Fall just officially started but Hanukkah will be here before you know it. Jewish Family Services needs your help to make it a wonderful holiday for those in our community facing economic hardship and other life challenges, especially with the additional hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through Jewish Family Services’ annual Hanukkah Holiday Project, more than 330 individuals will receive gifts and gift cards during the Festival of Lights. This year Hanukkah begins at sundown Thursday, Dec. 10.
JFS has developed a new hybrid-approach for the Hanukkah Holiday project to ensure everyone can participate at their own comfort level. Option No. 1 is “adopting” a child or teen in need and shopping for them from a wish list provided by JFS. You can sign up to adopt through Oct. 25 by going to a link on the JFS website: jfskc.org. JFS is asking that purchased gifts be delivered to its Jewish Community Campus office Nov. 9-11.
“The holidays are such an important time of the year for our clients to feel valued and even more so during the current time; we felt it was more crucial than ever to continue with the Hanukkah Project,” said Melissa Kingston, JFS Special Events coordinator. “Like so many others, we’ve been carefully working to adjust and change in order to keep everyone safe and healthy while continuing to give back to those most in need during the Hanukkah season.”
Not comfortable personally going into stores to shop? No worries! JFS Option No. 2 is purchasing a gift from the JFS online registries that include items through Target and Amazon. The registries will be available soon through the JFS website, jfskc.org. JFS will take care of safely delivering gifts to recipients.
Option No. 3 is donating gift cards from retailers such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, Hy-Vee, Price Chopper or Hen House. JFS is requesting gift cards be purchased in $25 increments. These gift cards will be given to recipients allowing them to shop for themselves or to help purchase groceries. Gift cards can be purchased at any time and mailed directly to the JFS office, 5801 W. 115th St., Suite 103, Overland Park, KS 66211. Please mark the envelope “Att: Hanukkah Project.” Gift cards may also be dropped off in the secure orange box outside of JFS’ office at the Campus during regular business hours.
Providing these gifts makes a difference.
The community can also support the Hanukkah Holiday Project through financial support by donating online at jfskc.org/donate or mail a check to the JFS office at the address above.
Due to COVID-19, JFS will not be hosting the Annual Hanukkah Wrapping Party. However, volunteer wrapping opportunities will be available soon.
Israeli coronavirus Cabinet: Too early to analyze lockdown data
(JNS) — Israel’s ministerial “coronavirus Cabinet,” convened on Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to weigh the enforcement and effects of the current nationwide lockdown, concluded that another week would be needed to analyze the data before making any decisions about easing or tightening restrictions.
National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat, Coronavirus Project Coordinator Ronni Gamzu and the other professionals in attendance decided that the coronavirus Cabinet will discuss future measures next Monday, when a more comprehensive picture of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates will be available, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. This is in spite of an additional meeting of the coronavirus Cabinet is scheduled for Oct. 8.
The coronavirus Cabinet also agreed to extend the existing regulations until at least until Oct. 14, while continuing efforts to flatten the curve of infection, which has been soaring since last month, the statement said.
In his opening address to the meeting, Netanyahu said, “We are all obligated to uphold the rules regarding gatherings and the other rules related to the coronavirus routine. This includes ministers, [Knesset members] and all public servants.”
Referring specifically to the discovery of Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel’s having tested positive for the virus after violating lockdown rules, he said, “I suggest that we [postpone judgement on her behavior] until the completion of the [epidemiological investigation] being carried out at the Health Ministry.”
Netanyahu then mentioned and sent condolences to the followers of the Pittsburgher Rebbe, whose funeral on Monday in Ashdod grew a massive crowd of mourners, the members of which did not adhere to social distancing directives.
“I call on both the ultra-Orthodox and the secular publics, on all citizens of Israel, to honor the rules,” the prime minister implored, adding, “I say this for the entire public that is at these gatherings — watch yourselves. … Every violation harms every one of you, your loved ones and the citizens of Israel.”
Regarding an ease in lockdown regulations, Netanyahu stated, “This is not an easy decision. We see what is happening at the moment, not just with us, but in the world. There is a second wave in Europe and it is strengthening. In Madrid, Paris and London, it seems that they will quickly enter lockdown. I very much hope that we are on a downward trend. We could easily miss it and we can also strengthen it, [but] only if we act rationally and responsibly.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 274,423 confirmed coronavirus cases in Israel, 63,832 of which were active. There were 895 patients in critical condition, 224 of whom were on ventilators. The national death toll stood at 1,771.
