A burned out kitchen in a home destroyed by the wildfires in Haifa on Nov. 25. Photo: Gili Year/Flash90.

JNS.org – The heads of the Jewish Agency and Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) visited Haifa Wednesday to distribute aid funds to victims of last week’s wildfires.

“In these trying times, the Jewish world is united in concern for those Israelis rendered homeless by the recent wildfires,” said Natan Sharansky, the Jewish Agency’s chairman.

During his visit, Boston CJP leader Barry Shrage praised Haifa’s emergency responders for successfully evacuating some 60,000 residents without any deaths and only minor injuries.

“The secret of this miracle is hundreds of dedicated intelligent, caring and committed staff and volunteers, led by some of the very best professionals I’ve ever met,” Shrage said. “Haifa is a strong community characterized by mutual respect, cooperation, inclusion and hope. Boston is blessed to be partnering with this community and grateful for the cooperation of the Jewish Agency and the JDC (Joint Distribution Committee).”

The Jewish Agency announced earlier this week it would distribute grants of $1,000 per family to victims across Israel whose homes were severely damaged and made uninhabitable by the recent wildfires. The grants were made possible through funding from the Jewish Federations of North America, the Boston CJP and the Jewish United Fund of Chicago as well as Keren Hayesod-UIA and other donors.