Operation 'Fundraising'
NIS 900 million (roughly USD 200 million) donated to north's residents in recent month. American Jewry behind USD 150 million contribution
While during the first days of the fighting along Israel's border it seemed as though things were under control, as time passed it became apparent that the Home Front was perhaps strong, but not entirely prepared. Welfare and aid organizations were the first to try and mitigate the quickly growing void of chaos.
Their operations cost money. A lot of money. A Ynet survey of the organizations that rushed to assist Israel's north revealed that, in the past month, efforts to help soldiers and civilians cost some NIS 900 million. We repeat: NIS 900,000,000, the equivalent of approximately USD 200 million or 161 million euros.
The most significant contributor of aid was the UJC (United Jewish Communities), based in the US, which donated, as of now, some USD 150 million. Members declare that they intend to increase that sum to USD 1 billion.
In addition to the astronomical sums donated by diaspora Jews, local millionaires (such as Arkadi Guidemak and the often-censured Sheri Arrison), Israel businesses and businessmen, private donors and thousands of Israeli hi-tech companies opened their hearts and their wallets.
None of those surveyed would commit to an exact sum extended by Israel's industrial and business sector, but it is estimated that to be some NIS 10 to 15 million. The precise sum is difficult to calculate due to the large number of donations, ranging from thousands of shekels used to purchase socks and undergarments for IDF soldiers to hundreds of thousands used to purchase food for hungry residents of the north.
The table below provides an illustration of the range and contributions of these various donors and demonstrates the different initiatives undertaken to assuage the drastic situation in the rocket-barraged north this past month.
*Note: the information was supplied solely by the organizations
