A. The Blue Card ($4,500)
B. The Jewish Foundation For The Righteous ($1,000)
XVIII. Projects Concerning victims of Domestic
Violence
A. A Safe Room ($1,000)
The
idea is really quite simple — what do you do when you have a shortage of rooms
available for women who are victims of domestic violence and, at the same time,
a supply of empty rooms in local hotels? Naomi Berman-Potash, the founder of
Project Debby, put it all together and created this award-winning program now
found in several major cities. This is such a simple program, one can only
wonder why it isn’t being done everywhere. Our donation this year was used to
help produce brochures, as well as for the development of their new website. We
suggest that you visit the new site. It has a great deal of information that
relates to domestic violence.
[Naomi
Berman-Potash, Project Debby, Inc., 11456 N. Solar Avenue, Mequon, WI 53097, 262-512-3399, fax: 512-3398, http://www.projectdebby.com/,
nberman822@aol.com.]
B. Linda Feldman Rape Crisis Center In Jerusalem ($500)
Since
1981, the Rape Crisis Center has provided truly life-saving services to
survivors of rape and sexual violence in Jerusalem. The Center offers many (and
ever-expanding) services: a fine education program, pro bono legal advice to
callers on their 24-hour crisis hot-line, support groups for survivors of rape
and incest, groups of former victims now being empowered to change policies,
intermediaries between the victims and the police, and a Police Accompaniment
Project, which provides volunteers who accompany victims to police and court
appointments, and even food packages for Passover. We were also impressed by
one of the Center’s other programs, SAWA, which provides outreach, aid and
education to the Arab-speaking community in Jerusalem. Our donation was used to
produce posters, other publicity items, and whatever else this excellent
Mitzvah organization deemed appropriate.
[Linda
Feldman Rape Crisis Center, Michal Sela-Armoza, PO Box 2549, Jerusalem, Israel,
02-623-2451, fax: 624-1942, mailto:jrcc@netvision.net.il. Tax-deductible donations through Ziv.]
We
also note the following website that contains pertinent information about Jewish
domestic violence in North America: http://users.aol.com/agunah/shelters.htm.
Face to Face: We wish to remind you of
Dr. George Brennan’s Face to Face program, which provides facial plastic and
reconstructive surgeons who donate their services to restore the faces of women
who have been tragically scarred by domestic violence. We can think of no
greater gift to a woman who has suffered not only the trauma of such an attack,
but must also be reminded of it each time she glances in a mirror or goes out in
public. Many women have been helped by this program: Since their founding in
1993, they have beautified the faces of more than 1,500 women, and now have 300
surgeons working with them. Wow!
[Face
To Face Domestic Violence Program, Ann Holton, 310 S. Henry St., Alexandria, VA
22314, 703-299-9291 X 229, mailto:aholton@aafprs.org, http://www.facemd.org/,
click on “Humanitarian Programs.”]
A Simple Life-Saving Project: The proliferation of
cellphones in this country is extraordinary. Who doesn’t have one? What is
important about these phones, though, is what happens to them when the
subscriber changes plans or upgrades. Once they have been reprogrammed to dial
911, there are several options available:
v
Offer
your phone to a local domestic violence agency. If you do not know how to
locate one in your area, be in touch with your local police department.
v
We
were surprised to learn that local crossing guards do not usually have a phone
available to them in the event of an emergency at their post. Many communities
are now supplying these phones — check with your local police department.
v
Elders
living alone can use these phones in an emergency. The phones are very portable
and can be slipped into their pocket, readily available no matter where they
are.
XIX. Animals and Mitzvahs
A. Mitzvah Dogs I: For Blind Israelis ($1,500)
The
Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind (IGDCB) is one of our favorite places to
visit when we arrive in Israel. The lush foliage, green lawns and kennel after
kennel filled with the cutest puppies-about-to-be-guide-dogs are only enhanced
by the hospitality offered by the Center’s director, Noach Braun, and his
devoted staff. Though only about 12 years old, the IGDCB has filled a
tremendous need for trained guide dogs in that country. Prior to its inception,
Israelis needing a guide dog had to speak English and travel to either England
or the United States. When Norm Leventhal, the Center’s devoted fundraiser, met
Noach, The Visionary, an immediate connection was made and the result is a
program that today has successfully trained over 190 guide dogs and given
independence to that many blind Israelis who would not otherwise achieve this
self-sufficiency. It is a beautiful place to visit – we guarantee that your
heart will be moved!
[Israel
Guide Dog Center for the Blind, Bet Oved, 76800, Israel, Attn: Noach Braun,
phone: 08-940-8213 or 940-8202, cellphone: 050-404-070, fax: 08-940-8220, mailto:igdcb@netvision.net.il,
http://www.israelguidedog.org/.
In the U.S., contact Norman Leventhal, 701 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA 18976, 215-343-0373, fax: 343-0211, igdcb@nni.com.]
B. CHAI-Concern For Helping Animals in Israel ($750)
It
is clear that there is no other organization in Israel that has accomplished as
much in the area of humane education and animal welfare than Nina Natelson’s Concern
for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI). One look at CHAI’s newsletter and you
will be amazed by the breadth of their work there. They are responsible for the
purchase and delivery of a mobile spay and neuter clinic, have organized humane
education classes throughout the country, remain in the forefront of horse and
donkey rescue and will be providing animal shelter management training to
municipal veterinarians throughout the country. None of this has been
accomplished without a tremendous amount of persistence and cost — but Nina is
not one to give up easily. We are very impressed with her efforts.
[CHAI,
Nina Natelson, Director, PO Box 3341, Alexandria, VA 22302, 703-658-9650, fax:
941-6132, mailto:chai_us@cox.net,
www.chai-online.org.]
The Best Resource on
Human-Animal Interactions — Delta Society: We continue to enjoy our copy of the Delta
Society magazine. It is filled with the most fascinating stories of the benefits
of animal-human interaction. We have followed the research in this field for
many years and know that the lives of so many people have been changed because
of interaction with animals. Delta Society is the foremost authority on this
topic and we suggest you contact Delta to learn more about how animals can help
improve lives.
Linda
Hines, Founding Executive Director, recently retired. How does one count the
number of lives that have been so deeply changed by the years of her fabulous
Mitzvah work? A mighty Yasher Koach to her!
[Delta
Society, 580 Naches Ave SW #101, Renton, WA 98055, Attn: Michelle Cobey,
toll-free phone: 800-869-6898, voice phone: 425-226-7357, fax: 235-1076, mailto:info@deltasociety.org,
www.deltasociety.org.]
C. More Mitzvah Dogs ($400)
We
continue to support Huntington Hospital’s fine program that brings trained,
loving dogs to the bedsides of patients confined to a hospital room. It is no
longer a secret that the very act of petting a dog or snuggling with a wet
canine nose can do wonders for one’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Our
Tzedakah money allows Huntington Hospital’s volunteers to take a picture of the
visit and leave it with the patients, ensuring them an even longer-lasting
benefit of the encounter.
[Huntington
Hospital, PAT Program, 100 W. California Blvd., POB 7013, Pasadena, CA 91109, Attn: Cindy Neimitz,
626-397-3495, fax: 836-6919, cinraybar@aol.com.]
Still
More Mitzvah Dogs: Service dogs for people who use wheelchairs, who are deaf,
or who have other disabilities are becoming as common a sight as guide dogs for
blind people. Bonnie Bergin, pioneer in this area of Tikkun Olam, founded
Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) almost 30 years ago. Though she
retired a few years ago, CCI is among the best, training and providing these
marvelous Mitzvah dogs at no cost to the recipient. There are five centers
around the United States. Contact CCI to (a) invite a speaker to visit your
group, explain the wonders of these dogs, and to do a demonstration, and (b) to
inquire about becoming a puppy raiser.
[CCI,
POB 446, Santa Rosa, CA 95402,
Attn: Bob Henning, 707-577-1789, toll-free phone: 800-572-BARK (V/TDD), fax:
707-577-1711, mailto:info@caninecompanions.org, www.caninecompanions.org.]
D. Soaring Like a Falcon ($300)
Sigrid
Ueblacker works quietly in the foothills of Colorado’s mountains. Her devotion
to the rescue and rehabilitation of our country’s raptors is unparalleled. Over
the years we have provided care for many injured birds and this past year our
gift was used to rehabilitate one of these gorgeous raptors.
[The
Birds of Prey Foundation, 2290 S. 104th St., Broomfield, CO 80020, Attn: Sigrid
Ueblacker, 303-460-0674, mailto:raptor@birds-of-prey.org, www.birds-of-prey.org.]
