A severe earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010. This is the most severe earthquake to hit that impoverished country in 200 years. The death toll is expected to reach thousands and it will likely be many days until the impact is fully known. The epicenter was near the capital of Port-au-Prince. Already there are reports that the presidential palace, a major hotel and the UN Headquarters collapsed, leaving hundreds buried in the rubble. According to the International Red Cross, up to 3 million people have been affected by the quake.

As in the past, the Reform Jewish community has a long history of generosity when natural disasters devastate communities around the world. Your generosity at this critical time enables us to play a role in recovery efforts and bring healing and hope to those whose lives have been affected. Donations to the Union for Reform Judaism Haiti Relief Fund can be made online or by check (note: Haiti Relief in the memo section) to:

Union for Reform Judaism
Attention: Development
633 Third Avenue 7th Floor
New York, NY 10017

The Union for Reform Judaism retains no overhead expenses for disaster relief donations, other than direct costs of credit card fees. On-going updates regarding the disaster relief efforts and the allocations from this fund will be posted at www.urj.org/relief.