See updates from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Israeli aid arrives in Haiti, field hospital set up 17-Jan-2010

(Photo: Matt Marek/American Red Cross) 
See today’s report: Jewish Groups Mobilizing Aid for Haiti Quake from the JTA.

There are no reform or conservative shuls in Haiti and no Chabad presence. Reports from JDC are that the 7 Jews residents in Haiti are safe. Haaretz reports that even as an Israeli rescue team to preparing to depart for the disaster-stricken country, eight Israelis remained unaccounted for in Haiti, among them the daughter of late Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan. The rescue team includes elite army corps engineers and medical corps ready to deploy field hospital, the Israeli consulate in New York reported.

Rabbi Shimon Pelman, the Chabad Schaliach in the Dominican Republic (on the western half of the same island, three hours drive from the earthquake location) heads the Jewish organization to closest to Haiti. He also reports that there was no damage to the small Jewish community in Haiti. Rabbi Pelman is working in conjunction with the Israeli ambassador and others in the region. He will be meeting incoming Israeli delegation with the Israeli Consul General in Santo Domingo at the airport.

Rabbi Pelman contacted most of the Jews (some were fortunately were out of town), but not all. Hopefully the JDC information about them is correct.If anyone needs assistance please be in contact with him directly:

Rabbi Shimon Pelman, office (it’s an NY number) 718-504-1990, Cell (us number) 1-829-341-2770
Email Chabaddominican@gmail.com or http://www.chabadominican.com/

Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein at Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn is coordinating relief efforts with  the Shluchim of that region,  if anyone needs additional assistance he can be reached at 718-774-4000, msharfstein@lubavitch.com.

NYC OEM encourages anyone wishing to contribute to relief efforts for the recent earthquake in Haiti to give cash to disaster relief organizations (like through Network for Good). You may also make donations through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which will be directing contributions to organizations working in the affected areas. Why cash? Cash donations allow relief agencies to purchase goods that meet victims’ needs and help support the local economy.

• Learn more about the Mayor’s Fund
• Jewish communal responses

UPDATED Jan. 26, 2010

• Cash donations avoid the complicated, costly, and time-consuming process of collecting, sorting, packing, transporting, unloading, resorting, storing, repackaging, and distributing donated goods and cash donations also help get the local economy back on its feet. According to NYC OEM, New York City government operations will not be able to support efforts to gather and distribute donated goods. Links to many credible channels are listed below.
• Learn about new IRS regulations about Haiti-related contributions here.
• Beware of fraud. Some fraudsters have already come forward to take advantage of people’s generosity, see the FBI alert here.
• Credible responding agencies. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security donors to visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities

Click on the following links to find out more and to donate to these worthy causes:

• The Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief (an arm of the JDC) is the lead agency for the Jewish Federations of North America (including our own UJA-Federation of New York). JDC is currently supporting Heart to Heart International to support search-and-rescue efforts; food, water and clothing; temporary shelters; medical aid, equipment, and psycho-trauma services to victims of the earthquake. JDC is also working with the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces and has purchased critical medical equipment for its field hospital, including infant incubators for its neonatal unit and orthopedic devices. Further partnerships are being explored for the next phase of JDC’s support for Haiti’s victims. Click here to donate through UJA-Federation. Find out more about their efforts.
• American Jewish Committee.
• American Jewish World Service
• American Red Cross has an extensive partnership with the Haitian Red Cross. To help immediately, simply text “HAITI” to “90999” and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.  Read Terry Bischoff’s moving description of ARC’s activities here.
• B’nai B’rith International.
• K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations)
• Magen David Adom
• Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City
• Mazon
  
• National Council of Young Israel.
• Orthodox Union.
• Samuel Dalembert Foundation
• UJA-Federation of New York
  
• Union for Reform Judaism
• UNICEF. 
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
• Workmen’s Circle.
• World ORT.
• ZAKA