RESIDENTS HELP MIDEAST VICTIMS.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- People in Santa Clarita may be halfway around the world from Israel and Lebanon, but they are opening up their wallets to help victims of the violence there.

Jewish people are funneling money to several relief agencies, both in the United States and abroad, as violence escalates in the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

``There's a thing in Jewish tradition that all Jews are responsible for each other,'' said Rabbi Steve Conn of Congregation Beth Shalom. ``There is a fundamental connection between Jewish people. No matter where we are geographically we feel responsible to help and support each other in times of crisis.''

Some prefer the convenient click of a mouse, with online donation forms and credit card payments. Others feel more connected handing a check to their religious leader.

``We have teamed up with an organization in Israel that offers food and shelter for families forced to move out of northern Israel,'' said Rabbi Choni Marozov of Chabad of SCV. ``They provide financial and emotional help.''

The nearly $6,000 donated by Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley Chabad congregants in the past two weeks is earmarked for the Colel Chabad emergency relief fund in Israel. The organization operates soup kitchens, provides food, clothes and shelter for the needy, and has opened camps to house thousands of children who fled the violence in northern Israel for a safe haven in the central part of the country.

About $500 was raised for the Israel Emergency Fund at last week's joint service for Beth Shalom and Temple Beth Ami congregants. In the past few weeks, more than $10 million has been donated to the fund, administered by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

``People rally during a crisis,'' said Deborah Dragon, a spokeswoman for the organization.

Some seek a more personal touch, wielding a paintbrush or hammer.

``We decided we wanted to do more than raise money,'' said Rabbi Mark Blazer of Beth Ami. ``A lot of our college students went to Louisiana to help rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and now we want to bring that same energy to rebuilding the northern part of Israel.''

During winter break, students and adults plan to travel to Haifa and the north of Israel to help reconstruct what was lost. Blazer said this congregants -- and many non-Jews in the community -- have donated thousands to relief efforts in Israel.

Conn does not oversee his congregants' generosity, but encourages them to support three groups: the conservative Masorti Movement, which performs relief work; the Jewish National Fund, which helps repair environmental damage; and the Israel Emergency Fund.

The urge to help transcends religious or cultural bonds.

The Rev. Lynn Jay of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church says worshippers have sent checks to Episcopal Relief and Development, a worldwide relief effort that has set up a Middle East Crisis Fund.

The ERD has partnered with other groups to provide aid to people in Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Beirut, Saida and Beqaa. They helped furnish more than 12,000 people with food, medicine and cleaning and hygiene items, and provided emergency aid to the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, where a shortage of clean water has spawned a cholera outbreak.

The Rev. Stan Fix of Santa Clarita United Methodist Church said religious affiliation is secondary when it comes to lending a hand.

``We rely on missionaries and church groups to identify clinics and the greatest emergency needs,'' he said. That goes for Israel, the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon. ``When you get into places like this, the lines between denominational churches blur. It's not a matter of concern.''

The United Methodist Committee on Relief assists civilians caught in the fighting on all sides. Fix said the relief agency issued an appeal for funds this week, and he expects his worshippers to respond.

Attempts to contact the Santa Clarita Islamic Center, the Northridge Islamic Center and the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley were unsuccessful.

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

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