Americans Volunteering to Go to Israel Despite Missile Attacks

NEW YORK —  Despite the dangers posed by Iraqi missile attacks on Israel, American Jews and other supporters of the Jewish state are going to the beleaguered country to show their support.

While expressing “deep anguish and outrage” at the attack last Tuesday against the civilian population of Israel, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations announced that it is mounting a “mission of solidarity” to fly to the country tonight.

The mission will be led by Shoshana S. Cardin, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive director of the umbrella group, which represents 46 national Jewish organizations. It will also include seven past chairmen: Kenneth J. Bialkin, Seymour D. Reich, Theodore R. Mann, Rabbi Israel Miller, Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, Jacob Stein and Howard M. Squadron.

Volunteers for Israel, a New York-based agency that arranges trips for Americans who want to volunteer to work on military bases, hospitals and kibbutzes, has received more than 600 telephone calls since the Gulf War began from people offering their help to Israel.

Lynn White, a 27-year-old nurse from Ft. Collins, Colo., was one of the people who volunteered even though she is not Jewish. “I just know it’s right,” she said. “I feel so connected to those people, and in time of trouble I think I should do what I can.”