It is estimated there are between five-hundred-thousand to one-and-a-half million survivors of the Holocaust still alive today. Each month about one percent of these people pass on. Too often, their last years have been spent in nearly the same conditions in which they survived in the camps. These who suffered so much, continue to suffer---don't they deserve better? We can help ease their last years. We can do something to care for their daily needs, and that we are supporting them in tangible ways.

Currently, a fleet of trucks and vans take food, clothing, and other supplies around the area of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union. There, local distribution centers give out much needed food, clothing, and medicine.

Thirty-two soup kitchens across the former Soviet Union provide daily meals for 20,000 to 50,000 people per month. The quality of goods and services dispensed is so high that strict security measures are in place to avoid raids by criminals that might hijack the goods. Twelve of the largest supermarket chains in Poland, Russia, and Ukraine supply the ministry of Chevra with bread, meat, vegetables, and other goods.

Since 1992, Chevra has provided practical everyday help by operating soup kitchens, distributing food and medicine, and giving out clothing to needy Jewish people and others from its operations center in Krakow, Poland. Doing Tzedakah (charitable acts) is a fundamental Jewish, as well as Christian principle. Thousands of Holocaust survivors are living out their final years in terrible conditions, lacking food, adequate housing and warmth, clothing, and medical help.

We have the privilege of helping people who have suffered more than their share. Please join Chevra in doing Tzedakah---acts of charity to people who have already lived through the horrors of human inhumanity.

We need to do more! We are ready to increase the number of soup kitchens and drastically expand the food distribution program, but more trucks will be needed which will increase our labor, maintenance, and operating costs. Your partnership with Chevra will enlarge the amount of humanitarian aid given in helping extend our hands even further to those who deserve it. Besides the thousands of Holocaust survivors, there are many Jewish people who face prejudice and persecution. Your gift will help us reach out to them and let them know there are people who care about their well being.

ISRAEL AND ALIYAH

Jewish People living in the former Soviet Union have had a very difficult life of persecution and deprivation. For a Jew, aliyah (the right of every Jew to return to Israel, their ancient homeland as an immediate citizen) is a dream and a hope of a better life. Depending on Israel's political climate of unrest verses various degrees of peacefulness, the amount of Jews returning can be a great flood to but a trickle. This present situation in Israel which is filled with dangers of terrorism and the Intifada has led to a decrease in the number of those emigrating from the former Soviet Union to Israel. However, small groups of Jews are continuing to follow their dream, and Chevra must help them.

The issuance of a passport costs about $100, but for most eking out just $50-$100 per month to support their family, a passport for them and every member of their family is out of the realm of possibility. This is where the aliyah assistance program of Chevra comes to the rescue. We assist all Jews seeking to make aliyah by transporting them to boats or airports. This most often involves helping them with locating and collecting all their personal information and documents necessary for filling out the paperwork to acquire their passports, and any other red tape they might encounter. The cost per person can very depending on the availability and location of their personal documents due to it being lost or destroyed during World War I, World War II, and/or up to this present day's danger of being a Jew. Therefore, the cost can be from $300-$400 per person.

We also have established homes in Israel for elderly holocaust survivors without family because of their situation. They endured horrifying suffering and are now at the end of their lives. Wherever possible we want to help them live out the remainder of their time on this earth with comfort, peace, and hopefully some joy, instead of poverty, fear, and sorrow. The cost of this key program for each house is about $2000 a month to maintain. Will the compassion of kind people be found meeting this need? It is our hope and goal that the answer to this is yes with 100 of these houses in operation in the near future.