The Darfur Project

"Never again" must mean never again to anyone - and yet, after six years, genocide in Darfur is still raging. Torah commands us, "Do not stand idly by"

WHAT IS HAPPENING – AND WHY?

The government’s genocidal actions have claimed between 200,000 and 400,000 lives while more than two million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes to live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad. More than three and a half million men, women and children are completely reliant on international aid for survival. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.

WHAT CAN I DO?
The Sudanese government's genocidal action in Darfur have claimed over 400,000 lives... With choices that are few and precarious at best, over 2,500 men, women, and children fled Darfur on foot and trekked across Sudan, through Egypt, and now have found a safe haven in Israel. These courageous refugees are now becoming Hebrew speakers, some already have joined the Israel Defense Forces, and others have taken the greatest step of all, converting to Judaism.

This year we are collecting tzedakah to assist B’nai Darfur (the children of Darfur). This organization, in cooperation with the Israeli government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), is working 24/7 to provide housing, clothing, food, Hebrew-language skills, and workforce development to these brave survivors who want only to live in peace and safety, becoming good Israeli citizens.

This year, make it the ultimate Passover mitzvah:
HELP ISRAEL HELP DARFUR

ANY amount is welcome - the more you give, the more lives we save.

CHECKS made payable to Wilshire Boulevard Temple Darfur Project and sent to the Temple, 3663 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010.

CREDIT CARD contributions ($100 minimum) can be made over the telephone. Call (213) 388-2401 and ask for Cristina Mauro.

SPEAK OUT! Two places to have your voice heard:
http://www.darfurgenocide.org/petitions.php and http://www.savedarfur.org/content

LEARN MORE

• Save Darfur
• Darfur: A Genocide We Can Stop
• http://www.bnaidarfur.org/index.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-pertnoy-and-michael-kleiman/the-last-survivor-home-to_b_175226.html
• http://www.isrealli.org/darfur-refugees-find-sanctuary-in-the-jewish-state/

EXPERIENCE
See Darfur for yourself: Visit Jon Nicolson’s stunning “Images from Darfur”

From the eyes of Our Congregant: Read "The Dirt of Africa" (Fall 2005) by Linda Daly

OUR COMMMITMENT
In Spring, 2005, we created “The Darfur Project” which brought Operation USA, Maersk Shipping, and Islamic Relief (partnering for the first time with a Jewish organization) together, collaborating to fill two shipping containers with 70,000 lbs. of educational, recreational, and medical supplies and shipped to El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.

By 2006, access to Darfur was no longer possible due to the government’s continuing crackdown on Western aid. In the spring, we partnered with American Jewish World Service and our “Darfur Project II” raised over $21,000 that went to the International Medical Corps, one of the few relief organizations able to work in Darfur. Our tzedakah helped build new water wells (replacing those poisoned by the government-backed militia) and supplement vital medical supplies.

In November 2006, we were the proud presenters of the first screening of “Sand and Sorrow”, Paul Freedman's documentary on the on-going genocide. Several hundred congregants and citizens of Los Angeles filled the Sanctuary to watch the film and listen to a discussion on this tragedy by Ruth Messenger, President of the American Jewish World Service, Rabbi David Saperstein of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, and Mr. Freedman.

2007 began with our Temple-wide “Dimes for Darfur,” an awareness program designed to empower our congregants to learn and speak out about the situation. Twenty dimes bought a green “Darfur awareness” wristband, and several thousands of dollars later, our community and beyond became aware of the worsening conflict.

Pesach, 2008,initiated our collaboration with Jewish World Watch and their internationally renowned Solar Cooker Project. Congregants large and small made sure that at Pesach, “We Will Not Leave Egypt Without Darfur,” and over $22,000 was raised to help Darfuri refugees in Chad cook and eat in safety.