We would like to say a hardy Mazel Tov to the girls basketball team at Northwest Yeshiva, an Orthodox Jewish high school of about 95 students on Mercer Island, for being the first Jewish school in Washington history to qualify for a state basketball tournament. Equally impressive is the stand you have taken by not competing on the fast of Esther, the day before Purim. You have shown your true colors and are an example to athletes, girls and boys, and religious people everywhere. Read the story in the Yakima Herald.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to direct and provide aid to Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Our hearts go out to all who have lost a loved one and who are in dire need of medical, food, emotional and other ongoing support.

We urge you to donate to the JDC Haiti Relief Fund. Recent federal legislation allows you to take any Haiti donations as a 2009 tax deduction if you wish.

For days, the only operating room in Haiti was that of the Israeli Field Hospital. Read more.

We are partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide aid and relief to victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday.

We urge you to donate to the JDC Haiti Relief Fund.