Around the corner and across the globe, The Birmingham Jewish Federation is there -- doing good things, making life better and helping people in need. Today's Update offers two vastly different examples.

As rockets from Gaza continue to threaten Israelis in the southern part of their country, The BJF, through our parent organization Jewish Federations of North America, is monitoring the latest situation and providing help. Our efforts are highlighted in the first story.

On a brighter note, the second story showcases the wonderful work of our Israel Connections Committee, chaired by BJF volunteer Sheri Krell. Connections, projects and programs initiated by this committee continue to benefit the people of Birmingham and the people of Israel.

Sometimes our BJF work is daunting, other times it is uplifting. But what is always the case is that we are there -- a small Jewish Federation in a small Jewish community making a big impact everyday in so many ways. As always, we thank those who contribute to our BJF Annual Campaign. Your dollars provide the staffing, organizational structure and funding that allow us to do this important work.

As violence in Israel's south once again escalated over the past few days, Jewish Federations of North America, the parent organization of The Birmingham Jewish Federation, continued to monitor events and keep local Federations informed.

Schools within 40 kilometers (nearly 25 miles) of Gaza shut down for security reasons, with over 200,000 children at home with their parents, effectively keeping the entire population of the region hostage.

One of the Federation movement's major partners in Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) was, as always, working closely on the ground. JAFI's Fund for the Victims of Terror sent social workers in to the field to identify needs and address them. Additionally, a team was sent to the family of a man killed in a rocket attack to be with them and help with anything that is required. JAFI also reports that all victims, including those with property damage, will be given up to $1,000 in immediate assistance as part of the Fund's activities. Dollars raised by The BJF Campaign help fund the activities of the Jewish Agency.

JDC Israel, another agency that receives funding from The BJF Campaign, was in emergency standby mode. Elderly day-care centers that have shelters and are in the line of fire opened their doors to elderly in southern Israel. In Kiryat Malachi, the elderly day-care center sent warm meals to elderly in their homes. The community caseworkers operating in three key cities -- Sha'ar HaNegev, Beersheva and Netivot -- were in constant contact with the local welfare bureau.

Photo is of cars damaged in Ashkelon in the latest rocket attacks. (REUTERS/Nir Elias)

Everyday in so many ways, The Birmingham Jewish Federation creates connections -- between different people and different communities. The purpose is to improve the quality of life for all of us, create better understanding of our Jewish community and strengthen support for Israel.

One of the best ways we do this is through the work of The BJF's Israel Connections Committee (ICC), which is funded by The BJF Campaign. The ICC designs and implements programs and projects that strengthen the relationship between the people of Birmingham and the people of Israel.

A major program of the ICC is our E-pals project. For the past four years, 7th and 8th graders from the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School (a Birmingham city school) and Berry Middle School (a Hoover school) have been emailing back and forth with peers from two middle schools in Rosh Ha'ayin, Birmingham's Sister City in Israel. This year, Phillips Academy (another Birmingham school) has joined the E-pal program, connecting even more Birmingham students with their peers in Israel.

At a meeting of the ICC, committee members felt that while it is wonderful that we have connected students across the ocean, they also wanted to connect our participating Birmingham educators with one another. Since the educators did not know one another, and three of the four are not Jewish, the ICC felt it would be nice for them to meet, and in the process learn more about our holidays and traditions. The recent Jewish holiday of Sukkot provided a great opportunity.

BEAUTIFUL AND MEANINGFUL

During the holiday, ICC Chair Sheri Krell hosted the E-Pal teachers at a dinner in her Sukkah, which is an outdoor booth Jews build to commemorate the holiday. It was a beautiful and meaningful evening. (See below link for more on Sukkot.)

Sheri explained the symbols of the holiday, the lulav and etrog, and each guest took turns repeating the blessing over the shaking of the lulav (branch which includes palm, myrtle and willow ) and etrog (citron) together as it is commanded in the Torah. The lulav and etrog are representative of four species and the Torah commands Jews to use these species to "rejoice before the Lord."

For those who have never seen a lulav and etrog it can seem like an unusual ritual, but LaVerne McDonald, who teaches at Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School, proudly confessed that she had "googled" Sukkot in advance of the dinner to familiarize herself with the customs. She wanted to be prepared for the evening and also wanted to be able to tell her students about her Sukkot experience the next day.

The Sukkah dinner for the educators was a wonderful kick-off to what will be another great E-pal school year. The dinner discussion was energetic as the Birmingham educators shared best practices and ideas for the E-pal program among themselves. The BJF is grateful for their dedication in bringing Israel to life in their classrooms. There is no better way for students to understand those of different cultures and faiths than to call them their "pal" or "friend."

Funds from The BJF Annual Campaign support the initiatives of the Israel Connections Committee. To learn more about the work of the ICC contact BJF Director of Overseas programs Joyce Spielberger at joyces@bjf.org or 879-0416.

In photo Sheri Krell (on right) explains the symbolism of the lulav and etrog to the E-pal educators. Rachel Edwards (far left), wife of educator John Mark Edwards, holds the etrog. John Mark (Phillips Academy) and Laverne McDonald (Ossie Ware Mitchell) look on.