by Rex Wockner
International News
Jerusalem's GLBT community center, Jerusalem Open House, is in "financial crisis," the board of directors said in an open letter to the community Oct. 22.
"As an organization that a high percentage of its annual budget is built on grants and gifts from abroad (mainly the U.S.), we are already feeling the pinch, as the flow of funds slows down from donors abroad," wrote Chairman of the Board Mikie Goldstein.
"During the first half of this year, we suffered the drastic fall in the value of the U.S. dollar, which shrank our dollar income by 20 percent. … We were then struck by … the collapse of banks and stock exchanges around the world. Some of our supporters have lost much money, others less; but they all feel intuitively less wealthy, and are therefore donating less, or waiting to see what happens."
Goldstein said the "serious cash flow situation" has left the center unable to pay staff salaries and forced it to reduce all employees' hours by half.
"We request your crucial help in ensuring the continuation of this singular institution," he said.
