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Masorti Communities Are in Need of Your Help Today

Masorti Olami Communities Are in Need of Your Help Today

In the midst of these challenging days, we are grateful for your partnership and support to help our communities and individuals in need. As a result of the Coronavirus and its severe economic impact, individuals and families in our communities are in dire straits, without basic everyday supplies such as soap and food. The communities and the services they provide - the spiritual shelter for these families and individuals - are threatened. They are asking for our help and the response is clear: Our communities in Budapest, Madrid, Uganda, Kenya and other countries need our help today. It is our job to do everything we can to ensure that our neediest communities survive this crisis.

Deuteronomy instructs us to “open up our hands” -  "פתוח תפתח את ידך". Despite our own personal struggles that we might have, we learn to open our hands so that we do not forget we have the ability to give. These communities have turned to us asking to open our hands and offer love and support today. Masorti Olami is therefore setting up an emergency campaign to improve the dire conditions and provide aid in rescuing crucial programs: 

Abayudaya communities in Uganda and Kenya

One hundred years after coming together in Uganda, the Abayudaya community celebrated Passover this year without wine. Imagine a seder without the basic elements. Imagine completing a day without food to eat or soap to clean yourself. Individuals in Uganda and Kenya lack these supplies. For the young adult community - scaffolded by their spiritual shelter - Beit Ha’am Marom Uganda - there is uncertainty whether the center will make it another year. Make today count with a gift to help the Abayudaya communities. 
Nine-year old Kanyago Alliyah from the Nabugoye village shows off her Seder Plate on the eve of the first Seder in Uganda

Kehila de Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon

Iquitos, a city of nearly half a million people, is buried deep in the Amazon rainforest in eastern Peru. Iquitos has the unique distinction of being the largest city in the world to be entirely cut off from the road network-accessible only by air or by river boat. It is also unique in its Jewish history and its Masorti connection. Iquitos is currently battling Covid-19 along with the rest of the world, as well as many other serious diseases. They have a severe deficiency in medicine, supply of oxygen, medical personnel and other medical supplies. Our community in Iquitos has officially closed their doors, as they are the most hit city in the region. To date, there have been over 1,000 deaths in Iquitos, and our community has at least 3 infected individuals. Please consider donating to help improve their dire conditions. 

Dor Hadas and Marom Budapest


For years the Bankito Fesztival Summer music celebration has brought critical income to the Masorti community, Dor Hadas  and Marom Center  in Budapest, a community made up of almost entirely young adults. This year’s festival is shut down together with Aurora , the community’s center for all activities, which has operated a successful bar/café for locals, bringing  income to the community. Despite these two primary sources of income being closed, the community held an online Passover seder with more than 50 participants, and they try to maintain weekly Kabbalat Shabbat services reaching hundreds of people. These programs are threatened by the current pandemic and require our financial help to continue. Make today count with a gift to help to support our community in Budapest. 

The eve of the first Seder in Budapest


Congregation Bet-El in Madrid

“Ha lachma anya” - This year the bread of affliction or “the poor man’s bread” was felt more than ever in the community in Madrid. Previous funds helped them procure matzoh and other Passover necessities. Today, the community needs help financing Sunday School, B'nei Mitzvah preparation, and Zionist activities each of which ensures the continuity of active intergenerational Judaism in Spain. With individuals and families in Madrid under continual quarantine and isolation, their need is dire. (The number of Covid-19 related deaths in Madrid have been among the highest in the world.) Imagine constant affliction - living without food and basic supplies for the year. Make today count with a gift to help to support our community in Madrid. 

For each of these communities, many of their primary sources of income are being threatened by this global health and economic crisis. The financial help that we can give today is crucial. The need is dire, it is real, and it is now. That is why Masorti Olami is launching a campaign to help give these communities the immediate boost they need today.

Amidst the days of counting the omer from Pesach to Shavuot, we witness the transition from one period of time to another. From the sorrow and remembrance between Yom HaShoah to Yom HaZikaron to the celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut, we realize that the transitions are not easy, yet we should not take time and our communities for granted. We hope that you will open up your hand and help our Masorti communities continue their journey with funds they need to survive. While we count the days, we must strive to make every day count. 

Please consider a gift of any level via our GoFundMe page, or visit the Masorti Olami website  to support our work in these communities. 

We have set up a GoFundMe page for this emergency campaign, or you may send a check to World Council of Conservative Synagogues/Masorti Olami, 3080 Broadway, NY, NY 10027

May we see one another and our communities go m’chayil l’chayil - from strength to strength.



Havdallah after Passover in Al Kalua Kasuku Community, Kenya

Yom HaShoah commemoration in the home of Lena & Rabbi Reuven Stamov in Kiev, Ukraine

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  • illene rubin
    • $36 
    • 4 yrs
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Organizer

Tehila Reuben
Organizer
New York, NY
World Council Of Synagogues, Inc.
 
Registered nonprofit
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