Going to the Ukraine, and I need YOUR help!

8 February 2011

Friends and Family,

I know many of you have been receiving emails from me already regarding this trip, but the presence of this letter shows that I still have not yet raised the money in order for me to participate. I currently have raised $670! This is very exciting. The goals is for each participant to raise $2500, so I am not quite there yet. Every little bit helps. Here is a little bit about the program and what we will be doing. Please take the time to read the information and if possible to make a donation.

In partnership with the World Union for Progressive Judaism, which unites and supports Reform congregations worldwide, this will be the Ninth Annual FSU Pesach Project. The mission of the trip is to provide meaningful Passover celebrations for thousands of under-served Jews in the region. While there has been an abundance of Jewish philanthropy and development in the FSU since the 1990s, there are still only six progressive rabbis to serve over one hundred Jewish communities during Passover.

Our student delegations will be traveling to at least eight communities throughout Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in order to lead Passover seders, conduct educational programming, create relationships with Jews of all ages, and strengthen the Jewish identity of these diverse communities. To read testimonials from past participants, view pictures and videos, and see my very own bio please check out our website here.

As I begin my journey of supporting Jewish communities worldwide I hope that you will be able to support me in this student-led initiative. The cost of participation for each delegate is $2,500, which includes: travel expenses, educational materials, Passover supplies for all the participants, as well as donations to each community--which will enable them to continue observing Passover in the years to come.

HUC’s FSU Pesach Project serves as an important way to recognize the profound importance of celebrating the Jewish story of liberation in a place where freedom from oppression is a real and recent experience. Any amount you can contribute will make a huge difference in offsetting the costs of participation.

Tax-deductible donations can be made online or via USPS:

Online: http://fsupesachproject2011.wordpress.com/donations/

There you will find a link to the HUC-JIR Donation page. Be sure to mark my name in the “comments” section.

By mail:

HUC-JIR Attn: Diane Bongard

3101 Clifton Avenue

Cincinnati, OH 45220

Checks should be made out to “HUC-JIR-FSU Project”, please also mark my name in the memo line.

If you have any questions regarding this exciting project, please email me at mccabe.jaclyn@gmail.com. I want to thank you in advance for your commitment to making this project a success. Every little bit counts!

Thank you very much

Спасибо

Jaqui McCabe