For Immediate Release…. April 1, 2020, Jerusalem, Israel….The Genesis 123 Foundation has launched an emergency appeal for needy poor families in Jerusalem this week in advance of the upcoming Festival of Passover and calls upon Christians and Jews, and anyone who loves and supports Israel, to join at this season.
In response to an appeal from the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, the Genesis 123 Foundation responded immediately. The Deputy Mayor noted how immediate help was needed due to the impact of the Coronavirus crisis.
“Israel took the correct but unprecedented measure of closing down schools and classes including for at risk and special needs children. This is causing incredible hardship for some 6000 families in Jerusalem who have children in these schools, and whose families normally have the respite of a structured educational framework. Adding to the challenges of taking care of special needs children all day with no outside support, about a third of these families, 2000 households, suffer from severe economic hardship.”
Jonathan Feldstein, President of the Genesis 123 Foundation noted, “We are proud to be part of the coalition providing urgent needs to support these at-risk and special needs families, a third of whom live below the poverty line. We are grateful to our network of Christian and Jewish partners who are stepping up to join us in meeting these immediate needs.”
Funds raised will help relieve these needy families’ financial strain, over and above the stress of taking care of their special needs children on their own, something many parents don’t have the ability to do. Weekly food packages are being provided to the families who have been identified by Jerusalem’s social service agencies as being most in need.
In advance of Passover, the need is even greater in order to provide packages with special kosher for Passover staples free of leavened products. Each food package costs $55 per week. With many Israeli families suffering additional financial hardships due to the Coronavirus crisis creating some 25% unemployment, the needs are projected at least through the end of April.
The Genesis 123 Foundation is a US based 501(C)3 non-profit that builds bridges between Jews and Christians and Christians with Israel in ways that are new, unique, and meaningful. Feldstein appealed for broad support from individuals, and churches and synagogues alike. “We have set a goal to provide at least 2-3 weeks’ worth of these emergency food packages. That’s $110,000 per week. We call upon everyone who cares about the needy in Israel to participate in some way.”
Donations can be made online here. For more information or for any churches, synagogues and other ministries and organizations that want to partner, please contact Jonathan Feldstein at info@runforzion.com or 1-201-203-0983, or +972-53-761-4220.
