Update on rescue of Yemenite Jews

A new Jewish immigrant from Yemen now resettled in Monsey. NY stared in disbelief at the mezuzah affixed to her doorpost. Asked if there was a problem, the woman expressed shock that she could openly display this Jewish symbol. Likewise, the newly arrived men now freely wear their payot (sidecurls) and yarmulkes and pray without hiding their siddurs. For the first time this year, they built a sukkah. All of these Jewish acts were forbidden in Yemen.

Over the past year, UJC/Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) conducted a major humanitarian effort to help rescue Jews living in fear in Yemen--relocating and resettling them in Israel and the U.S. Since July, 62 Yemenite Jews have come to the U.S., and more are expected to follow.

New families are being provided with food, housing, medical care, childcare, mental health services, cultural adjustment counseling, language and employment training. Children are being enrolled in schools affiliated with the Orthodox and Chasidic movements.

To date, 65 Federations and HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community, have pledged more than $700,000 to support this humanitarian effort. Our Federation launched a special Yemenite Relief Appeal in May and raised nearly $3,500. One hundred percent of these contributions were directed to UJC/Jewish Federations of North America. This support was over and above the yearly allocation from our Federation’s Annual Campaign to our overseas partners for rescue and relief efforts worldwide.

You can help ensure that this effort and hundreds of other life-sustaining programs continue for Jews locally and worldwide by making a contribution to the 2010 Jewish Federation Annual Campaign.

Donate online at www.jewishsouthjersey.org or call 751-9500, ext.214. .

This story was provided in part by the Jewish Federations of North America’s Leadership Briefing.