The War with Iran May Be Over, But the Needs Remain

The war with Iran may have ended, but on the ground in Israel, urgent needs persist. As we emphasized at the beginning of this crisis, the reconstruction phase is often more demanding, both financially and logistically, than the emergency response itself. When headlines begin to fade, attention and funding often fade as well.

This is precisely when philanthropy is most essential.

Following our recent joint webinar with JFNA, which we hope you'll watch as the needs mentioned are still valid, we want to highlight some of the key issues that remain unresolved and where funders can still make a meaningful impact:

• Housing Needs: Over 13,000 Israelis are currently without permanent housing. While local municipalities, in coordination with government ministries, are providing short-term solutions, the long-term burden is significant. NGO support is essential to ensure that vulnerable populations (low-income families, immigrants with language barriers, renters, and people with disabilities) aren’t left behind. These groups are at particular risk of being overcharged, underserved, or lost in the bureaucracy.

• Municipal Partnerships: Throughout this crisis, local municipalities have proven to be critical partners for the philanthropic sector. They continue to lead the response on the ground. If you have relationships with local authorities or municipal foundations, now is the time to deepen them.

• Infrastructure Damage: Several major institutions have sustained severe damage.

  • Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva suffered a direct hit, with rebuilding costs estimated at 1 billion NIS.

  • The Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, which lost its new cancer research center, faces 2 billion NIS in recovery needs.

  • Ben Gurion University also experienced damage, with estimates ranging from 250–300 million NIS.
    
    These costs will not be fully covered by the government. Philanthropy can play a vital role in restoring these pillars of Israeli health care and academia.

• Arab Society and Emergency Preparedness: Now is the time to build long-term resilience in Arab communities. In addition to improving access to physical shelters, there is a clear need for training local emergency and rescue teams and raising awareness around civil defense practices. Preparedness saves lives.

• Mental Health and Trauma: The psychological toll of this war, layered atop the trauma of October 7, is enormous. PTSD is widespread not only among the general population, but also among first responders and residents in the North and South who have endured months of uncertainty and disruption. Mental health support is a long-term need, one we cannot afford to neglect.

This moment calls for sustained, strategic philanthropy. The most acute emergencies may be behind us, but the recovery will be long, complex, and costly. We urge you to remain engaged, connect with your grantees and municipal partners, and consult with us about where your support can have the greatest impact.

If you’d like to speak further about these needs or get connected to key efforts on the ground, please reach out to us or to our colleague Anat Danis.

Together, we can ensure that those who have already endured so much are not left behind in recovery.

Andrés and Sigal

Andrés Spokoiny
President and CEO
Jewish Funders Network

Sigal Yaniv Feller
Executive Director, JFN Israel
Jewish Funders Network