JCC preschoolers do their part to help in wake of fires in Israel

Date: 2/7/2011

GREATER SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Jewish Community Center preschoolers from the class Dagzahav presented a check in the amount of $36 to Meredith Dragon, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Western Mass.

The fundraiser is in response to the December fires in the Carmel region of Israel, which destroyed close to 5 million Israeli trees.

This project was also part of the holiday of Tu B'Shevat — celebrated Jan. 20 — in which the Dagzahav children learned to celebrate the renewal of growth in Israel by learning about trees.

Donations are being accepted until Feb. 15.

Anyone interested in helping to renew the Carmel Forests as a community effort can make donations payable to the Jewish Endowment Foundation; in the memo line, please put "JNF-Operational Carmel".

This money will be sent as a grant from the Anna P. Housen Fund of the Jewish Endowment Foundation on behalf of the Greater Springfield community.

The grant will go to the Jewish National Fund's Operation Carmel Renewal: From Black to Green, to help renew the Carmel Forest.

These efforts will include erosion prevention, infrastructure restoration, clearing of debris, creation of firebreaks to prevent future fires from spreading and care of the naturally regenerating wood-lands.

If you have questions about this project, contact the Jewish Endowment Foundation at 732-9994.