Why It's Still A Dry Winter

Lemaan Achai

B"H the heavens have opened, the rain is here, and the Kinneret is rising.

Over at Lema'an Achai, the phones continue to ring, as local families face the biting poverty of the two-years old recession in Israel.

Families who were poor previously, are in a worse situation that they were, because basic commodity prices and the cost of utilities have gone up (water by 50%!!), while Government benefits and employment opportunities have both gone down.

And the phenomenon of middle-class families calling Lema'an Achai for help, has gone from being an exception, to now become a regular occurrence.

People who used to be generous donors, and whose neighbors and friends consider to be financially well-established, have become unemployed or under-employed, indebted, and without back-up from their families who
have themselves been hit by the international financial downturn. For these struggling families to cut their cost, and seek out supplementary sources of revenue, is in many ways no less traumatic than any other families suffering the effects of poverty.

Lema'an Achai has even established a new concept in community assistance to help these nouveau poor and struggling middle class families - "Community Consultants".

"Community Consultants" is our team of professional Financial Counsellors, Employment/Career Consultants, Get-Your-Rights Experts (including both the intricacies of National Insurance and Employer/Employee regulations) . Our "Smart Chesed" experts have developed innovative methods and solutions, and have gained unparalleled experience in helping local families over the past ten years of Lema'an Achai. All this expertise is now available on a subsidized consultancy basis for ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. Call 02-9991553, and ask for Motti for details.

Lema'an Achai's services, which are the jewel in the crown of Ramat Bet Shemesh, have no equal or equivalent in any other community in Israel; Lema'an Achai has been accoladed in 2009 by Israel's Minister of Welfare Isaak Herzog and invited to participate in proposing changes in national policy regarding poverty.

Lema'an Achai's highly professional services are critical for the wherewithal of our whole community

And yet, the one phone which is quiet at Lema'an Achai is the donations line.

Lema'an Achai receives no government funding (which we are fighting to change!) and is totally reliant upon balei-batim, regular households, to continue helping local families in poverty.

Of course donors are especially generous at the giving-seasons, such as Purim, Pessach and the Yamim Noraim, and of course we account for these cyclical ups-and-downs in preparing our annual budget - which
strive to give everyone who needs our help reliable 24/6 service, and regular dependable assistance throughout the year.

But the actual donations right now are a shocking 47% lower than projected and budgeted. That means we have shortfall this past month (for example) of over 80,000 NIS ($20,000).

I know you plan to give generously to Lema'an Achai come Purim and Pessach. And, on behalf of the families we help, we are sincerely appreciative of that critical support.

But please, please don't forget that the poor and distressed have constant and desperate needs throughout the year.

You can give now securely on-line athttps://www.lemaanachai.org/donations.aspx

Please consider making your donations monthly, throughout 2010 - either by credit card, or with a direct debit arrangement (we will deal with the banks for you): https://lemaanachai.org/lemaanachai-horat-keva.pdf

Or mail your tax-refundable donations (in Israel, USA, UK and Canada)to Lema'an Achai, 40/7 Nahal Lachish, Ramat Bet Shemesh 99093 or your local Lema'an Achai mailing address.

There is also a 24/6 telephone line for accepting donations - 02-99999.33
Yes - B"H it's raining outside here in Israel.

But the communal pot is going dry.

--Tizku Lemitzvot,

David & R.Avrohom

P.S. Please feel free to pass this message on to your friends, family who may be interested to help Lema'an Achai's incredible "Smart Chesed" programs for combating poverty, and for getting families out of the cycle of poverty.