The health and economic distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic has led to a sharp rise in the number of Jewish families in Italy – one of the countries worst hit by the virus – seeking financial assistance, the country's umbrella Jewish organization Unione Delle Comunita Ebraiche Italiane (UCEI) said.
The UCEI estimates that in the larger cities, 10 times as many Jewish families are seeking aid now than were prior to the corona outbreak.
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In a letter to Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog, UCEI President Noemi Di Segni wrote, "Unfortunately, the Jewish community in Italy cannot at this time raise money from local donors, so we are appealing to Israel for help."
On Friday, the Jewish community in Rome, in cooperation with the Jewish Agency for Israel and The Spirit of Israel, launched a program to distribute parcels of basic foodstuffs to nearly 1,000 families. Prior to the crisis, the community delivered food to only some 150 families.
Piero Bonfiglioli president of the Roman Jewish community's aid society, said, "On Friday and Sunday we handed out food parcels to about 800 Jewish families. That's 20% of the Jewish families in Rome, which means that one out of every five Jewish families in Rome is now seeking help from the community."
Israelis who served as envoys in Italy on behalf of Zionist organizations are currently running a crowdfunding campaign in Israel, which has already raised some 300,000 shekels (85,000 dollars). The organizers have set a goal of raising 2 million shekels (570,000 dollars) for the Jews of Italy.
To support the fundraising initiative, click here: https://www.charidy.com/italy
