|
|
|
Post Gaza Appeal February, 2009
|
Between January and February 9th, my wife, Tammi, and I were fortunate to be working in Israel with Miki Solomon and Shiran Nagauker for the relief organization Light and Mercy. In that time in some form or another we traveled the width and breadth of Israel watching Miki and Shiran do incredible acts of mercy and kindness on behalf of Israelis touched by the recent Gaza War.
Allow me to introduce some background into how my wife and I know Miki. A friend of ours who made aliyah over a decade ago returns yearly to America to visit her son and while with us, she spoke highly of Light and Mercy and asked if we would host Miki and a guest of his, General Levy. While at our home we helped secure speaking and fundraising engagements for Light and Mercy throughout our city. Since then we have stayed in touch and as the war began we felt obligated to visit Israel to help Light and Mercy with this extraordinary humanitarian work. This is not the first time my wife and I have been to Israel and Light and Mercy is not the first organization with which we have done such work. To compare the two would be of no use as one is an apple while the other an orange and both do good work at different levels. Miki, Shiran and Light and Mercy do what they do at a level close to the ground and pick up and redeem lives that have fallen through unnoticed by the Israeli government or other relief organizations.
Some examples of Light and Mercy's reach into lives and how they do this work will be mentioned here in my message. Miki Solomon has created an organization that requires minimal overhead to operate. This should be heartening to any person who donates precious resources to know that overwhelmingly what they give goes to those who are in need. To be frank, often at cost and treasure to Miki, such is his dedication, (I promise you this too, and he is embarrassed for anyone to mention that)
While we were there we witnessed Miki giving materials and lifting spirits of soldiers and civilians - all casualties in this war. Clothing, toiletries, and miscellaneous 'knick-knack' items along with Miki's infectious enthusiasm goes a long way in lifting the spirits of people recovering in a hospital bed. And, on the other hand Miki will see a need and utilize one of many options he has. Miki is incredibly connected and has made an art of networking - networking within the halls of government and the markets of business. If the victim is confused or flustered by the administrative requirements of seeking aid, Miki intervenes with phone calls to the wide range of people he knows all over Israel to cut through the superfluous red tape and address the practical matter of immediate needs. The effectiveness of this should not be underestimated. Still the need for monetary support is made aware with these actions. Cell phones, a precious item, and an item needed by Israelis as a sort of personal early warning systems are not a "nice to have item" in Israel - they are a necessity. Those reading this if they so choose should address this matter as in monetary support or cell phone support.
While at the hospital in Ashkelon, Miki was visiting an Ethiopian soldier wounded while serving in the Gaza conflict. Ethiopian Jews are being overwhelmingly welcomed to Israel but like any recent arriving demographic, it does take awhile to assimilate and adjust to the greater Israeli society. Ethiopians, along with other groups such as those Jews recently arrived from Russia with no connection to their heritage or customs face these same challenges. Anyway, while visiting the soldier Miki inquired into the soldier's family and discovered the mother to be widowed, with little support and numerous mouths to feed. Without hesitation Miki immediately intervened, enlisted our help and whatever other help he could recruit and took the family grocery shopping so as to address this need - typically, a residual casualty from the war in Gaza. Those reading this should know that, collectively speaking, a little from many would go a long way in keeping people from unnecessarily going hungry. Your donation, no matter how small, does much to feed the hungry.
So, is a notice or letter like this meant to create a giving heart so as to secure donations? Yes, it is, and as I stated earlier, with extreme minimal overhead costs at Light and Mercy those who donate should know their money and their material support is reaching directly into those whose lives are touched by this recent war. Miki and Light and Mercy however are not just solely trying to exist based on the donations of those concerned. As I stated earlier Miki is extremely resourceful and connected and it should be noted Miki is also trying to raise monies for Light and Mercy through separate commercial endeavors. Pray that he is successful in these efforts because Miki does keep overhead costs at Light and Mercy at an extreme minimum and it is expected he will use these profits to aid in helping those touched by war in Israel.
Some projects Miki Solomon and Light and Mercy are undertaking are as follows:
1. Monetary donations so as to purchase vibrating alert devices for the deaf and hearing impaired who live in the areas in the south most vulnerable to missile attacks. Currently there are over 2,000 such people in this area unable to hear the incoming alert sirens as missiles rain down on their cities, towns and villages.
2. Donations of dual red/light head band devices to be utilized by Israeli Defense Force (IDF) medical personnel to address the needs of those wounded in the war.
3. Monetary donations so Miki is able to purchase discounted cell phones for those who lost these items in attacks. Miki currently coordinates with cellular phone companies in Israel so as to see that these families are able to stay in touch.
4. Monetary donations so Miki is able to assist in "lonely soldier" gatherings and events. "Lonely soldier" you ask? A "lonely soldier" in Israel is a soldier, often times not an Israeli who volunteers in the IDF while his or her family live abroad. By comparison most other IDF soldiers live close to home and make it home for fellowship and meals with their families fairly regularly. Not the "lonely soldier", although often invited to the home of a fellow soldier, Israel sponsors events to acknowledge the "lonely soldiers" dilemma and address the need. Miki, a former soldier himself is sensitive to this need and actively takes parts in these efforts.
5. Monetary donations for overhead costs, office, transportation, and such are a reality that if not addressed reduces the efficiency and effectiveness of what Light and Mercy does, and does so well.
6. Light and Mercy has also taken on the task of adopting the children of Netivot, who suffer from the Kassam rockets that are still falling on them, as their mission. There are many people helping in Sderot and they decided to adopt Netivot to give the kids gifts and toys that will help to ease the trauma of their living circumstances.
We ask that all reading this look into their hearts and ask themselves what they can do to contribute, no matter how large, no matter how small it goes a long way in preserving a people and traditions that have been fighting for their existence for thousands of years. Please help.
|
Dale Wohlers for Miki Solomon and Light and Mercy
|
|
