In response to a request from Arad, members of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey community have donated personal supplies for 300 Israel Defense Forces soldiers who are starting thier active military duty.

Partnership 2000 in Arad-Israel requested items such as socks, personal hygiene items and towels for the soldiers from the area of Arad, federation's Partnership 2000 sister city in Israel.

The response from the community was "unbelievable," said Stanley Stone, federation executive vice president. "Not one person we contacted said 'no' to our request for help."

In two days, the federation managed to collect all the requested supplies, which were, said Stone, either donated or purchased at cost.

The call from Arad came shortly before a 30-member federation delegation was scheduled to leave Jan. 6 on a five-day mission to Israel. The plan, said Stone, was to transport the supplies on the Saturday night mission flight to Israel.

"This was a demonstration of a labor of love, and the people we contacted realized that these young men are putting their lives on the line, not just to defend the country, but for us as a Jewish people," said Stone, who accompanied the mission.

Mission participants spent Tuesday, Jan. 9, in Arad, helping resident's package the supplies for the 300 soldiers.

Among those who contributed items were Warren Eisenberg of Short Hills, owner of Bed Bath and Beyond; Joe Spector of Westfield, owner of the Leader Army and Navy stores, a merchandise chain; Howard Rood of Scotch Plains, Rood Associates; and Jerry Forman of Westfield.

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Shvat 5761 - February 2001