“There are lonely people and people who need help with no one to help them, so it’s comforting that you come to my home,” says Rosette Afker, age 80, one of nearly half a million Israelis we’ve assisted in the past year.
One year since the tragic events of October 7. This is a day of remembrance and pain, but also of determination to rehabilitate and strengthen Israeli society. On this day, we remember the fallen, embrace the bereaved families, and pray for the return of the hostages. We also commit to continuing our work to strengthen Israeli society’s resilience.
Since our establishment in 1910, we have worked for the most vulnerable populations in Israel. Immediately upon the outbreak of war, we expanded our activities and initiated new programs to strengthen mental and economic resilience, focusing on providing immediate assistance to evacuees, reserve soldiers, residents in conflict zones, the unemployed, elderly, people with disabilities, and children. We mobilized all our knowledge and experience through our professionals to extend a helping hand and support. And we will continue, together, in rehabilitation and rebuilding.
Immediate Assistance: Addressing Urgent Needs
We carried out necessary emergency actions: We made mental health and rehabilitation services accessible, developed solutions for evacuated populations, and provided economic recovery solutions including:
- Operated day centers for elderly evacuees in hotels. At peak times, we operated 60 temporary day centers that provided support to about 14,300 elderly people in hotels and their homes. 21 of these continue to operate today.
- Assisted approximately 7,200 people with disabilities through the Center for Independent Living network and provided tools to cope with the crisis to continue living full and meaningful lives.
- Operated innovative treatment programs using games and “Hibuki” dolls. These programs helped about 13,000 children who experienced severe trauma, giving them and their families coping tools.
- Recruited 72 community supporters for 44 local authorities, who helped and continue to help 10,650 elderly people in the north and south.
- Provided employment support to evacuees in 130 hotels nationwide. These centers helped about 2,500 evacuees return to work.
- Assisted evacuees in accessing their rights: Mobile rights units helped them obtain about $15 million in government benefits.
- Over 153,000 Israelis used our ‘Nafshi’ portal, offering about 450 mental health support services and programs.
- Trained 10,188 professionals from education, employment, social services, civic services, and youth movements in dealing with trauma and loss. And many more activities and programs currently operating in the field.
The situation requires us to continue strengthening vulnerable populations, and we are prepared for possible escalation with humanitarian assistance in authorities that need it.
We developed and implemented a humanitarian emergency initiative assisting local authorities in strengthening their crisis and emergency preparedness. 18 northern authorities joined the initiative, where each authority appointed a coordinator, implemented information systems, and received funding to respond quickly and efficiently in emergencies. Together with authority personnel and volunteers, we reached 30,000 households, approximately 120,000 people. Our system is prepared to provide when needed: food, evacuations, nursing care, diapers, and other essential supplies.
Long-term Rebuilding
We set a goal to work toward rehabilitating and rebuilding personal and community resilience. We believe that a strong community is the key to a strong society.
For this purpose, we developed ‘Mashiv HaRuach’ – a long-term strategic initiative aimed at strengthening affected communities and settlements. In cooperation with local authorities, we map each community’s unique needs and create personalized programs. These programs focus on various aspects of life, such as education, employment, and assistance to small businesses, aiming to restore residents’ sense of security and control. The program is already operating successfully in Ashkelon, Ofakim, and Rahat, and recently began operating in Nahariya. The program reaches over 76,500 people.
Additionally, we provide assistance to northern frontier authorities for rehabilitation, development, and strengthening of affected areas. This is done through strategic planning, emphasizing challenges in education, tourism, health, and community, aimed at properly preparing for the return home.
Expanding the Support Circle: Together for a Strong Israeli Society
Now, more than ever, our activities spread throughout the country and to various sectors and populations in Israeli society. Together with our partners – government ministries, philanthropy, civil society organizations, and businesses – we continue to provide immediate and long-term assistance. We will continue to extend a helping hand and support, build and rehabilitate, for Israeli society.
Praying for the return of the hostages and better days ahead.
