Keneseth Israel and Temple Shalom have formed a partnership with Hope for Haiti to partnered to create a special Tikkun Olam project designed to address poverty in a developing country. The two congregations’ joint Tikkun Olam Committee decided to “adopt a community” in in Haiti with the goal of funding various projects which would serve to address poverty issues.

According to Paul W. Rosenblum, the project chair, “There is a very strongly held belief in Judaism that we are obligated to work toward the improvement of the lives of all human beings.”

Elizabeth Davison, Hope for Haiti’s executive director said, “When Paul called to ask about projects the two congregations could support (he found us through our website), I immediately thought of a little rural village in southern Haiti called Ravine Sable. We support a school there, which provides education for over 350 children. The children and their families do not have clean water. There is a tragic link between water and preventable diseases.

“Contaminated water is one of the leading causes of illness and death in Haiti. We are delighted that Mr. Rosenblum and these two congregations have decided, as their first project, a goal of raising $23,500 which will enable us to drill a well and install a Ultra-Violet solar powered water purification system to benefit the entire community.”

Rosenblum explained that the two congregations view this as a long-term tikkun olam commitment. There are many needs in Ravine Sable. The committee chose to address the most pressing need first. Once the village has safe drinking water another project there will be selected.

In addition to their own commitment, the congregations also plan to make an effort to partner with other denominations in their community. They believe that an interfaith dimension will not only benefit Hope for Haiti projects but will also foster better relationships within the interfaith community.

For information on how you can help with the Hope for Haiti project, please contact Paul Rosenblum at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Kindly make checks payable to Hope for Haiti and mail to either Keneseth Israel at 2532 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40205 or Temple Shalom at 4615 Lowe Road, Louisville, KY 40220. You can also see more about the work of Hope for Haiti at http://www.hopeforhaiti.com