Sending Strength through the Phone Wires

Cucumber Communications is offering a valuable service for people who have friends and relatives in Israel. We are providing one hour's free telephone service to give people the freedom to call and lend their moral support without worrying about the cost.

LAKEWOOD, NJ -With American bombs dropping in Iraq, Israeli parents are getting used to packing gas masks with their childrens schoolbooks and pencils. Emergency drills and safe rooms are becoming part of the new definition of normal."

Here in the U.S., the thousands of families with relatives in Israel feel the distance more keenly than ever. The simple act of calling up just to say hello, check in and see how everyone is doing is far from simple -- and far from affordable -- when family is far away.

To help American families keep the lines of communication open; one phone company is donating one hours free service to Israel to its customers, many of whom have relatives in the Mideast.

Even though life in Israel has been precarious for some time now, the onset of war obviously creates a whole new level of concern," said Chana Nestlebaum, spokesperson for Cucumber Communications, the long-distance service offering the free calls. People have enough to worry about. We can at least do something to relieve the financial burden of staying in touch."

The free calls are being provided through a calling card called the Chazak Card. Chazak, pronounced with a hard h" as in chutzpah," is Hebrew for strength." The card is being provided as a means for people to strengthen the spirits of their relatives in the region.

Any Cucumber customer wishing to take advantage of the free service should call 1-888-9-CHAZAK (1-888-924-2925).

The company took this extra measure as an act of charity in a time of need. At this moment in history, the telephone is more than a piece of technology," said Mrs. Nestlebaum. Its peace of mind."