Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado (Federation) has launched the Jewish Response Fund for Victims of the Aurora Movie Theatre Tragedy to support and assist the victims and their families. One-hundred percent of all donations to the Jewish Response Fund will go to help the families who lost loved ones, those injured in the shooting, and other needs relating to the tragedy as they arise. There will be no administrative fees taken out of the donations to this fund.

“As evidenced by the response to our call for help during the fire emergency, the Jewish world mobilizes,” said Amy Toltz-Miller, Annual Campaign Chair. “We were there, fundraising for Haiti, Hurricane Katrina, the fires in Israel and we are here to offer support to our neighbors as well.”

This new fund grew organically, as a response to the many inquiries that Federation received. Because of the high interest from the Jewish community for an outlet to help, Federation created the Jewish Response Fund.

“No other community in this country understands terrorism more than the Jewish community,” said Federation president and CEO Doug Seserman.  “While the gunman in Aurora is a terrorist of a different kind than we’ve experience in Israel, don’t be mistaken. This guy is a heinous terrorist who gunned down innocent Coloradans to make some kind of psychotic point. As Jews, we are guided by the principle of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. And that’s not just the Jewish world. We are obligated to help in every way we can.”

As the community umbrella organization, Federation mobilizes resources to respond quickly to crisis situations. In response to the tragedy, Mayor Shmulik Rifman of Ramat HaNegev (Federation’s Partnership region) conveyed this message from his community:

“We are all stunned by the news of the brutal attack and the terrible tragedy of killing innocent people in Aurora. Needless to say we share the grief of all Coloradans. We mourn the lives of those who were killed and pray that those who were wounded will be healed speedily. Please share the Ramat HaNegev grief with the Denver/Boulder community.”

In addition to the Jewish Response Fund, Federation encourages the community to donate blood. While they were able to supply enough blood for the victims, Bonfils Blood Center is low on blood supply (especially since donations go down in summer) and needs to replenish. If you are eligible, think about donating blood in the days ahead: www.bonfils.org.

To donate, Federation has the following options:

• To make a donation online:  http://www.jewishcolorado.org/  or go directly to our donation page: http://jewi.sh/COshooting
• To donate by check, send your check made out to Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado with “Jewish Response Fund” in the memo to:  Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, 300 S. Dahlia, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80246.

If you or someone you know needs caring, professional therapists to help process feelings from this horrific event, the JFS Counseling Center is here to help. Call them at 303.597.5777.