In the summer of 2007, Israeli medical and disaster relief personnel lent their expertise in Peru, where hundreds had died or been injured in the communities in and around Pisco following an earthquake registering 8.0 on the Richter scale.

The urgent undertaking was spearheaded by IsraAID, a coordinating body of more than 35 Israeli and Jewish nongovernmental organizations whose focus runs the gamut from humanitarian aid to student and youth movements; entities that are active in development, relief work, and other global issues. B'nai B'rith International is one of the founders of this Tel Aviv-based organization.

IsraAID serves as the umbrella and administers the financial support needed to bring millions of dollars to worldwide empowerment, humanitarian, and relief projects. Alan Schneider, director of the B'nai B'rith International World Center in Jerusalem, brought the concept of IsraAID to his colleagues in Israel, believing that there was a need to create international awareness of Israel's abilities to deliver assistance worldwide.

"We have the capabilities here, because a significant amount of the population has done army service. They're used to living by the seat of their pants and [are] trained in emergency medicine, disaster relief, search, and rescue," Schneider says.

The Concept

"IsraAID does not undertake projects on its own. It's a catalyst," says Schneider. "It seeks out its member organizations when a certain disaster hits. It tries to access the most appropriate one or more when there's a need to respond."

Through IsraAID, there is a way to channel assorted Israeli know-how to where it can best be put to use, and to also showcase the country.

"IsraAID turns out to be an incredibly efficient and reliable program, and has proven to be a place where B'nai B'rith can channel its disaster relief funds for immediate assistance in affected areas," says Joel Kaplan, BBI's chair for disaster relief. "B'nai B'rith always takes time to vet appropriate places to give funds, and proposals submitted by IsraAID hasten the process.

"IsraAID also demonstrates the ability of the State of Israel to help people and to do the job that has to be done for the welfare and health of people worldwide, Jews and non-Jews alike," Kaplan says.