Israel at War: Supporting Jewish and Israeli Women's Organizations

As the war forced upon Israel by the murderous Hamas attack enters its 68^th day, needs continue to evolve and change, but they don’t relent.

Our staff in Israel is in permanent contact with civil society organizations, the IDF Home Front Command, and all relevant governmental agencies. They can assess the shifting priorities in real time.

As we’ve been saying in previous updates, you can reach out to concierge@jfunders.org for personalized advice on how to best direct your philanthropy in these times of crisis.

A few salient points this week (some are going to be a little more data heavy than in previous updates):

• The government reports that, as of today, there are 116,502 evacuees from both the North and the South. 68,051 of them are housed in hotels. This number may not include all the self-evacuees.
• From those 116,502: 19,844 are from the Gaza Envelope (communities that within the 4km radius from the border), 27,193 are from the city of Sderot, 15,221 are from communities in the 4 to 7km radius from the border, and 561 are from the city of Ashkelon (which is 15 km from Gaza but suffers daily rocket barrages). In the North, 22,759 are from communities up to 2km from the Lebanese border, 9,067 from the 2-3km radius from the border, and 1,555 are from the 3-5km radius. 19,764 are from the border city of Kiriat Shmona. The government is now working on plans for either their return or for a longer-term accommodation of evacuees. It’s estimated that over January 2024, the 4-7km evacuees will return home. The situation in the North will depend on the military realities, with the government unwilling to risk a population return until Hezbollah has been pushed beyond a buffer zone in Lebanon.
• In the Gaza Envelope, most communities are physically destroyed, and a speedy return is not possible. Plans are being drawn up for each of the communities affected. Most of the kibbutzim prefer to move as a community and be housed in the same place. Nine communities already have a mid-term plan. Seven communities are staying in hotels until the return, and eight are still evaluating alternatives. All these are going to need help and assistance in the immediate, mid, and long-term.
• The government has decided to allocate 18 billion NIS (USD 4.9 billion) to the authority for reconstruction of the South (Tkuma). However, that’s a cabinet decision, not “cash in the bank.” It’s also still unclear how those funds are going to be disbursed.
• The government is still showing signs of dysfunction. While some departments are doing great work, civil society and philanthropy continue (and will continue) to play a central role in others.
• Federations and JFNA continue to raise significant funds and disbursements are being made, while significant resources are being saved for long-term recovery efforts.
• As I mentioned in previous updates, JFN is spearheading several initiatives for “the day after.” One of them, to be launched next Tuesday, uses “future scenarios” to help different sectors strategize for the uncertain future ahead and take steps to ensure their resilience. JFN members can attend the presentation and can RSVP here. You can see an in-depth explanation of the process here. The scenarios are also available for funders and organization on our website, including a guide on how to work with them.
• JFN has conducted over 20 briefings and events related to the crisis, that have been attended by over 1,900 members and partners. Please, stay tuned for more briefings, webinars, and convenings, as we move from “general” updates to more targeted, sector-based conversations.
• As you surely know, the plight of the hostages and their families continues and support is still needed, lest their ordeal becomes forgotten by the world. The material and psychological needs of the families haven’t abated.
• Vulnerable populations are at increased risk, and there’s renewed emphasis on youth at risk among the evacuees. However, the risk for young people is pervasive. As a social worker told me this week, “Every young person is now at risk.” Funders are encouraged to support nonprofits tackling this issue.
• The issue of shared society and the relationship between Arab and Jews inside Israel is still of great concern. While Israeli Arabs feel more Israeli than ever, there’s fear of a spillage of animosity and even violence. For example, 50% of Arab students and 25% of Jewish students say they’re afraid of the “other” in the university context. Continuous vigilance and permanent focus are needed.
• The economic toll that I’ve mentioned in the past is growing, especially for the reservists and their families. Government support is not enough to compensate the loss of income and the increased expenses of those families, not to mention the psychological toll of knowing that your spouse/child/sibling/parent is in the line of fire.
• Antisemitism continues to be a huge challenge. The launch of the October 7^th project by JFNA, ADL, AJC, and others can usher a time of greater collaboration among players in that space. JFN has created a mapping of all organizations fighting antisemitism to guide funders on who does what, and how to support this fight. JFN Consulting offers personalized philanthropic services to individuals, families, and foundations, and can be used as a resource for navigating the fight against antisemitism and many other topics. Click here to learn more and to reserve a consultation with Senior Managing Director Yossi Prager.
• In relation to long-term planning and emerging better and stronger out of this ordeal, our annual conference, this coming March in Tel Aviv, will become a “working conference.” We will work together to imagine a better future for Israel and the Jewish World. For those eligible to attend, registration is OPEN!

You can find our list of vetted needs that we update continuously here. Israel Rises, a platform for coordinating cross-sector partnerships supporting Israel during the war, can be found here. The JFN Concierge Service, which offers support and advice customized to your specific needs, can be reached at concierge@jfunders.org.

As we close the Chanukah holiday, let’s keep on spreading light in these dark times. Let’s make sure that our love for Israel and each other is our “ner tamid,” our never-extinguished candle.

Chag Sameach, Am Israel Chai,

Andres