Jewish Community Launches 'DC Loves Darfur' Fundraising Campaign for Sudan Victims

12/6/2005 12:07:00 PM

To: National and International Desks

Contact: Julie Weingrad of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, 301-348-7365 or jweingrad@jcouncil.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In December, Jewish people everywhere prepare for Chanukah, the commemoration of Jewish survival and the rededication of the Temple. This year, the Greater Washington Jewish community can honor the Jewish story of survival by acting to stop the genocide in Darfur, where hundreds of innocent people die each day. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) in conjunction with the Greater Washington Jewish Task Force on Darfur, has launched the DC Loves Darfur fundraising campaign to raise funds for humanitarian aid, education and advocacy through the American Jewish World Service Sudan Fund.

In Judaism, the word "chai" means life, and the numerical equivalent of the letters is 18. Between Thanksgiving and Chanukah (11/24/05-01/01/06), the Greater Washington Jewish Community hopes to give life by raising at least 18 cents for each of the 215,000 Jews in our Greater Washington community ($38,700) to support humanitarian aid as well as education & advocacy programs. As of Dec. 5, the campaign has raised $23,382.41.

"How can anyone, but especially how can Jews, not come to the aide of a population threatened with extinction, a community threatened with violence and murder and destitution? We must not look away or go deaf. We have to learn and then do. We must speak up. We must give financially," says Judy Herr, a member of Adas Israel Congregation and the Greater Washington Jewish Task Force on Darfur.

Contribution cans be made via mail, phone or online.

Mail -- Make check out to American Jewish World Service and write "DC Loves Darfur" in the subject line: AJWS Sudan Fund, 45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Phone -- Make a credit card donation at 800-889-7146.

Online -- Donate at http://www.ajws.org/dclovesdarfur

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The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) is the public affairs and community relations arm of the Jewish community representing 210 Jewish organizations and synagogues throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The JCRC focuses on government relations, Israel advocacy, inter-group relations, and social justice.

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