Bennett urges Israelis to help Jews in flood-hit Houston

‘For years the Jews of Houston were there for us; now we can be there for them,’ the Diaspora Affairs Minister writes

By ToI Staff 30 August 2017, 1:42 am

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Education Minister Naftali Bennett arrives to the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Ministers office in Jerusalem on July 30, 2017. (Ohad Zweigenberg/Pool)

Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett called on Israelis to help the Jewish community in flood-stricken Houston.

“For years the Jews of Houston were there for us; now we can be there for them,” Bennett wrote in a Tuesday Facebook post.

The minister urged Israelis to contribute to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund set up by the Jewish Federations of North America.

The JFNA tweeted at Bennett later Tuesday evening thanking him for his support.

https://www.facebook.com/bennettnaftalienglish/posts/1085915634873067

Hours before the diaspora affairs minister’s social media plea, a team of seven volunteers from the IsraAID non-governmental organization flew to Houston, joining three others already on the ground at the scene in order to provide emergency assistance to relief efforts.

IsraAID co-director Navonel Glick told The Times of Israel that among the group are disaster management experts, mental health experts, and engineers. They will focus on coordination of relief work and provide basic needs including stress relief activities and recreation for those impacted by the disaster.

Stuart Winer contributed to this report.