Recently Erez Shani, from Amigour visited North Alabama during his travel to the United States from Israel. He was being hosted by Laura King and the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Federation of Huntsville and North Alabama (JFHNA). Laura met with the local Jewish community and also some pastors in Huntsville and provided the following summary for individuals or congregations from the Jewish and Christian communities who may have interest in this unique opportunity to help in this compassion and humanitarian work regarding providing housing for the elderly and needy in Israel.
Amigour
What is Amigour (Where my people live)
Amigour provides housing solutions for thousands of residents, primarily new immigrants and initiates, develops and constructs housing projects for senior citizens. Since its establishment, as a representative of the Jewish agency, the company has provided more then 60,000 housing solutions for new immigrants and the needy with rents adjusted by their ability to pay. Since the 1990's, as a result of the wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union, the percentage of immigrants from the FSU in public housing has reached 60-70% of all new residents. Many of the residents survived the Holocaust and now are being faced with a new threat to their continued existence.
Where is AMIGOUR?
AMIGOUR housing projects run the length and breadth of the state of Israel, from Kiryat Shmona in the North to Jerusalem and as far south as Mizpe Ramon in the Negev.
Current Critical Needs
During the last war with the Hezbollah in the North, it was noted by AMIGOUR and others that the elderly residents of its building in Haifa were not going to the shelters in the basement. During an attack they cannot use the elevators and in many cases they cannot make it to the shelters in time. AMIGOUR is in critical need of funds to complete building a bomb shelter on each floor in Kiryat Yam (directly outside of Haifa and one of the most heavily hit areas during the previous war) and to complete one more bomb shelter on their building in Ashkelon, which is also well within range of Hamas missiles and was hit during the recent operations in Gaza. Unfortunately Israel’s neighbors threaten more attacks and we need to finish this work to save lives before they do.
How can you help?
To donate in the United States and Canada contact Laura King, National Network Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America/The Network. You can contact her by phone 256-658-5779 or email lking@knology.net or by sending a check made out to Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) marked for Amigour and mail to 1589 Old Railroad Bed Road, Harvest, Alabama 35749. All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a letter acknowledging your donation and updates on the progress of Amigour. For more information on Amigour go to www.amigour.co.il
