In the midst of so much "bad" news coming out of Israel these days, we'd like to share with you the kind of news that simply inspires- the embodiment of "tikkun olam." The "newsmaker" is Dana Rone Saroken, a visiting JTS student, who has been with us at Schechter this entire year. She and a host of volunteers from SIJS and around the city, have set out on a project - "Dear Israel"- that is destined to bring smiles back to the faces of thousands of Israelis in the Jerusalem area.

In a campaign called "Dear Israel," more than ten thousand hand-made cards, drawings, and messages of hope from children around the world are to be put up around the capital, starting today. The solidarity greetings from US, Canadian, South American, and Russian children will be displayed in areas where Israelis have suffered the most in recent months. Sites of terrorist attacks such as the Moment Cafe, the French Hill junction, the number 32 bus stop in Beit Safafa, and the Sbarro's pizzeria on King George Avenue, will be plastered with posters, as will the fronts of stores that have closed because of the ongoing violence.

On July 1, Jerusalem's Central Bus Station will open a month-long exhibit of the drawings and messages. According to Egged, which is supporting the campaign, some 55,000 transit passengers will pass the exhibit daily.

The "Dear Israel" campaign was initiated by the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies and visiting rabbinical student Dana Rone Saroken. The institute is working to make the campaign national, on buses and in central bus stations.

Saroken, a native New Yorker, was organizing Pessah events for Israelis, Americans, and Russians in Petersburg when news broke of the devastating Netanya terrorist attack on March 27 in which 29 people were killed and 140 were wounded. Inspired by the outpouring of support for New Yorkers after the September 11 attacks, she and her husband, Rafi Rone sat up the first night after Passover, emailing 300 friends and asking them to put their hands to work in showing support for Israel.

"We were looking at the international news, and the sympathy for what these Israelis had just endured was not being communicated," said Saroken. "We wanted to show Israelis they are not alone."

Within weeks, her email had circulated around the world, and bags of mail started flooding Schechter from individual families and children from schools, synagogues, camps, and community centers.

Messages meant for soldiers and children were forwarded. Those to be posted spoke to the Israeli public. A fourth-grader in Pennsylvania wrote: "I hope once again your family will get to freely laugh and play: God, please help Israel, they are going through a lot, and they want peace, not war."