Topic 108 [jewish]: The American Jewish Press #85 of 125: larry yudelson (yudel) Wed Jun 23 '93 (21:40) 9 lines The annual Rockower Awards of the American Jewish Press Association were announced last week in Washington. And the winner is.... for Excellence in Spot News Reporting (circulation over 15,000).... Jewish Bulletin of Northern California, Tamar Kaufman, "Fire Victims Tell of Life and Loss," Congratulations! Topic 108 [jewish]: The American Jewish Press #88 of 125: Tamar Kaufman (tamar) Thu Jun 24 '93 (09:56) 11 lines Thank you, thank you... I just want to thank all the little people who made all this possible.... I also should mention that I won another Rockower that, as usual, doesn't have my name on it. That's for editorial writing. But the Spot News Reporting award is the very first I've won ever that actually says I did it! ---------------------------- fire response.1025 zb (SB) (See JEWISH, Page 13) Jews rally after fire ravages community By TAMAR KAUFMAN Of the Bulletin Staff The Jewish community's response to Sunday's devastating fire in the Oakland-Berkeley hills has been swift and comprehensive. The Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay immediately mobilized financial assistance for the general and Jewish community while Jewish Family Service geared up to dispense crisis counseling, information and emergency referrals. The federation also has been serving as a central information clearinghouse. As of Wednesday morning, it had the names of 70 Jewish families known to have lost their homes, but executive vice president Ami Nahshon feared the number could go as high as 250. Synagogues and other Jewish agencies and institutions have been offering temporary shelter, food, child care and practical assistance as well as spiritual and moral support. All have been inundated with offers of help from individuals throughout the area. Federation leadership has met with Oakland's mayor and business and civic leaders to coordinate a response to the disaster "out of the fundamental belief that, as Jews, we have obligations to reach out a hand to fellow Jews in need," said Nahshon, "and, at the same time, to participate in the general community response." In that vein, the federation Monday awarded a $5,000 emergency grant to the Oakland Community Fund and has been in daily contact with United Way, the Red Cross and the mayor's office to coordinate efforts. At the same time, the federation initiated an emergency loan program for the Jewish community, administered by the Hebrew Free Loan Association and guaranteed by the federation. The interest-free loans, in amounts up to $5,000 and repayable over 24 months, "are available to any member of the East Bay Jewish community who is employed and whose home was either damaged or destroyed," Nahshon said. Applicants, who should call HFLA executive director Irwin Wiener at 982-3177, do not have to be members of synagogues or Jewish organizations to qualify. "Our first priority is to help," said Nahshon when asked how much money is available for the loans. "Our second is to figure out the economics." Anyone wishing to contribute to the East Bay Fire Fund can call the federation at (510) 839-2900. People also are urged to call that number with information about displaced Jewish families. Jewish Family Service, meanwhile, is offering referrals for emergency housing, financial suggestions for the unemployed and crisis counseling. In addition, the agency has been sending counselors to schools and institutions. Tuesday evening, a counselor addressed Midrasha High School students, and another spoke to youngsters at a Jewish community center. JFS also has brochures for parents and teachers guiding children through this traumatic time, as well as fact sheets for adults. Those have been sent to all synagogues and Jewish community centers in the area and will be sent to public schools as well. Information about JFS services is available from Lydia Blair at (510) 532-6314. The Oakland-Piedmont Jewish Community Center at 3245 Sheffield Ave. in Oakland is offering day care for preschool and school-age children, including all-day care for students whose schools may be closed. Information is available from the OPJCC at 533-9222. Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland organized a community "Service of Hope" last night, is compiling a list of affected congregants, and has organized a relief fund. Checks for that fund should be made out to Temple Beth Abraham Relief Fund and sent to the synagogue at 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, CA 94610. As of Tuesday night, Oakland's Temple Sinai had a list of 36 member-families who had lost their homes. Rabbi Steve Chester said some 50 people attended a meeting to consider what they could learn from the experiences of Rabbi Arthur Gross-Schaefer, whose Santa Barbara congregation went through a devastating fire last year and who phoned as soon as he heard of the East Bay tragedy. Congregation Beth Israel in Berkeley also has been compiling names of families who may need help. In addition, Rabbi Emanuel Forman says the congregation is outfitting a house next door to its Bancroft Way synagogue as a "mini-shelter." Chabad of the East Bay has a few temporary spaces for single men at its new place at 2643 College Ave. in Berkeley, and is working with the Red Cross to set up temporary housing for families at its old facility at 2340 Piedmont Ave. In addition, Chabad's Rabbi Yehuda Ferris will join other chaplains to provide counseling and comfort to people as they are permitted back to the devastated sites of their former homes. Most of those affected by the fire, however, do not seem to need shelters since they either were put up by friends or relatives or went to area hotels. Most also seem to have had insurance. Rabbi Burt Jacobson of Kehilla Community-Synagogue, who rented his Upper Rockridge home destroyed in the fire, did not have renter's insurance. Congregants are collecting money to replace his large Jewish library and also to help others who have lost their homes. Donations can be made to Kehilla -- marked "emergency fund" -- and sent to P.O Box 3063, Berkeley, CA 94703. More information is available on the congregation's answering machine at (510) 654-5452. A new members' Shabbat that had been planned for tonight will be set aside "as time for people who want to share about the fire," Jacobson said. That potluck event will be held at 6:15 at Northbrae Community Church, 931 The Alameda, Berkeley. (Continued from Page 1) [try bold] Jewish community rallies to deal with tragedy, loss Photos by Mike Richman