Over three weeks this spring, the combined effort of Stephen Wise Temple and Schools and New Jersey’s Congregation B’nai Jeshurun raised over a quarter of a million dollars for United Hatzalah of Israel’s efforts to help Ukrainian refugees.
Initially, the goal of the campaign was to raise $100,000 for United Hatzalah’s Operation Orange Wings, which would send a charter plane to Israel to Moldova, full of medical supplies, medics, and equipment for field hospitals. On the return flight, that same plane would transport refugees to safety in Israel. Below, you can find a video of the refugee flight landing, produced by United Hatzalah.
Since that flight—carrying 147 Ukrainian refugees—landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on April 1, there has been a further outpouring of generosity: Rabbi Erica Gerson and her husband Mark Gerson have pledged to match whatever the two congregations raise (which, at last count, was $278,666), bringing the total donation to over $500,000. The effort is ongoing, so you can still contribute here. Every dollar you donate will be matched by the Gersons.
Every dollar raised beyond the initial goal will go toward sending cargo planes full of supplies (including one full of kosher-for-Passover food), as United Hatzalah continues to help the Ukrainian refugee population and Jewish Ukrainian refugees in Moldova. So far, two roundtrip flights have been funded, carrying more than 16 tons of supplies.
About United Hatzalah of Israel: When emergencies occur all across Israel, United Hatzalah is there to respond, free of cost, no matter who is in need, regardless of religion, race, or national origin. Using specially-equipped motorcycle ambulances, United Hatzalah’s network of more than 6,000 volunteer medics help save thousands of lives each year by providing emergency medical treatment with an average response time of three minutes or less.
