Israel at War: 100 Days of Captivity
Monday, January 15, 2024
Posted by: Andres Spokoiny
It’s been a hundred days since Hamas’s massacres plunged Israel into war, but many of us are still living in that horrible day. For those who lost a loved one, for those in captivity and their families, for the wounded in their flesh and soul, and for the disabled, October 7th will be a nightmare from which they’ll never wake up. Their indomitable human spirit will prevail, and God willing, they’ll be able to rebuild their lives. But to help them is and always will be our sacred duty. And for a hundred days, our young men and women are fighting for their lives and ours. The image of Gen Z and Millennials as self-absorbed, individualistic, and frivolous has been decidedly proven wrong, as we’ve seen this inspiring young generation offering life and limb for Israel and the Jewish People. They are showing us an unwavering determination to finish the job and rid an ungrateful world of Hamas’s evil. We owe it to them to never waver in our support. These hundred days also saw an outpouring of Jewish solidarity and a new resolve in the Jewish world. A resolve that we need to maintain as the war drags on and the needs increase. The philanthropic community has stepped up like never before, but the road ahead is still full of needs and uncertainty. And on this somber day, we commit to keep helping for as long as it takes. So, as I’ve been doing since Oct 8th, I want to update you on the evolving needs on the ground and how funders can help. - Activism for the hostages continues to be critical in the international arena. The families fear a “routinization” of their captivity, while every day is filled with unimaginable suffering for the hostages and their loved ones. While it’s vital to keep the pressure on international public opinion, the situation inside Israel is more nuanced, with disagreements simmering in terms of what course of action is more likely to bring them home.
- The situation in the North is still problematic. The cross-border clashes continue, and the evacuees continue to be in a sort of limbo. There’s a growing feeling that “nobody is in charge,” from the government’s side, which makes philanthropy’s role more important.
- Most communities of the “Gaza envelope” have been moved from hotels to temporary housing across the country. The situation is less clear for the residents of the “second Gaza envelope” (communities in the 4 to 7km radius from the border). The government is telling them to go back home, but the return doesn’t seem properly organized and there are some contradictory instructions. It’s important for philanthropy to keep supporting these evacuees and also help create the conditions on the ground for a safe return.
- Among the evacuees – especially those from the North – there is increased risk for children and teens. The absence of their normal frameworks (schools, community centers, etc.) creates a vacuum, and every situation of displacement produces an erosion of parental authority. Harassment, drug abuse, and even violence are ticking up. It’s important to remember that while many of the kibbutzim had a strong economic and social fabric, the cities (from Sderot to Kiryat Shmona) were socially and economically vulnerable. That vulnerability is now heightened.
- As I’ve said in the past, the economic impact of the war is becoming more acute. The government subsidies for reservists and their families are seen as woefully inadequate, and the proposed 2024 state includes cuts across the board. This will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations. This is creating tensions even within the governing coalition (the cabinet meeting yesterday was especially contentious). In my last update, I wrote about several efforts to provide loans and investments, including the one we presented last week in a webinar, which you can watch here.
- Because many NGOs in Israel receive significant government funding, government cuts will affect the entire nonprofit ecosystem. Of particular concern are the proposed cuts to the budgets of the Arab sector, which proportionally will be higher. The Arab population of Israel has shown admirable loyalty and solidarity during this crisis, and the violence we all feared, thank God, didn’t materialize. However, tensions are simmering and the situation is volatile. It’s critical for funders to continue their work on shared society and redouble efforts to assist the Arab sector and develop models of coexistence.
- In the Diaspora antisemitism continues unabated, and we can expect things to get worse. We have 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 (including field research for other funding interests, grantmaking and administrative services, next generation philanthropy training, etc.). Click here to learn more and to reserve a consultation with Senior Managing Director Yossi Prager.
- Jews have a growing sense of political and social homelessness, especially given the betrayal of those progressive groups that some of us considered allies. As we know, Jewish organizations that don’t join the antizionist hate-fest are excluded from their natural coalitions. Paradoxically, this offers an opportunity for liberal, Zionist Jewish groups; Jews who care about women’s issues can feel welcome and safe in organizations like the NCJW. Zionists who care about climate can join several Jewish groups, from Hazon to our own Green Funders Forum.
- Besides the highly publicized defunding of universities, funders at different levels are establishing “red lines” regarding the positions embraced by their grantees. Some include language in their grant agreements that makes clear that certain expressions and actions won’t be tolerated, and others are creating processes to adjudicate conflicts when they arise, potentially leading to the cancelation of grants. Our consulting service can help you navigate such situations.
- The hostility of the environment is driving Jews closer to their communities. Hillel reports an increase in attendance of ~15%, and Prizmah reports a similar increase for Jewish day schools. This constitutes a historical opportunity; funders need to seize this moment by supporting Jewish communal organizations that give people Jewish and Zionist education and a sense of community.
- Our future scenario process is underway, intending to help funders and leaders deal with the long-term effects of the crisis. After the presentation of the scenarios (click here to watch), we created working groups that are analyzing the implications of the scenarios for different sectors and areas of activity. We’ll share with you the results of those processes.
- Finally, our conference is shaping up to be a transformational gathering, one in which we’ll work together to rebuild and transform “post traumatic stress” into “post traumatic growth.” If you’re eligible to attend, registration is filling up fast, so don’t dither! Also, make sure to benefit from the early bird rate which ends at the end of the day on January 17th. Click here to join us.
I mentioned our consulting service a couple of times because I don’t want you to miss out on this excellent resource. JFN members are entitled to a complementary consulting session up to two hours. Click here to reserve your session with Yossi. JFN continues to map the response of the philanthropic community, so share with us what you’re doing and the needs you are seeing. I want to remind you of our list of vetted needs that we update continuously, and the JFN Concierge Service, which offers support and advice customized to your specific needs. Members looking to respond to the crisis can utilize the Concierge Service to be connected with other members working toward the same goal, to find resources provided by our partners in the secular philanthropic space, and more. Write to concierge@jfunders.org. Together we’ll win. Am Israel Chai, Andrés |
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