Shalom FIU to hold fundraiser for Syrian refugees

By: Denisse Machado Taboada/Contributing Writer

In an effort to raise money and awareness for Syrian refugees, the student organization Shalom FIU will be hosting a fundraiser event on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parkview Multipurpose Room.

Shalom means “peace” in Hebrew, but it encompasses well‑being, tranquility, prosperity and security and this is what the organization seeks to advocate – a space to leave politics aside and come together to help out, according to Meyer Grunberg, president of Shalom FIU.

“Shalom FIU is the Israel culture club on campus, we try to cover things that deal with Israel’s culture, of course, essential aspects, and obviously the political aspects. We are not exclusive to Jewish students; 21 percent of Israel’s population is not Jewish and we wanted to represent that demographic,” said Grunberg.

Moti Kahana, the founder of Amaliah, an aid group that works in Syria, will speak at Shalom’s event.

Amaliah is a Non-Governmental Organization based in Succasunna, New Jersey. They are seeking to create a “safe-zone” inside the Syrian border and offer relief for those most affected by armed conflict in the area by endorsing projects offering free medical treatment at a day-clinic located in Israel, access to education for Syrian children and delivering baskets of food, cleaning supplies and other necessities, according to their website.

The fundraiser will be open to all those who wish to participate; there will be a five dollar entrance fee and the chance to donate later in the evening. All proceeds will go towards helping to provide necessary aid to refugees affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria.

Syria has been in armed conflict since March 2011 and all these years of confrontation have left 13.1 million people in the country stranded in the middle of violence and destruction and in direct need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

“The idea is that Moti is going to speak and inspire people to donate in the moment,” said Grunberg. “This is an issue that matters for everyone, it is a humanitarian issue.”