Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor recently announced that it has raised $36,000 to aid Jewish organizations in their humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The money will be distributed evenly among three relief agencies, the Joint Distribution Committee, the World Union for Progressive Judaism, and the World Jewish Congress. Each agency is helping the Jewish community in Ukraine, but also those who are now refugees in other countries.
"I know our temple to be a small and tight-knit community concerned not only about its members but the local community as well," Ron Klausner, the temple's co-president, said. "The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine disturbed so many of us that we put out a call for donations hoping to collect $18,000 in two weeks to give to a few organizations providing aid. The number 18 represents Chai, or life, very significant in the Jewish religion."
"The crisis in Ukraine, though definitely not local, nevertheless struck a nerve in our congregation. Maybe it's because of the horrors we see on television and online, the parallels between Putin and Hitler, or the fact that so many of us have ancestors who emigrated to America from Ukraine during the pogroms of the early 20th century. This is an emotional issue for us," Mr. Klausner said.
"So many of us feel so powerless in this war. Yet Judaism teaches us if we save one life, we save the world. Hopefully, our efforts raising funds for innocent victims of the aggression can save at least one life."
Temple Adas Israel hopes its assistance can help ease the suffering of those who remain and remind Jews in Ukraine that they are not alone.
