- National Council of Young Israel.
- Orthodox Union.
- Samuel Dalembert Foundation
- UJA-Federation of New York
- Union for Reform Judaism
- UNICEF.
- United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
- World ORT.
- ZAKA
JDC Partners to Aid Victims of Earthquake in Haiti
Medical Professionals Flown to Haiti Tonight to Assist with Disaster Relief
NEW YORK, NY, January 14, 2010-The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world's largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, is collecting funds on a non-sectarian basis for relief efforts following the catastrophic earthquake, the worst in over 200 years, that struck Haiti.
“Responding to the earthquake in Haiti, JDC has purchased critical medical equipment for the field hospital of the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leaving tonight for Haiti. The equipment includes two infant incubators and ten orthopedic devices for stabilizing fractures that will provide the emergency relief team with the tools needed to save lives following this terrible disaster. The equipment will arrive tomorrow together with a 30-member team of medical professionals being flown to Haiti tonight to provide critical medical services to the survivors of Tuesday’s earthquake. JDC has previously partnered successfully with the IDF Medical Corps in Turkey,” said Steven Schwager, JDC’s Chief Executive Officer.
Cardiac surgeon Dr. Ofer Merin, Vice President of Share Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem and Chief of its Trauma Unit, is leading the IDF team to set up the field hospital onsite, in his army reserve duty, Dr. Merin is the Chief of Army Field Hospitals.
“Dr. Merin was very touched to find out that JDC will be providing assistance. He was noticeably moved when he heard that American Jewry is willing to provide assistance to an Israel Medical Team,” explained Schwager.
In addition, JDC is allocating $50,000 to Heart to Heart International, Inc. for medical aid, equipment and services to provide immediate relief and assistance to the citizens of Haiti in their tragic hour. Heart to Heart International improves global health through humanitarian initiatives that connect people and resources to a world in need. Since its founding in 1992, Heart to Heart has delivered nearly $800 million worth of aid (U.S. wholesale value) to more than 100 countries, including the United States.
JDC continues to conduct a full and rapid assessment of the situation on the ground, and is reaching out to its network of partners to determine immediate needs of the hardest-hit areas. These efforts are part of JDC's International Development Program (IDP), which provides immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters. JDC and its partners worldwide have implemented similar relief efforts in more than 60 countries. Many IDP-operated programs around the world are ongoing and are helping to rebuild infrastructure and community life in disaster-stricken regions.
To Make a Contribution:
Online: www.jdc.org
By Phone: 212-687-6200
By Mail: check payable to
JDC-Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd St
New York, NY, 10017
Contacts:
Beth D. Weinstein/JDC/(212) 885-0820
Michael Geller/JDC/(212) 885-0838
About the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
Since 1914, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has given global expression to the principle that all Jews are responsible for one another. Working today in over 70 countries, JDC acts on behalf of North America's Jewish communities and others to rescue Jews in danger, provide relief to those in distress, revitalize overseas Jewish communities and help Israel overcome the social challenges of its most vulnerable citizens. JDC also provides non-sectarian emergency relief and long-term development assistance worldwide. For more information, please log on to: www.JDC.org
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Report on the Jews in Haiti
There are no reform or conservative shuls in Haiti and no Chabad presence. Reports from JDC are that the 7 Jews residents in Haiti are safe. Haaretz reports that even as an Israeli rescue team to preparing to depart for the disaster-stricken country, eight Israelis remained unaccounted for in Haiti, among them the daughter of late Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan. The rescue team includes elite army corps engineers and medical corps ready to deploy field hospital, the Israeli consulate in New York reported.
Rabbi Shimon Pelman, the Chabad Schaliach in the Dominican Republic (on the western half of the same island, three hours drive from the earthquake location) heads the Jewish organization to closest to Haiti. He also reports that there was no damage to the small Jewish community in Haiti. Rabbi Pelman is working in conjunction with the Israeli ambassador and others in the region. He will be meeting incoming Israeli delegation with the Israeli Consul General in Santo Domingo at the airport.
Rabbi Pelman contacted most of the Jews (some were fortunately were out of town), but not all. Hopefully the JDC information about them is correct.If anyone needs assistance please be in contact with him directly:
Rabbi Shimon Pelman, office (it’s an NY number) 718-504-1990, Cell (us number) 1-829-341-2770
Email Chabaddominican@gmail.com or http://www.chabadominican.com/
Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein at Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn is coordinating relief efforts with the Shluchim of that region, if anyone needs additional assistance he can be reached at 718-774-4000, msharfstein@lubavitch.com.
Rabbi Shimon Pelman, the Chabad Schaliach in the Dominican Republic (on the western half of the same island, three hours drive from the earthquake location) heads the Jewish organization to closest to Haiti. He also reports that there was no damage to the small Jewish community in Haiti. Rabbi Pelman is working in conjunction with the Israeli ambassador and others in the region. He will be meeting incoming Israeli delegation with the Israeli Consul General in Santo Domingo at the airport.
Rabbi Pelman contacted most of the Jews (some were fortunately were out of town), but not all. Hopefully the JDC information about them is correct.If anyone needs assistance please be in contact with him directly:
Rabbi Shimon Pelman, office (it’s an NY number) 718-504-1990, Cell (us number) 1-829-341-2770
Email Chabaddominican@gmail.com or http://www.chabadominican.com/
Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein at Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn is coordinating relief efforts with the Shluchim of that region, if anyone needs additional assistance he can be reached at 718-774-4000, msharfstein@lubavitch.com.
Cash Donations are Best for Haiti Earthquake Relief
Relief for Haiti earthquake victims
UPDATED Jan. 26, 2010
- Cash donations avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing donated goods and cash donations also help get the local economy back on its feet. According to NYC OEM, New York City government operations will not be able to support efforts to gather and distribute donated goods. Links to many credible channels are listed below.
- Learn about new IRS regulations about Haiti-related contributions here.
- Beware of fraud. Some fraudsters have already come forward to take advantage of people's generosity, see the FBI alert here.
- Credible responding agencies. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security donors to visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities
- The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief (an arm of the JDC) is the lead agency for the Jewish Federations of North America (including our own UJA-Federation of New York). JDC is currently supporting Heart to Heart International to support search-and-rescue efforts; food, water and clothing; temporary shelters; medical aid, equipment, and psycho-trauma services to victims of the earthquake. JDC is also working with the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces and has purchased critical medical equipment for its field hospital, including infant incubators for its neonatal unit and orthopedic devices. Further partnerships are being explored for the next phase of JDC's support for Haiti's victims. Click here to donate through UJA-Federation. Find out more about their efforts.
- American Jewish Committee.
- American Jewish World Service
- American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross. To help immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Read Terry Bischoff's moving description of ARC's activities here.
- B'nai B'rith International.
- K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations)
- Magen David Adom
- Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
- Mazon
- National Council of Young Israel.
- Orthodox Union.
- Samuel Dalembert Foundation
- UJA-Federation of New York
- Union for Reform Judaism
- UNICEF.
- United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
- Workmen's Circle.
- World ORT.
- ZAKA
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Deadline for OHS nonprofit security survey Friday, Jan. 15
We received the following from our good friend, NY OHS Director Tom Donlon:
Thank you once again for your continued assistance in notifying your membership of the New York State Office of Homeland Security’s (OHS) non-profit homeland security preparedness study and online survey available on our website, www.security.state.ny.us.
Thank you once again for your continued assistance in notifying your membership of the New York State Office of Homeland Security’s (OHS) non-profit homeland security preparedness study and online survey available on our website, www.security.state.ny.us.
I write one final time to ask you to remind your members that the deadline for submitting a completed survey is this Friday, January 15th. As I stated in my December 28th email, we are making every effort to ensure broad participation in this study through OHS’ online survey and your past efforts in bringing awareness to this study has been very instrumental in receiving many responses from organizations across the state.
If you have questions regarding the non-profit homeland security preparedness study, or if we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact OHS’ Acting General Counsel, Thomas K. McCarren, at (212) 849-4467.
Sincerely,
Thomas G. Donlon
If you haven't already done so please take a few minutes to respond. Thanks.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Enroll in FDNY's CPR to Go
Learning CPR just got a little easier.
The FDNY has partnered with NYC Service and New York Sports Clubs (NYSC) to launch FDNY CPR to Go, a program that offers free CPR classes at gym locations throughout the five boroughs.
Participants in every class learn basic CPR skills from a member of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service. Volunteers for the class follow along using the CPR Anytime Personal Learning Kit, which features an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin. All participants are asked to take home the kit and pledge to show five of their family members and friends how to perform CPR.
Register online at:http://www.nyc.gov/cprtogo
Learn more about the FDNY at: http://www.nyc.gov/fdny
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
JCRC hosts workshop & webinar on homland security grants
On Monday, January 4, 2010 the JCRC held its first workshop and webinar on "Accessing the 2010 Nonprofit Security Grants Program." Steve Tierney from the New York State Office of Homeland Security and David Pollock of the JCRC presented. View the presentation here.
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