Less than three weeks after a massive earthquake killed more than 8,000 in Nepal, a second major quake has struck. More deaths. More destruction to already devastated areas. And once again, an immediate response from relief agencies around the world, including the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Within hours of the April 25 quake, Chicago’s Federation began raising emergency funds – more than $130,000 so far – to support the critical relief efforts of its international partners on the ground – the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the “911 of the Jewish world,” and IsraAID, the coordinating body of Israeli charities devoted to global relief work. Those agencies, working with Israel Defense Forces medical teams, were among the first and largest international rescue and relief responses to the disaster.

In the wake of today’s earthquake, the Federation is continuing to support those teams as they save lives, care for the wounded and work to restore some degree of normalcy to the region. As always in such emergencies, the Jewish Federation is absorbing all administrative costs, so that 100 percent of funds collected will go to meeting needs on the ground.

We’re proud of our Jewish community’s compassion, and honored to serve as the conduit for its generosity.

Donations can be made online at www.JUF.org/NepalRelief , or by calling 312.444.2869 or sending a check payable to “JF Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund” to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, #3015, 30 S. Wells St. Chicago, IL 60606.