Torah Letters Obituaries Classified Bookstore Touching Base Israel-based groups experience a groundswell of interest. Contributing Writer Smoke billows from a burned out house in the Israeli Ein Hood artist village ,where a fierce forest fire destroyed several houses two years ago this month. A new wave of arson attacks has killed an estimated 1 million trees. With the escalation of violence in the Middle East, many within Los Angeles' Jewish community are turning to the local chapters of organizations that raise money or garner support for Israel to gather information, lend their support or as a way of voicing their opinions. The comments I have received in the last week or so have included expressions of concern.
People are distraught.
Many organizations say that since the violence began some two weeks ago, phone calls have been flooding their offices. Most organizations say they are keeping members abreast of the situation in the Middle East through e-mail updates. Along with the loss of life, Israel's infrastructure and the country's ability to save lives have been affected over the past two weeks. Some 23 ambulances have been destroyed since the violence began, according to Howard Parmet, executive director of American Red Magen David for Israel Pacific South West Region. These are ambulances that save lives.