AN URGENT CALL TO UNITY AND PRAYER FOR HEALING

ARUTZ7 19/08/1998 An international campaign to link Jews around the world on behalf of thousands of Jews who are ill will reach a climax this coming Sunday.

On that day - the first of Elul, the Jewish month of repentance - Jews in 32 countries will put into effect a two-part program: They will give charity of any amount to any worthy cause in the merit of a complete recovery for all those who are sick.

In addition, each person is called upon to write a letter to one patient, in which the writer will pledge to "be more careful during the coming year" with a particular Torah commandment that the writer will specify in the letter, "in the merit that you and all who we pray for should be blessed with a speedy and complete recovery."

The organizers say that the letter may be anonymous, but "the recipient may be interested in knowing the synagogue or school you are affiliated with and where you live."

The letters can be sent to a central location ([email protected]) from where they will be sent to ill patients around the world.

The campaign, called Operation Refuah (Healing), is the brainchild of Sheila Nashofer and Hadassah Goldsmith of New Jersey, and is being sponsored by Susan Roth.

Mrs. Roth, speaking with an Arutz-7 correspondent today, said that the extent of the unity engendered by the campaign - "Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, and Satmar, and Lubavitch, and others, and from 32 countries all around the world - is truly an amazing and exciting phenomenon."

Miriam Hadani, the program's Israel representative, told Arutz-7 today, "The intention is that perhaps the unity, kindness, and love generated by Operation Refuah will invoke G-d's mercy to bring an end to the medical plague we are experiencing."

The program will be inaugurated this coming Saturday night at Rachel's Tomb; as Miriam Hadani said, "When something hurts, we run first to our mother. We hope that in her merit this operation will be crowned with success."