In 2002, the international Jewish community faced a two-pronged crisis: Israel was under attack in a second Palestinian Intifada, and the mostly upper-middle class Jewish community of Argentina faced sudden poverty, hunger and homelessness when Argentina’s economy fell into chaos. The L.A. Jewish community raised over $20 million through the Federation to support our family abroad.

ISRAEL
Following the September 29, 2000, launch of the Palestinians’ second Intifada, Israel faced an average of 21 terrorist attacks every day – over 11,000 in total. In March 2002, alone, 124 Israelis were killed and 690 wounded – making it the bloodiest month since the founding of the Jewish state.

As Israel did its best to cope with terror, basic human needs took a backseat to security. Israel’s economy faced an unprecedented downward spiral, with an unemployment rate of more than 10%. The country stood to lose $1 billion in tourism revenue alone. Over 230,000 people are unemployed as violence immobilizes any possibility of economic or social stability.

In Israel, contributions to the Jews in Crisis campaign supported critical needs, helping save lives and restore order, with programs like:

• Mobile emergency units
• Increased security at schools and on buses
• Grief counseling
• State-of-the-art trauma centers
• Financial assistance to victims of terror and their families

ARGENTINA
Argentina’s economy experienced a devastating collapse, causing its Jewish community, the eighth largest in world, to experience a financial and emotional meltdown. Following the closing of several banks, tens of thousands of Jews are facing poverty, unemployment, helplessness and vulnerability to hate crimes.

In Argentina, contributions to the Jews in Crisis campaign provided directly for critical needs, helping save lives and restore order, with programs like:

• Emergency cash assistance
• Loans to small Jewish businesses
• Supporting pharmacies for the distribution of medicine
• Job training center to retrain people for new jobs
• Family counseling