May 21, 2007 / 4 Sivan 5767

The Jewish Agency, through its Fund for Victims of Terror, transferred $25,000 to the Sderot municipality for immediate assistance to the people who have been injured in the escalated Kassam rocket attacks that are tearing the city apart.

The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror was first established in 2002 with the generous support of the United Jewish Communities and Federations across North America, Keren Hayesod, foundations and individual donors worldwide in response to the need to assist the growing number of victims whose lives were devastated by terror attacks during the second Intifada. The original Fund assisted some 3,200 families– or 18,000 individuals, with total support reaching $20.5 million.

Sadly, with the outbreak of the Second Lebanon War in the summer of 2006, the Jewish Agency and its partners reopened the Fund for Victims of Terror. Over 150 individuals, civilians and soldiers lost their lives and thousands more were injured during the War. Each incident leaves behind victims and family members who have trouble coping both physically and emotionally with their loss. The suffering of terror victims does not end when details of each victim’s terror attack is no longer in the news. Physical, emotional, economic and psychological rehabilitation is a long and tedious process. Close to sixteen million dollars was raised for the Fund, with the majority funding from the UJC's incredible Israel Emergency Campaign.

Presided by a judge, the Fund operates as it did in the past, with advisory and professional committees that meet periodically to review cases. The Fund for Victims of Terror operates under the supervision of Jewish Agency committees, chaired by Judge Kama, and made up of representatives from Government Ministries, UJC, Federations and Keren Hayesod. The principle document was drafted and approved by representatives of the Jewish Agency and donors.

The reestablishment of the Fund plays a vital role in meeting the needs of families and individuals injured by war and other acts of violence against Israel not fully met due to various limitations or where other types of funding fall short.

It is unfortunate that there is still a need for this Fund; that Israeli citizens are still under the threat of terrorist attack on all fronts. The Jewish Agency will continue to distribute these much appreciated funds to Israel's victims of terror.