UJA Federation of Greater Toronto helps welcome Darfur refugees to Eilat
By Daniel Horowitz--Since 2002, hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have been murdered in Darfur. This summer, hundreds of Darfur refugees – making the sojourn from the battlefields of Western Sudan by foot - have been seeking shelter in Israel. Many of these embattled people find refuge with different aid organizations throughout the country.
Recently, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto played a vital role in helping these new members of Israeli society – particularly the children – feel welcome in the Jewish State.
UJA Federation – which has been supporting the Darfur refugees through its overseas partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel, planned a special program which was funded through its Partnership 2000 (P2K) initiative, which twins Eilat/Eilot with Toronto.
The program saw two organizations – Canada-Israel Experience (CIE), the Israel experience arm of UJA Federation best known for its birthright Israel program, and Canadian Young Judaea - come together to play an important role in this vital humanitarian undertaking in Eilat.
Shai Ben Shmuel, a CIE group coordinator in Israel and Canadian Young Judea’s Josepha Michaelson created a heart warming program for close to 100 refugee children. Over the course of a few days, CYJ participants and their staff, along with CIE participants, created a series of recreational activities for these children aged 3 to 12.
Activities included beading, boondoggle, mask making, teaching songs, playing soccer, Israeli dancing, guitars and a special visit to Eilat’s underwater observatory.
“This program is an incredible testament to the high level of cooperation and education that exists between the Toronto Jewish community and the people of the Eilat/Eilot region,” said Michael Soberman, national director, Canada Israel Experience. “Through a generous subsidy provided to Canadian Young Judaea by UJA Federation’s Partnership 2000 initiative, the Canadian Young Judaea participants were able to truly make a difference in these people's lives. This initiative has taught us all the Jewish value of treating the stranger among us with compassion and love.”
“On a personal note, I’ve never been more proud of a group of campers than I am of this one,” said Michaelson. “They put all the ideas together for the programs and ran them. I was barely able to hold back my tears watching campers holding these little kids and just hugging them. They definitely wanted to have more time with them there and want to know how they can continue being involved.”
Recently, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto played a vital role in helping these new members of Israeli society – particularly the children – feel welcome in the Jewish State.
UJA Federation – which has been supporting the Darfur refugees through its overseas partner, the Jewish Agency for Israel, planned a special program which was funded through its Partnership 2000 (P2K) initiative, which twins Eilat/Eilot with Toronto.
The program saw two organizations – Canada-Israel Experience (CIE), the Israel experience arm of UJA Federation best known for its birthright Israel program, and Canadian Young Judaea - come together to play an important role in this vital humanitarian undertaking in Eilat.
Shai Ben Shmuel, a CIE group coordinator in Israel and Canadian Young Judea’s Josepha Michaelson created a heart warming program for close to 100 refugee children. Over the course of a few days, CYJ participants and their staff, along with CIE participants, created a series of recreational activities for these children aged 3 to 12.
Activities included beading, boondoggle, mask making, teaching songs, playing soccer, Israeli dancing, guitars and a special visit to Eilat’s underwater observatory.
“This program is an incredible testament to the high level of cooperation and education that exists between the Toronto Jewish community and the people of the Eilat/Eilot region,” said Michael Soberman, national director, Canada Israel Experience. “Through a generous subsidy provided to Canadian Young Judaea by UJA Federation’s Partnership 2000 initiative, the Canadian Young Judaea participants were able to truly make a difference in these people's lives. This initiative has taught us all the Jewish value of treating the stranger among us with compassion and love.”
“On a personal note, I’ve never been more proud of a group of campers than I am of this one,” said Michaelson. “They put all the ideas together for the programs and ran them. I was barely able to hold back my tears watching campers holding these little kids and just hugging them. They definitely wanted to have more time with them there and want to know how they can continue being involved.”
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