Following the October 7th terror attacks, Jewish Federation launched a full-scale Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC) to address the unprecedented needs in Israel. We established a special Israel Emergency Allocations Committee, chaired by Stephen Gaerber and comprised of dedicated volunteers to oversee the distribution of funds to meet both the immediate needs of those directly impacted by the attack and mid and long-term needs that continue to evolve as the war continues.
Over the last two months, the IEC Committee has approved additional grants in the amount of $877,900 CAD in the areas of emergency health and trauma care, emergency and basic needs, and evacuation, housing, respite and support for frontline communities. Below is a comprehensive list of the new allocations, the recipient organizations, and a high-level description of their work.
Har VaGai High School
The school, normally located in Kibbutz Dafna in the Upper Galilee, had to move to a temporary facility further south in a factory due to the war. It serves 1,200 teens from across the region and has requested support to set up a cafeteria and acquire outdoor sports and games equipment for the new school year.
Mevo Galil Elementary School
The school in Kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar serves seven local communities and has around 600 students. It is welcoming over 90 new children, many of whom are from evacuated communities, for the new school year. In order to make space for more classrooms and mobile shelters, the schoolyard was overturned, which has unfortunately ruined many play areas. This funding will enable the school to build playground structures so children can play outdoors safely.
The National Institute of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
The Institute specializes in neuropsychological and psychosocial rehabilitation for adults with brain damage and individuals experiencing emotional, behavioural, and cognitive reactions to traumatic events. They applied for funding for Returning to Life, a program which offers a holistic day program with customized plans for each participant. The program includes individual treatments like psychotherapy, cognitive training, and group therapies focusing on attention, memory, executive functioning, interpersonal communication, and vocational skills.
Galil Elyon Hospice
This hospice provides palliative care for patients of the Upper Galilee. Much of the staff and their patients live on the edges of or within the war zone, and treatments are often delivered at patients’ homes when it is safe to do so. They require funding for an additional nurse, transportation costs, and psychological support for staff for a period of four months.
The Mevo’ot HaHermon Education Department
In the Mevo’ot HaHermon region, schools that were evacuated are now operating in new temporary facilities. There is a shortage of teachers and staff, and kindergarten classes are over capacity due to the returning and new children from evacuated communities. The organization applied for funding to hire several kindergarten assistants to address the increase in children in the region due to evacuees returning closer to their homes.
JDC-ELKA
The organization is working with 24 municipalities on the northern frontline to develop work plans for securing government funding for rebuilding and rehabilitation. These plans address unique issues in each municipality, such as improving living conditions, attracting and retaining residents, and enhancing the operational capacity of local authorities to lead sustainable, long-term rehabilitation and development. The program leverages the organization's expertise in working with the government and their relationships with regional leaders to assist in securing funding to heal and rebuild.
ENOSH
The organization is the leading and largest mental health organization in Israel. It is opening a new unit in Rosh Pina and Katzerin to provide emotional support services for youth and young adults. The existing services in the area are insufficient, leading to long waiting lists for treatment. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the demand for mental health services and the available support in the region. The funds will be allocated to a new unit that will offer short-term focused therapy (up to 12 sessions), long-term therapy (up to 36 sessions), psychiatric consultation and support, parental guidance, and group therapies focusing on trauma, grief, and bereavement.
Kiryat Shmona Stress Prevention Center
After a Hezbollah rocket struck a playground in Majdal Shams, killing 12 children, our partners at Mashabim reached out for emergency assistance. Apart from opening the Emergency Resilience Centre to the community and managing many elements of this emergency, they are also helping the Golan municipalities with emergency purchases, from food to equipment for the resilience centre and much more.
Previous Update.
The initial strategy of the IEC was focused on seeking and approving proposals that met funding categories designed to provide assistance to those who needed it most. With the ongoing escalation of hostilities in the North and our community’s strong connection to our partnership region in the Upper Galilee, the IEC Allocations Committee has now realigned its strategy to focus on the unique needs of Israelis in the north.
Below is a comprehensive list of recipient organizations by category and a high-level description of their work.
EMERGENCY AND BASIC NEEDS
Supporting national and local organizations that provide survivors, evacuees, and all Israelis’ basic needs during the war, including emergency assistance to those directly impacted by the Oct 7th attack.
Bring Them Back Home
Psychological support for the families of those missing and held hostage.
East Galilee Cluster
Emergency Preparedness Command Centres.
Galila
Medical kits for communities of the Eastern Galilee Cluster.
Israel Association of Community Centres (IACC)
Supporting Emergency Preparedness for Northern Community Centres, including equipment and Supplies.
Magen David Adom
Purchase of an ambulance.
United Hatzalah
Protective gear units for 40 volunteer first responders.
Ziv and Poriya Hospitals
Emergency Response Equipment and Supplies.
Pitachon Lev
Emergency humanitarian aid.
Latet
Winter kits for people in need.
Hannaton Education Center
Support for Kibbutz Hannaton to continue to house families of asylum seekers from Sderot, who were evacuated and have nowhere else to go.
Municipalities in Eastern Galilee Cluster
Emergency equipment for Northern communities.
EVACUATION, HOUSING, RESPITE AND SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE COMMUNITIES
Supporting organizations across Israel in addressing the immediate needs of displaced communities; helping them feel a sense of normalcy and build resilience through educational programs and respite support.
Dror Israel
Therapeutic and educational programs for children and families, including daycare for hospital workers' children and day camp activities for kids ages 3-12, and in-person and online activities. Summer programs for evacuated children from Kiryat Shmona and Northern Israel communities.
Israel Association of Community Centres (IACC)
Respite for vulnerable families in Kiryat Shmona, and funding for community centers in two Southern communities for evacuation services, day outings, overnight retreats, emergency and medical equipment and provisions, generators, and essential supplies such as food, diapers, and more.
Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
Provided a five-day respite period for 2,000 olim from absorption centers in Southern Israel so they can sleep through the night without fear of having to run to shelters.
Kedma
Emergency Support for Southern Student Communities: mental health professionals providing on-the-ground support, including informal programming to fortify community resilience and minimize the risk of PTSD.
Ramat Negev Regional Council
Kitchen Centers for Evacuated Communities.
Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council
Respite and treatment for young adults and terror attack survivors.
Sidney Warren Science Education Centre
Science Education Programs for Residents and Evacuees in the North.
Tel-Hai College
Supporting students and alumni in the south through stress and trauma teams and art centres.
Shahaf Foundation with Kiryat Shmona Community Center
Capacity building for evacuated municipalities.
Summer Camps Israel
Winter camps for evacuated children.
Elem
Safe spaces for at-risk youth.
Israel Diving Federation
Therapeutic diving excursions for survivors and evacuees from both Northern and Southern Israel.
Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI)
Therapeutic nature respite for teenagers.
Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
Sport and group activities for children.
Taglit-Birthright Israel
Funding for week-long respites for residents of Eastern Galilee who have not been officially evacuated but whose homes are still within range and without access to facilities due to closures.
Kiryat Shmona Community Centre
Long-term evacuation of their residents and community resilience for evacuated municipalities.
EMERGENCY HEALTH AND TRAUMA CARE
Supporting mental healthcare institutions that provide emergency care to survivors and evacuees who have undergone traumatic events and require immediate support. As well as medical centers on the frontline who require assistance in building capacity to address emergency situations due to the war along the country’s borders.
ADI-Negev Nahalat Eran
Respite and Support for People with Disabilities.
Beit HaLochem
Support and therapeutic services for senior veterans suffering from PTSD and newly injured veterans.
Israel Centre for Addictions
Trauma Counselling for Survivors of the Music Festival.
Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC)
Immediate, direct care to minimize the number of people who suffer from PTSD, and support for bereaved families, families of the missing and abducted, and the injured and their families.
Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
Fund for Victims of Terror to assist victims within 48 hours of their homes being damaged by rocket fire, and long-term rehabilitation grants for post-trauma care for those impacted by terrorism.
Mashabim Community Stress Prevention Center
Mental health care for residents from northern communities.
Yeelim Center at Ein Yael
Nature therapy for survivors of the Nova festival, families of soldiers, evacuees, and more.
Haruv Institute
A leader in training professionals to treat children suffering from trauma, abuse, and neglect is providing training for Eshkol Region healthcare professionals who are treating children.
Ziv Medical Center
Funding to expand the emergency mental health services to respond to the evolving needs and growing numbers of patients, including the installation of a Safe Room in the Psychiatric Unit.
Kiryat Shmona Psychiatric Unit
Operating temporarily from Tiberias, funding will be used to build a safe room at the Kiryat Shmona facility to ensure continued treatment of patients upon their return home.
Road to Recovery
Transportation for evacuees from across the country to reach their treatment sessions in their home regions, which are now often miles away.
Upper Galilee Hospice
Support for terminally ill evacuated patients and their caregivers.
Tzafon Medical Center
Rehabilitation training for healthcare professionals in Northern Israel.
Magen David Adom Israel
General support for emergency services.
Galilee Medical Center
Medical equipment for rehabilitation treatment and ultrasound equipment for rehabilitative neurosurgery.
Healthy Minds
Providing free virtual psychiatric care in the north.
CIVIL SOCIETY AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT
Supporting national and local organizations Israel-wide in addressing the challenges of community disruption, loss of livelihood, and a decreased sense of resilience while also developing long-term strategic plans to minimize these impacts in the future.
Israeli Hostages Advocacy Fund
Supporting frontline work and international advocacy to release the hostages.
Leket Israel
Supporting food distribution from farms in the South to vulnerable populations.
Ogen
Financial mentorship for individuals and families.
Yozmot Atid
Mentorship and support for evacuated businesswomen, some of whom have spouses serving as reservists.
Kiryat Shmona High School
Matriculation exam "boot camps" for evacuated teens in Kiryat Shmona.
Upper Galilee Regional Council
Summer programs for youth of the Upper Galilee region.
Tel-Hai College
Stipends for students who have been affected by the war to assist them in completing their studies during these challenging times.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Supporting national and local organizations that provide for the needs of specific groups in Israeli society whose vulnerabilities are framed by their unique, disadvantaged circumstances.
Beit Issie Shapiro
Rehabilitation and therapy programs for evacuees and survivors with disabilities.
Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
Emergency support for disabled populations of the south, including a designated hotline staffed by psychologists and social workers.
Kishorit
Support for a community of adults with disabilities on the Northern Frontline.
Ramat Negev Regional Council
Mobile shelters for a Bedouin School.
Shalva National Crisis Response Center
Emergency support and housing for 1,000 disabled evacuees from Southern Israel, including: clothing, medications, and supplies, as well as the necessary social services support to help them process the recent trauma.
Adler Institute
Support programs for returning reservists and their families to address the specific needs related to returning from service.
Israel Medical Association
Body-image rehabilitation and positive self-esteem workshops for combat soldiers with limb amputations.
Orthodox Union
General support.
The impact we’re making, together.
The Israel Emergency Campaign has enabled our Federation to allocate substantial funding to help thousands of individuals and families directly impacted while strategically looking to the future and the recovery process.
We will continue to monitor closely the evolving situation and needs to prioritize the next round of grants. We are committed to providing transparent updates about how we are directing donor dollars for the greatest impact.
Please support the Israel Emergency Campaign today.
100% of emergency funds contributed will be directly targeted to respond to the crisis situation. Apart from credit card processing fees, no administrative charges will be levied by Jewish Federation or its agents in the disbursement of these emergency funds.