By
Published
May 12, 2015
Two weeks ago, a massive earthquake hit Nepal, claiming more than 7,000 lives and devastating the local community and surrounding regions. Just this morning a second earthquake struck, claiming even more lives and challenging ongoing relief efforts.
In the wake of the humanitarian crisis caused by these natural disasters, many Jewish and Israeli organizations have mobilized to provide support for the local community.
Our partners at Tevel Btzedek—an Israeli nonprofit that runs community-building programs in Nepal—are at the forefront of this critical effort. Having worked in Nepal for the last 8 years, Tevel already has 47 Israeli staff and volunteers and more than 50 Nepali staff and fellows currently on the ground in Katmandu and the surrounding villages. They are redirecting their attention from year-round community development to immediate disaster relief. Tevel launched an Indiegogo campaign that includes live updates from the ground.
“Our work was already a matter of life and death for the villages,” Rabbi Micha Odenheimer, Tevel’s Founding Director, recently told the Times of Israel. “Now that’s true for the rest of the country as well.”
Read a profile of Tevel BTzedek’s work in the Times of Israel.
As the situation continues to unfold, many people are asking how they can contribute to the ongoing relief efforts.
Our partners at OLAM have been updating a list of organizations supporting disaster relief efforts in the area. OLAM is a collaborative venture and shared platform to promote global Jewish service—volunteering and service learning, international development, and social justice advocacy—in order to support communities in need around the world.
Here is the most current list of organizations running emergency relief funds and seeking volunteers. We will continue to update it.
-
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) - http://www.jdc.org/ JDC has set up an emergency campaign to provide urgent assistance, in particular medical relief and supplies in the hardest-hit areas. Click here to donate.
-
American Jewish World Service (AJWS) - http://ajws.org/ With its long-standing commitment to disaster relief in the developing world, AJWS has set up an Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund. Click here to donate.
-
CADENA - http://www.cadena.org.mx/ As the humanitarian aid organization of the Jewish community in Mexico, CADENA has set up an emergency campaign. Click this form (in Spanish) to donate.
-
IsraAID – http://www.israaid.co.il/ IsraAID has a disaster team on the ground in Nepal. Click here to support their work.
-
Tevel – http://www.tevelbtzedek.org/ Click here to support their Indiegogo campaign.
-
World Jewish Relief (WJR) – https://www.wjr.org.uk/ As the British Jewish community's response to international disasters, WJR has launched an emergency appeal. Click here to donate.
