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Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; Esti Dominissini, head of the Community and Civil Guard Division of the Israel Police; Sallai Meridor, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel; and a volunteer civil guard officer meet with Philadelphia-area youngsters Emily Alloy, Jessica Klausner and Gabi Wachs.
Photo by Shimi Nachtailer
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon recently accepted a symbolic key for 39 emergency vehicles for the civil guard unit of Israel's police force, which will be used throughout the Jewish state, from three Raymond and Ruth Perelman Jewish Day School students.
The presentation, made on behalf of United Jewish Communities of North America, by Emily Alloy, 12, Gabi Wachs, 12, and Jessica Klausner, 10, took place at a ceremony in Jerusalem attended by nearly 400 participants on a UJC solidarity mission that visited the Jewish state from Dec. 8 to Dec. 13.
The three girls were part of the 47-member local delegation of IsraelNow ... A Journey Home mission, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
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It was so amazing to be able to present something so important to Israel to Prime Minister Sharon," said Gabi Wachs. "He was so sweet to us. I'm so happy that finally Americans are uniting with Israelis. This is so important because they not only need strength, they need our being there to give them hope."
Besides the patrol vehicles, other equipment, including 400 state-of-the-art communication sets and 10 transmitters, were also purchased and given to the Community and Civil Guard Division.
Addressing the critical importance of the Community and Civil Guard Division to citizen security, and underscoring the critical need for their support, the prime minister told the mission-goers: "We need you, we've always needed you, and we need you now more than ever."
Locally, Federation's Israel Emergency Fund has raised more than $12 million to date for the safety needs of the country's citizens and to help victims of terrorism.
To help ensure safety in Jerusalem, Federation has allocated $988,000 to augment Israel's volunteer Civil Guard.