The Sephardic Brotherhood rallies national support for Turkish Earthquake Relief Fund; Raises $100,000 for needy Turkish Jews

As many of you know, a horrific earthquake rocked southern Turkey and northern Syria in early February, killing more than 30,000 so far and destroying entire towns and cities. What you may not know is that a city near the epicenter of the earthquake, Antakya, is still home to a very small Jewish Community, whose President and wife, Saul & Fortuna Cenudioğlu, were sadly lost in the earthquake after their home collapsed.

In coordination with our partners at the Jewish Community of Turkey, the Sephardic Brotherhood launched a Turkish Earthquake Relief Fund to directly assist the Jewish Community of Antakya and general recovery efforts via the Chief Rabbinate of Turkey and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), both reputable partners in the recovery efforts. One of our own Sephardic Community members from Seattle, Sam Amiel, was on the ground coordinating JDC efforts in Southern Turkey. 

Thanks to the grassroots efforts of you all and an emergency grant from the UJA-Federation of New York, we have been able to raise $100,000 in emergency funding to send to our brothers and sisters in Turkey to help them with short term relocation, housing, food, and long term reconstruction of their homes and synagogue. We thank each and every one of you for stepping up to give what you could to this extraordinary national Sephardic Community initiative.

Min HaShamayim Tenuhamu - We Pray that God will comfort the families of those who have been lost and the people of Turkey at this difficult time.