The fundraiser through Temple is now closed. As a community we raised over $5000 for Embrace Relief. If you would like to make a donation on your own, please go to www.embracerelief.org.

We have watched the humanitarian disaster emerging in Turkey and Syria following this week’s devastating earthquakes with anguish. Many lives have been lost, many more have been injured, and too many around the world still wait to learn the fate of their loved ones.  We pray for those impacted by this natural disaster, for the rescue workers who continue to labor tirelessly, and for all those waiting with bated breath.

Upon learning of this tragedy, Rabbi Meyer reached out to our interfaith partners at the Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh. United through the Hizmet movement and often living as political exiles separated from their families in Turkey, participants in the Turkish Cultural Center share many of our values if not the particularlistic expression of our faith. Together this year we joined in a shared meal for Thanksgiving at St. Nicholas Cathedral, learned about anti-racism efforts at St. Paul’s Church, and rallied for gun violence prevention at Temple Emanuel…and the opportunity has arisen to stand together again.

Leadership of the Turkish Cultural Center have asked for donations to Embrace Relief, a Guidestar-platinum rated 501(c)3 directing resources to help the victims of these devastating earthquakes.