Charities to help Israel and help Israelis

[cerulean]

What organizations and charities would you recommend providing financial support in order to both help Israel thrive as a nation and help individual Israelis suffering personally from terrorism attacks, from a poor economy, or generally?

I can get a list of charities from various sites, but I'd like to hear personal recommendations.

[Teacake]

Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA - Red Star of David) warned Monday that its rescue services are in danger of financial collapse, and that the organization is seeking NIS 64 million to stay afloat.

MDA operates the largest fleet of ambulances in the country, and is an essential part of Israel's emergency rescue services.

The recent cuts in government spending due to the economic crisis brought on by the Palestinian terrorist war have severely crippled Magen David Adom.

[L@mplighterM]

I donate to a local synagogue that has a fund for the victims of terrorism a friend takes it there for me. I’m proud to say that I’ve been instrumental in diverting funds away from a couple of organizations that in part help Muslims and I will continue to do so.

Why donate $$$$ to individuals that might kill you?

[cerulean]

Originally posted by Teacake
Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA - Red Star of David) warned Monday that its rescue services are in danger of financial collapse, and that the organization is seeking NIS 64 million to stay afloat.
[snip]

Excellent suggestion, Teacake, particularly given that the international Red Cross refuses to include MDA in its organization for no good reason.

[Miriam]

I prefer small organisations, preferably such whose activities can be vouched for by a third party.

Anyone know more about these:

http://www.natal.org.il/eng/home.html

http://www.kerenmalki.org

?

[Communication]

posted somewhere else on the forum: The Israel Free Loan Association- gives emergency free loans to people in Israel with a 95% repayment rate:


http://www.freeloan.org.il/

[Mediocrates]

Hadassah?

[Anat]

The cats in Israel need all the help they can get with the coming war. We have set out a special page about it here:

www.IsraelCatRescue.com

Please visit, read and open your hearts. More importantly, please forward this page to any lovers of both cats and Israel that you know - Thank you!

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Mediocrates
Hadassah? You mean the hospital?

[Mediocrates]

The hospital, the international organization. It's all good. The hospital performs a large number of organ transplants in Israel. It puts all patients of every group together regardless and about 1/5th of the staff including senior transplant surgical staff are Palestinians.

[Valerie]

I am looking into IFCJ program called Wings of Eagles, they also have two other programs that give food and necessities to the poor - jews in Russia as well as those below the poverty level in Israel.

[Communication]

We wanted to share with all of you the statements made by Ilan Ramon, who is presently encircling the earth aboard the Columbia space shuttle. In a televised conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Ramon, who is the first Israeli astronaut, said, "I call upon every Jew in the world to plant a tree in the land of Israel during the coming year. I would like to see at least 13 or 14 million new trees planted in Israel exactly one year from now, on the anniversary of the launching."
Upon hearing Mr. Ramon's statement, Jewish National Fund Chief Executive Officer Russell Robinson said, "It is so meaningful that the first Israeli astronaut calls out from space, to Jewish people everywhere on earth, to have a direct connection to the land of Israel by literally planting roots in its soil."
In Israel, Jewish National Fund officials immediately took up the challenge last week by planting the first 13 trees in the Ben Shemen Forest in honor of Ilan Ramon and the Columbia team. As JNF World Chairman Yehiel Leket said, "On the Colombia's next orbit around the earth, Mr. Ramon will already be able to see the first 13 trees that JNF planted as a response to his request."
Mr. Leket had already planted a tree in Mr. Ramon's honor in the new Bible Forest on Tu B'Shevat, where he noted that the Israeli astronaut's first name, Ilan, literally means "tree."
In response to Mr. Ramon's request, JNF promised to send the message to Jews around the globe.
To plant your tree in Israel in honor of Ilan Ramon, call 800-542-TREE (8733) or visit www.jnf.org. To learn more about traveling to Israel, call JNF Travel & Tours at (877) JNF-TOUR (563-8687) or email travel@jnf.org.

[Anat]

I wonder what kind of trees they will plant. They tend to plant pines and other trees that are not natural to Israel. They are cheaper and easier to grow but they make lousy habitats for local flora and fauna. I wish they'd plant one of the local varieties of oak trees instead.

[Mediocrates]

http://info.jpost.com/1999/Supplements/Charity/

[Mediocrates]

http://www.libi-fund.org.il/index.htm

http://www.hachvana.mod.gov.il/

[Anat]

Personally, I never donate money to libi or other military oriented funds. I feel that enough of my tax money goes there anyway.

And before anyone flames me - my husband is a major in the IDF and I'm a former captain in the IDF. I just feel there are causes in Israel that are not funded by the government that really need our money. Personally, we donate money to animal welfare organizations as we feel those are not being properly funded (if at all).

www.IsraelCatRescue.com

I can personally vouch that the Cat Welfare Society of Israel is a no-kill organization that is totally corruption free and all the money that goes there goes directly to helping the cats in need.

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Anat

I wonder what kind of trees they will plant. They tend to plant pines and other trees that are not natural to Israel. They are cheaper and easier to grow but they make lousy habitats for local flora and fauna. I wish they'd plant one of the local varieties of oak trees insteadIs there anything online on the subject, preferably not in Hebrew? Been discussing it with someone recently ;)

[Anat]

Actually it's a passion of sorts of my husband - he has personally planted more than 1000 oak trees this year! I will ask him if he knows of any online resources on the subject as he has researched the issue.

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Anat
Actually it's a passion of sorts of my husband - he has personally planted more than 1000 oak trees this year! I will ask him if he knows of any online resources on the subject as he has researched the issue. Thanks :)

[Communication]

Originally posted by Anat
I wonder what kind of trees they will plant. They tend to plant pines and other trees that are not natural to Israel. They are cheaper and easier to grow but they make lousy habitats for local flora and fauna. I wish they'd plant one of the local varieties of oak trees instead.

That's interesting. There should be some pressure to plant indigenous trees. I will write to them about it.

How strong are your environmental groups, Anat?

[Anat]

Hello,
My name is Issac. I am Anat's husband.
I had a quick look at KKL (Keren Kayemet Le'Israel) site.
KKL is the body that is responsible, among other things, for planting trees in Israel.

In that site http://www.kkl.org.il/englishMain.asp I didn't find any information about the kind of trees that are being planted by KKL.
I have an interest on this subject so I can tell you that KKL is not a green organization and the forests that were planted in the past were pines - while the natural trees here are oaks. Pines were planted for several reasons: Pines are planted from sidlings and so they take up more work to plant (oaks can just be sowed) - KKL wanted to have more work and employ more people. Also, pine sidlings are cheaper than those of other trees. And as pines prevent any other vegetation growing among them, the local Arab sheperds would keep away from the land.

Possibly, today there is some changes - I'm not sure though. Please do write them and let us know what they say.

I have personally collected and sown 1200 local oak acorns in a few hours. I predict that approx. 200 trees will actually grow out of them. In my view, this is much more effective than planting sidlings. I invite any of you who visit Israel to come and sow oak acorns with me :D the months for this are October to December. Next year I plan to sow at least 10,000 (in 3 days). See you then :D

[Valerie]

Isaac,

I absolutely love that. It sounds like something I would do.

:)

[Communication]

Hi Issac,

It's very good of you to provide this information and I thank you for all the hard work that you and your wife are doing in Israel. I wish you continued success. I am going to Israel in June. If my trip was in October, I would absolutely call you both because I would love to meet environmentally minded people in Israel and help you out with you work. I wish you much continued success!!!

Here is my letter that I sent to: info@kkl.org.il

Shalom,

I received an e-mail inviting me to plant trees in Israel through your organization in honor of Ilan Ramon's historic mission into outer space.

As a member of an environmentally responsible Jewish organization in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am interested in what types of trees I will be buying. It is my understanding that oak trees and not pine trees are indigenous to Israel. I am only interested in planting those trees that will help develop the natural habitat for local vegetation.

Thank you and best wishes,

XXXXX


I'll let you know what I hear back. Hopefully others on this forum will send letters as well.

They have an Environmental Quality link on their site but it does not contain any information about the types of trees they use.

[Anat]

Cool! Thanks! We'd be very happy to hear what they have to say about that.

And you are very welcome to contact us in June as well! We love meeting new people and we'll be happy to meet any of you here!

Just to clarify - it's me Anat again :D Hubby went to play computer games at a friend's house.

[Miriam]

Hi, Isaac,

Originally posted by Anat

I have an interest on this subject so I can tell you that KKL is not a green organization and the forests that were planted in the past were pines - while the natural trees here are oaks. Pines were planted for several reasons: Pines are planted from sidlings and so they take up more work to plant (oaks can just be sowed) - KKL wanted to have more work and employ more people. Also, pine sidlings are cheaper than those of other trees. And as pines prevent any other vegetation growing among them, the local Arab sheperds would keep away from the land. I have dealt with the same matter in Central Europe for some time. We love pines as well, they grow so fast, the downside is - among other things - that they do not prevent soil erosion the way mixed forests do. It's a different climate, of course, Israel is much drier, I guess the soil structure isn't likely to be the same either. Do pines - as opposed to oaks (are they indigenous to Israel? I'm too lazy to check) - cause any environmental problems in Israel as well?

[Am Yisrael]

Originally posted by Miriam
Hi, Isaac,

I have dealt with the same matter in Central Europe for some time. We love pines as well, they grow so fast, the downside is - among other things - that they do not prevent soil erosion the way mixed forests do. It's a different climate, of course, Israel is much drier, I guess the soil structure isn't likely to be the same either. Do pines - as opposed to oaks (are they indigenous to Israel? I'm too lazy to check) - cause any environmental problems in Israel as well?

Environmental problems as in effecting native wildlife?

It depends where they are planted. Israel is full of vibrant wildlife, but so far planting of trees has had a serious effect on the environment. I understand the need for trees in Israel, but shouldnt there be more focus on developing crops in Israel? "Agriculural Engineering" is also very important for native Israelis. The GDP would increase, jobs will be available (which is highly important at the current time), and overal it would benifit the environment. Does anyone know any charities that suport agriculture.

[Am Yisrael]

I made a mistake:
It depends where they are planted. Israel is full of vibrant wildlife, but so far planting of trees hasNT had a serious effect on the environment