JFGP overseas committee taps special projects for funding
By Amy R. Kaufman
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Have you ever envisioned a plan that would help Jews at risk in Israel or another country overseas? If so, your project might be a candidate for Overseas Special Projects, a committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland that evaluates ideas submitted by individuals in the Portland Jewish community and allocates a slice of funds raised in the annual campaign to implement them.
Gayle Romain and Ann Bardacke co-chair the OSP committee, which is supervised by Bob Horenstein, JFGP community relations director.
According to Horenstein, one of OSP’s long-term successes is Neve Michael Children’s Village in Pardes Hanna, Israel. Families and professionals in this warm residential environment care for Israeli children who have been abused or neglected or whose parents are unable to provide adequate care. Neve Michael’s remarkable pet therapy program is funded by the Portland Jewish community.
During Israel’s recent war with Lebanon, Horenstein said, a portion of the $650 million raised nationally in the Israel Emergency Campaign helped refurbish dilapidated bomb shelters.
“With OSP dollars we were able to move children into summer camps far from the front lines where the missiles were falling,” said Horenstein. “There was a tremendous need for counseling after the war, and part of the funds were used for that purpose.”
Such projects establish a personal connection between Portland Jews and the people they help overseas, said Laurie Rogoway, JFGP campaign director.
She said the OSP committee is considering a project idea submitted by Portlander Judy Malka.
Malka said she seeks to help an educational kibbutz founded nine years ago “by graduates of the Hanoar Haoved Scout movement” after they had completed their military service.
She said the 60 volunteer teachers operate a boarding school for disadvantaged high-school students on government-donated property near Carmiel, where they primarily serve recent Ethiopian immigrants.
She said the Eshbal Coexistence Center, which has become “a model throughout the country,” promotes projects for peaceful coexistence with the kibbutz’s Arab neighbors.
“Last year Kibbutz Eshbal reached 4,000 children through all programming,” said Malka.
She said the kibbutz, which functions “in a large concrete hut with meager dormitories and two classrooms,” seeks to build “a sports field for basketball, volleyball and soccer.”
“I have a niece who is a member of the kibbutz,” said Malka. “Then, through bringing another project request to the OSP last year, I learned more about what they’re doing and was so impressed that I wanted to help them grow their infrastructure.”
Malka said she has “a donor in Pittsburgh who would give $55,000 if we can raise $55,000. So I’m asking OSP for a grant to get the fund-raising rolling.”