Jane Eisner, the Forward‘s editor, recently traveled to Haiti to investigate the devastation left by the January earthquake and to see how Jewish dollars for relief are being put to use.

Eight Months Later, Haiti Struggles as Never Before

… Gideon Herscher, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee representative in Haiti, estimates that at least 17 Jewish and Israeli organizations have been involved in this tiny country this year, ranging from the well-known Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps Field Hospital, the first on the ground after the earthquake, to the modest Ve’ahavta, a Canadian humanitarian and relief organization.

Since January, Jewish groups have raised an estimated $14 million for Haitian relief, mostly in donations to the JDC and AJWS. The financial outpouring became a point of pride, a fresh sign that a community usually focused on Jews and Israel could also rally to address a humanitarian disaster occurring close to home – just two hours from Miami – but outside its sphere of comfort and concern.

Haiti’s Heartbreak from Jewish Forward on Vimeo.