By Eliezer Edelman, Executive Director, OU Operations and Management
November 1, 2006

Orthodox Union Statement on Israel Emergency Campaign
The Orthodox Union understands and accepts that a portion of the funds raised for the UJC Israel Emergency Campaign go towards the welfare of Israeli Arab citizens. This is both halachically and ethically appropriate.

Certainly the funds raised through our own OU campaign (even before we joined forces with UJC) went to benefit Arab citizens as well as Jewish.

We have always expressed pride that organizations like Shaarei Zedek Hospital, an Orthodox institution which raises its funds from Jewish sources, serve the Israeli Arab population with not the slightest suggestion of discrimination. We should do no less.