FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EL AL AND “BEARS FROM BERGENFIELD” BRING
COMFORT TO PEOPLE IN NEED IN ISRAEL
EL AL Makes a 7th Grade Classroom’s Great Act of Kindness Possible
New York, NY - October 5, 2006 - EL AL Israel Airlines responds to Israeli children in need by providing continuous aid to “Bears from Bergenfield,” a tzedakah (charity) project run out of the 7th grade religious school at Congregation Beth Israel in Bergenfield, New Jersey. So far, EL AL has carried more than 42,000 toys to Israel that have been delivered to a variety of charities including impoverished and orphaned children.
Claire Ginsburg Goldstein and her children, Sam and Shira, founded “Bears from Bergenfield” in 2002. Sam, eleven years old at the time, came up with the idea of sending teddy bears to children in need in Israel. Claire,a religious schoolteacher, mentioned the idea to her class, and within a week received their very first donation. The initial shipment of thirty bears, brought over by Sharon Evans, founder of Project Embrace, and organization for victims of terror, raised awareness at their school and various community organizations, and support for the project grew at a tremendous rate. To date, “Bears from Bergenfield” has collected over 42,000 new and slightly used stuffed animals and teddy bears, with donations continuing to pour in.
Upon arrival in Israel, the teddy bears are always greeted by a retired American couple, Betty and Ed Wolfe, from Monsey, New York who immigrated to Israel (Aliyah) forty years ago. The bears are then transported by the Wolfe’s from the EL AL terminal to their first drop off point, Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba received by Debby Shkedi, and then on to a variety of shelters, charities, hospitals, organizations, Jewish Community Centers, and orphanages, where they are distributed to young people of all ages.
“Without EL AL’s assistance and the enthusiasm of its employees, our mission to help Israel’s children in need would have never been possible,” stated Goldstein. “We are so proud to be working with EL AL and appreciative of its ongoing kindness and generosity, which has helped us continue to forge forward in bringing more and more toys to Israel.”
Shown Here:
Campers from Surprise Lake Camp in Cold Spring, NY bound for Israel gather at New York’s JFK Airport before taking off on an EL AL flight to Tel Aviv to deliver the “Bears from Bergenfield” to children in need.
About EL AL
EL AL, Israel’s national airline, offers the most nonstop flights between New York (JFK/Newark) and Israel, the only nonstop service from Miami, the only nonstop service from Los Angeles (as of July 23, 2006) and the only direct service from Chicago (four times weekly, effective October 22, 2006). From the USA, EL AL codeshares with Delta Airlines and offers special fares from 48 additional cities. EL AL is the only airline with First Class service on nonstop flights between the U.S. and Israel. EL AL flies to more than 40 destinations worldwide from Israel. Your Israel experience begins the moment you board EL AL.
EL AL embodies Israel’s values of innovation and caring and the promise of a genuine Israeli welcome. EL AL is proud to bring tourism back to Israel. For updated daily departure and arrival flight information, travelers can call (800) EL AL-747, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For reservations, call (800) 223-6700 or in the New York area (212) 768-9200 or any travel agent or visit www.elal.com
EL AL. It’s not just an airline. It’s Israel.
# # #
EL AL Israel Airlines LTD.
15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010 www.elal.com
