The Israel Bonds National Women’s Division raised awareness and support for the Magen David Adom Human Milk Bank, a vital resource that collects and distributes breast milk to thousands of babies in need across Israel, at the “Double Mitzvah Summer Kickoff Event” on July 12 in South Orange.
Israel Bonds’ double mitzvah program offers the unique opportunity to benefit the State of Israel directly by investing in an Israel bond and then donating it to a charity. The organization has a specific bond designated for this purpose, called the Shalom Bond, which is available in one- or two-year options. The charity receives the principal and interest when the bond matures.
“It’s a meaningful way to support Israel Bonds and a charity,” said the event’s host, Cathy Distelburger, Chair of the Israel Bonds National Women’s Division.
The event’s featured speaker was Dr. Sarah Rieber, women’s health nurse practitioner, internally board-certified lactation consultant, and perinatal mental health certified. Israel Bonds’ National Women’s Division chose the Magen David Adom Human Milk Bank as the event’s beneficiary after a delegation from the division visited the facility last October.
“I was so moved by the benefits and the need for human milk to save babies’ lives,” Distelburger said. “We saw firsthand the need to keep babies safe. As the Talmud says, ‘He who saves a single life, it is as if he has saved an entire world.’”
According to Distelburger, on its next delegation to Israel, the Women’s Division is aiming to have a plaque displayed at the milk bank to demonstrate “the support of our Women’s Division investors around the country.”
“This is just the first event to explain the importance of this project and to encourage investors in bonds to help both the State of Israel and the milk bank in Israel,” Distelburger said. “We are determined and show the strength of women in this organization and truly committed to investing and donating towards helping babies survive in Israel.”
Distelburger noted that the Israel Bonds National Women’s Division was established in 1953 by former Israeli Prime Ministers David Ben-Gurion and Golda Meir, who “gave us the responsibility to educate women as to why they should invest in Israel bonds.”
“Since that time, women have proven their commitment to this organization through leadership and investments,” she said. “When I started my term as Chair, we had a call to action and our highly motivated women on my council have been working to ensure the strength of female investors for Israel Bonds. Right now, 40% of all U.S. investors in Israel Bonds are women. It has been an honor to create great initiatives with women all over the country, and I am especially proud of our collaboration with the Magen David Adom Human Milk Bank.”
More information on the Israel Bonds double mitzvah program’s campaign for the milk bank is available at https://www.israelbonds.com/WDforMDA
