Dear friends in Christ,

We write to you today with good news of partnership in ministry. Through the Jane O.P. Turner Fund, the Diocese of New Jersey is providing a $1 million gift to the Diocese of Jerusalem to support medical and trauma care for children, youth, and families in Gaza and the Palestinian Territories. This fund supports children and youth facing significant and lifelong medical challenges, including physical disabilities, injuries, and other serious conditions.

As you know, the war in Gaza has been catastrophic, particularly for children, youth, and families. According to UNICEF, at least 19,000 children have been killed over the past two years of war and the region now has more child amputees per capita than anywhere else in the world.  Jesus calls us to care for those who are in need and to be agents of healing, reconciliation, and hope. As siblings in Christ and fellow members of the Anglican Communion, we believe our mutual ministries can meet this moment and bring relief and healing to the people of Gaza and the Palestinian Territories.

We pledge to work together to support the medical ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem in the following ways:

·    Equip, restore, and sustain the pediatrics division of al-Ahli Arab Hospital: This hospital provides charitable medical care to all residents of Gaza, including treatments for child amputees and other victims of the war. The conflict destroyed equipment and facilities, killed physicians and nurses, and diminished staff support for critical medical situations. A portion of the gift will be used to rebuild pediatric facilities destroyed by war, to purchase needed medical equipment, and to support pediatricians, nurses, and staff who work with the children and youth of Gaza through the ministries of Ahli Arab Hospital.

·    Support and expand the work of the Princess Basma Center in Jerusalem and Gaza: This center works with disabled Palestinian children, adolescents, and families, providing ongoing care, therapy, education, and support. During the war, the center began to provide care in Gaza to child amputees and those suffering severe, life-altering injuries and physical trauma. A portion of the gift will be used to expand capacity to address complex needs and alleviate suffering, including for those children and youth whose disabilities require treatment in Jerusalem. 

·    Assist the medical ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem in work to support family wellness for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents suffering from debilitating and lifelong conditions: This initiative will provide support for families with qualifying medical challenges, with an emphasis on care for refugees, orphans, and families from disadvantaged backgrounds in Gaza and the Palestinian Territories.

·    Strengthen psychiatric and counseling support for young people and families suffering from the trauma of war: We recognize that without work to diminish trauma, the suffering of the children of Gaza will continue long after the Gaza War has ended. The gift will provide support for expanded psychiatric and therapeutic assistance to children, adolescents, and their families in Gaza through the work of al-Ahli Arab Hospital, the Princess Basma Center, and other medical ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem.

We give thanks for the generosity of the trustees of the Jane O.P. Turner Fund, for the full support of the New Jersey diocesan council and standing committee, and for the vision and compassion of Jane O.P. Turner, whose initial bequest provides the means for this work.

When the diocesan council of the Diocese of New Jersey was discussing ways to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the words from the Book of Esther came to mind. Perhaps it is “for such a time as this” that we have resources to alleviate suffering, provide lifesaving care, and improve the physical and mental well-being of a generation of children and youth whose lives have been devastated by war.

With this in mind, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving for this opportunity, prayers for a lasting and just peace, and prayers of hope for the lives that will be transformed by the work of the medical ministries of the Diocese of Jerusalem.

We urge the dioceses, congregations, and people of The Episcopal Church to join with us in this work by praying—and by giving financially to the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem to support these critical ministries.

Yours in Christ,