Local activists raise emergency funds for Israel

In the wake of the war with Hezbollah, Bay Area Jews have given generously to Israel. For some, writing a check wasn't enough.

While Jewish federations have raised millions, grassroots efforts have also sprung up, benefiting Israeli relief projects that haven't made it onto the philanthropic radar.

For those activists, passion for Israel is the common denominator. And though none wish to divert resources from the United Jewish Communities' $300 million campaign, all felt compelled to do something on their own.

Dorit Negrin lives in Walnut Creek. But she grew up in Kiryat Shmona, one of Israel's hardest hit towns.

"It was a hard month," she says. "I barely slept. I was watching TV every second. I wondered how can I collect money for people in the shelters."

Then she heard about Chabad Rabbi Yigal Tzipori's charity kitchen in Kiryat Shmona, out of which he prepared 1,400 meals daily for people in shelters. His determination deeply impressed Negrin.

She contacted Rabbi Menachem Landa of the Chabad Israeli Community of the Bay Area to organize a fundraiser.

"In two days, we created this event in my home. We had 50 people, mostly Israelis and American Jews, with no show or special speakers — just me telling about being a kid in Kiryat Shmona and Rabbi Landa talking about Rabbi Tzipori."

The Aug. 5 event reaped $8,000 in donations, which spurred Negrin to organize a second fundraiser a few weeks later. That one, held at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, drew more than 70 people and took in $13,000.

"You saw the beauty of crossing two different streams, Reform and Chabad together," says Negrin. "No opinions or political differences. It makes me such a proud Jewish Israeli American."

Equally impacted by the war was cyclist and Mountain View resident Bob Corman. After the war started, it was only natural for him to take matters into his own hands -- or, in his case, legs.

"I wanted to do something," he says. "I couldn't pick up a gun, I don't have thousands to give. I wondered, 'What can I do?'"

For the month of August, every mile he pedaled earned money for Congregation Beth Am's fundraising efforts (the synagogue is raising money for Magen David Adom and the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federations's Israel Emergency Campaign, among others). By month's end, his tally topped $460.

"I wanted to do something positive," he says. "Every mile was $1.35 for Israel."

Bob and Lisa Cohen share Corman's love of Israel, but after undergoing IDF boot camp two years ago, their focus has been on the Israeli military. Once war broke out, they knew exactly what, and whom, they wanted to help: the soldiers on the front lines.

"We got to know a lot of the kids," says Bob Cohen. "We could see how compassionate the Israeli army is. If we don't support the IDF there is not going to be an Israel."

The Cohens are trying to launch a Northern California chapter of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and will sponsor a fundraiser Tuesday, Sept. 19 to kick things off. They intend to purchase hygiene kits for Israeli soldiers in the field. "It's basic stuff we take for granted," says Lisa Cohen. "Toothpaste, mouthwash, it's incredible what it does for morale."

Mark Tischler of Sunnyvale has taught Israeli folk dancing in the Bay Area for 17 years. But that's not his only connection to Israel. His aunt lives in Haifa and the son of one of his folk dancing colleagues joined the IDF last year. For Tischler, this war was personal.

He, too, decided to help Rabbi Tzipori's charity kitchen in Kiryat Shmona. Together with several other teachers, Tischler staged an Aug. 31 dance party in Palo Alto, with all proceeds going to the kitchen. Final tally: $3,762.

"I gave to the federation and the Jewish National Fund," he says. "But I felt in this case the appeal would be stronger, especially for Israelis, if they knew the money was going directly there."

For those with greater financial resources, the impulse to help Israel resulted in larger scale aid projects.

Eric Benhamou is an Israeli-born, Palo Alto-based venture capitalist and founder of Israel Venture Network, a network of high-tech entrepreneurs and executives from Israel and the U.S. with the goal of increasing Israel's competitiveness.

As IVN has long invested heavily in Israel's north, the war proved particularly devastating to Benhamou. "Since we had built these relationships with the mayors and city councils, we had an even greater response to help them recover," he says.

IVN's objectives include helping schools. It will pay for psychological counseling as well as physical repairs to structures.

Being Israeli, Benhamou was pained deeply by the war, but the weeks since have had an upside. "When you see the unity of people who support the region and want to contribute to its immediate recovery, in the end, the positive feelings overwhelm the negative," he says.

For Dorit Negrin, the grassroots are now a big part of her life.

"I finally got my flame in me," she says. "I know my mission in life is to make a difference for others, especially for Israel. As an Israeli who lived here just a short time, I see how important it that we have this beautiful community all over the U.S. supporting Israel."