September 30,
2005
Once Again
this Year, OU
Establishes Fundraising Campaign to Provide
Sukkot Joy for Israel Defense Forces
on their Bases
Following the great success of
last year’s program to bring Sukkot joy on Zeman Simchatenu – the Season
of our Rejoicing -- to members of the Israel Defense Forces, the
Orthodox Union has announced another fundraising campaign in its
synagogues and among individuals to provide soldiers with gift packages
of food, candies and other treats at Simchat Beit Hasho’evah
celebrations in sukkahs on IDF bases throughout Israel.
The Simchat Beit Hasho’evah dates back to the first Temple in Jerusalem,
in which there was a joyous water drawing ceremony on Sukkot. Minus the
water drawing, the festivities now take place as a sukkah party.
The program takes on special emphasis this year.
“Now, more than ever, our soldiers need our support and a sense of joy,”
declared Howard Rhine, OU Senior Vice President and Chair of its Israel
Task Force Initiative. “Last year OU synagogues across the country added
to the simcha of Sukkot for thousands of soldiers by sponsoring Simchat
Beit HaSho’eva celebrations on army bases across Israel. Let’s do it
again this year!”
Besides its own contributions, the OU is requesting gifts of $36 or more
from individuals and sponsorships of $500 or more from synagogues.
Sponsoring shuls will be listed on the OU website and their names will
be announced at the celebrations. Funds raised go directly to the
special fund set up by the OU together with the Agudah Lema’an Hachayal
(Association for the Well-Being of Israel’s Soldiers) and the Central
Command Rabbinate. No funds will be used for overhead.
If requested, contributors will receive a colorful Hebrew or English
card with the Tefillah L’chayalei Tzahal – Prayer for Israel’s soldiers
– to be recited every day in the synagogue or at home.
Last year, many OU members who were in Israel for Sukkot went to bases
and participated with the soldiers in the celebrations. They are
encouraged to attend this year as well and to personally dance with the
soldiers at the celebration their congregation helped to sponsor.
For further information, contact Lisa Halberstam at 212-613-8154, or
halberstaml@ou.org.
Contributions may be made on the
OU website, or by check to Orthodox Union, IDF Campaign, 11
Broadway, New York, NY, 10004.
Dancing
at last year’s Simchat Beit Hasho’evah celebrations.
* * *
The Orthodox Union, now in its
second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and
beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult
education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA,
and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way.
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www.ou.org
Comments?
Requests? Questions?
Orthodox Union
Department of Communications and
Marketing
David Olivestone
Director
Stephen Steiner
Director of Public Relations
Main Office:
11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Phone:
212.613.8318
Fax: 212-613-0763
E-mail:
steiners@ou.org |
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