A special $10,000 allocation from United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ will help a traditional festival of Jewish learning take place during Sukkot in a northern part of Israel damaged by this summer’s war in Lebanon.

The gathering is called the Hakal in Efal Festival, and since 1997 it has taken place at Efal College in Ramat Gan, a town near Tel Aviv.

But this year, organizers of the program are suggesting that the 12-hour program of Torah study and celebration be moved to Tel Chai Academic College near Kiryat Shemona, a town near Israel’s northern border that was attacked by Hizbullah rockets.

According to a press release issued by festival organizers, “[A]n event of this kind taking place at this time at Tel Chai would have important, positive impact on many areas related to the revitalization of the region and help put it back on its civilian, tourist, and ideological track after the trauma of the recent war.”

The contribution from MetroWest will cover part of the cost of the $250,000 festival, a pluralistic program with 100 different events that bring together scholars, students, artists, and members of the general public. It has drawn up to 4,000 participants in previous years.

The MetroWest donation is one part of the aid coming from national United Jewish Communities North America-wide Israel Emergency Campaign.

To date, MetroWest has received $4.3 million, nearly half of the $9 million in funds it has been tasked with raising by Yom Kippur.

To raise community awareness of Israel’s need to rebuild damaged structures and bolster social services, the UJC MetroWest Community Relations Committee will sponsor a lunchtime talk on Friday, Sept. 15, by visiting Israeli journalist Tovah Lazaroff, who covered the war in northern Israel for The Jerusalem Post.

Her noon talk will be held at the law firm of Grotta, Glassman, and Hoffman at 75 Eisenhower Parkway in Roseland. Admission is free, and those wishing to attend may bring a brown-bag lunch; beverages and cookies will be provided.

Among other community events centering on Israel will be a speech by an Israeli soldier at the UJC MetroWest board meeting Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus in Whippany.

One week later, on Wednesday, Sept. 27, Dennis Ross, former American ambassador to the United Nations, will be the guest speaker at a major gifts event at the Crystal Plaza in Livingston.

Those invited have given at least $10,000 to the 2006 annual UJA Campaign and/or the Israel Emergency Campaign, or have donated at the $5,000 level to the Young Leadership Division.

Those wishing to contribute to the IEC can make pledges on-line, by telephoning 973-929-3042, or by sending checks and money orders (write “IEC” in the memo line) to United Jewish Appeal, 901 Route 10, Whippany, NJ 07981.