Olim Fund of the Galilee
January 2003 Report

January 28, 2003


Shalom dear treasured donors and faithful friends of the Olim Fund of the Galilee,

Greetings from the shores of the Sea of Galilee where our blessed Yeshua multiplied the loaves and fishes some 2,000 years ago and thus attended to the immediate needs of His people.

I am both deeply grateful to you all and overwhelmed with joy to report to you that January has been a record month for our fund that was created to meet the emergency survival level needs of our new olim (immigrant) families. A record has been set on two accounts: first, we have received the largest total monthly support from you all since we founded the Fund some months ago. Second, we have received the largest number of requests for emergency assistance from all over the Galilee.

As we are growing, it seems appropriate that we provide you with a  more detailed report than previously on the monthly operations or the Fund. Thus, without providing specific family names, what follows is my best effort to keep you up to date.

I. Financial Summary for January 2003:

Beginning Balance:  nil
Funds Received: $13,266 (62,350NIS)
Funds Distributed on January 23, 2003: $9,053 (47,545 NIS)
Number of situations funded: 25
Carryover: $4,213 (20,222 NIS)*
Funds in the Mail to us:  $3,375 (16,200 NIS)
Funds Available for February 13, 2003 distribution:  $7,588 (36,422 NIS)
Overhead expenses paid out of donations: nil

*  There was a carryover of funds for a number of reasons:

1.  Some of our applying representatives (like all of us) are still in a learning cycle and did not, in all cases, provide sufficient information to the Board of Advisors to enable us to make an informed funding decision. These have been returned to the representatives for clarification and resubmission.

2. Some of the requests did not meet our criteria for giving. For example, the Fund does not provide money for legal assistance.

3. We want to be certain that every penny donated is channeled to an  emergency survival situation. While there is a huge need for regular monthly support of suffering families, our vision, where possible,  is to first meet emergency survival situations.

4. We are aware of many new requests that are in the pipeline and have moved up the next meeting to best meet them with funds in hand.

OLIM  FUND OF THE GALILEE

January 2003,  DISTRIBUTION

Family Size
Location
Monthly Income
Overview of Situation Funded
Gift

 1

Bet Galeem,  Haifa

Nil

Single woman, age 67,  awaiting citizenship. Begging on street for survival. Living on outdoor balcony at a cost of $150 per month. Situation desperate.

 

$417

1

Haifa

Nil

Single woman unemployed for 1.5 months. Awaiting unemployment benefits.  No short term means of survival.

$417

1

Nazareth Illit

$312

Single woman with part time irregular work. Income barely enough to cover rent. Needs money for other basic needs. One time gift granted.

$312

2

Nahariya

$625

Full time salary just enough to cover payment of  rent. Utilities shut off, no money for food, etc. One time gift granted.

$417

5

Hadera

$708

Congregation leader with three children. Salary jut enough to meet housing costs. Nothing left for food, etc. One time gift granted.

$219

1

Haifa

$354

Single woman working part time.  Facing possible eviction for non-payment of rent. One time gift granted.

$312

5

Haifa

$447

Family head and spouse  desperately seeking any kind of work. Current income from part time employment insufficient  for basic survival. One time gift.

$208

1

Haifa

nil

Single mother, refused abortion,  no income for five months, government benefit begin in one month. One time gift granted.

$521

1

Haifa

$875

Single woman moving to new apartment for second time in three months.  Has no furniture. Help granted for moving expenses. One time gift.

$312

3

Haifa

$833

Unemployment benefits about to be terminated. Immigrants from United Kingdom, not fully covered by medical insurance. Heavily in debt for medical expenses.

One time gift.

$208

1

Nazareth Illit

$250

Single woman’s part time salary leaves only $41 for all other expenses after housing. One time gift.

$417

4

Carmiel

$707

Family head unable to find work, Spouse employed but pregnant with 3rd child, will soon be unsalaried. Current income not enough to meet basic family survival needs. One time gift.

$417

3

Haifa

$770

Infant’s medical expenses not entirely covered by government.  Father’s income insufficient to meet all family needs plus cover medical situation. Mother must remain at home with ailing child. One time gift.

$625

6

Haifa

$521

Both parents recently lost jobs and family forced to move to homeless shelter. Unemployment payments to begin in about 30 days.  One time gift to pay first month’s rent and other back debt accumulated during current crisis.

$625

3

Ma’alot

$771

Head of family employed. Spouse lost job and awaits unemployment benefits from agency that has been on strike. Money insufficient to cover food costs and other basic needs. One time gift.

$417

4

Haifa

$833

Divorced mother with three children  receiving benefits from government.  Family in extreme debt and is living without heat, furniture or even bed linens.  Problem partly due to mismanagement of  limited available funds. One time gift.

$208

4

Carmiel

$907

New immigrants, head of family in ulpan (language school). Spouse at home with children. Need money for help with first multi-month rental payment. One time gift.

$312

3

Haifa

$729

Son is about to be expelled from college due to non-payment of tuition.  One time gift to enable completion of education.

$312

1

Haifa

$487

Single woman, pensioner had heart attack, government help insufficient to meet minimum requirements during her recovery period. One time gift.

$417

2

Haifa

$260

Unemployed new immigrants’ benefits insufficient to meet basic survival needs. One time gift.

$208

1

Carmiel

$425

Single woman, invalid, looking for some work compatible with her physical capabilities. Income insufficient to meet basic survival. One time gift.

$417

5

Haifa

$333

Family head working part time. Unemployment benefits have run out. Insufficient funds available for basic needs. One time gift.

$312

4

Haifa

$625

Head of family and spouse unemployed for two years. Government support insufficient to meet basic needs. One time gift.

$417

3

Migdal Ha Emek

$625

Head of family unemployed for three months. No benefits received since agency has been on strike. No money or credit available to buy even food. One time gift.

$417

1

Haifa

$601

Single woman living alone. No money for a heater and fuel after paying rent and minimum food, etc. One time gift to buy kerosene heater.

$229

We obviously need your continuing help to meet this ever growing need.

Quite recently I had no recourse but to ever so reluctantly reject the appeal from a congregation in Bet Shemish (near Jerusalem) who were turning to our Fund for assistance. We are all praying that one day our resources will grow to the extent that we can become nation-wide in our outreach.

May the Lord God of Israel bless each of you greatly in accordance with His promise as you reach out to bless Israel and His people that have responded in faith to come home to the land of their inheritance.

In the love of Yeshua,

Bob Fischer
Olim Fund of the Galilee

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Copyright 2002 by Raymond Robert Fischer