The past twenty-one months have brought unprecedented challenges to Israel. The number of citizens forced to confront war damage has grown steadily, and while they continue healing from their wounds, the Iranian counterattack during Operation Rising Lion created another wave of thousands joining this circle of suffering. As pressure intensifies on the government to provide solutions and local authorities struggle to rebuild cities amid devastation, and precisely when it appeared the world was turning away, North American Jewish philanthropy demonstrates its unwavering commitment to Israel and mobilizes for this complex mission.
"A gap always exists between what a state authority wants to provide and what it can actually deliver," Bat Yam Mayor Tzvika Brot explained. The deadly missile strike in his city killed nine residents and created the largest destruction zone, covering approximately 160 dunams (40 acres). About 200 people sustained injuries, roughly 5,000 apartments suffered damage, and approximately twenty buildings face demolition, forcing many residents to evacuate.
Brot noted, "We're discussing thousands of people who suddenly found themselves on the street with nowhere to go. We needed to house them and care for them down to the level of underwear, through clothing, and food amid tremendous chaos. It wasn't simple. After we succeeded in housing everyone, the longer struggle began – with trauma, with the reality that their entire lives remained in an apartment destined for demolition, and naturally with the fact that they endured a terrible shock."
Brot emphasizes that alongside the focus on the city's reconstruction, equal emphasis was placed on residents' mental rehabilitation. "Into this space come fantastic partners like the UJA Federation of New York, with whom we work regularly, but especially now during emergencies."
The Director General of the UJA Federation of New York in Israel, Itzik Shmuli, explains that the New York Federation – North America's largest – has raised approximately $230 million since the Iron Swords war began, transferred directly for assistance. "This support has enabled helping and supporting about 55 communities in the Gaza border region, about 100 communities on the northern confrontation line, soldiers, hostage families, reservist families, the Nova community, and now also evacuees from Operation Rising Lion."
"We discovered a faithful partnership"
"From the war's first day, we decided not to wait," Shmuli said, explaining the background to the Federation's $10 million aid package. "Every minute counts – missiles had already begun falling on civilians, and it was clear this was an unprecedented event requiring rapid mobilization. In practice, this means thousands of volunteers who sprang into action and provided emergency aid to the affected population. Beyond the physical destruction, there's the tremendous impact on the population. There are families whose lives collapsed, children who cannot fall asleep at night, and knowing we can help fulfills our greatest commitment."
"True friendship is measured during times of trouble," Brot said, emphasizing the Federation's rapid response. "We discovered a faithful partnership for which we are grateful. We thought it would be appropriate to leverage the connection with the Federation for issues we are less familiar with, like creating resilience, dealing with trauma, and community rehabilitation." Regarding the direct connection between New York's Jewish community and Israel, he adds, "They don't donate, they invest in Israel's future, in our children's future. I look over the destruction area and I see what will be here tomorrow."
The Federation also recognizes the importance of supporting civilian organizations assisting on the ground. Since its 2005 establishment, the national volunteer organization "Lev Ehad" has assisted first responders and local authorities in emergencies and has done so in about 120 emergency cases, even beyond Israel's borders.
The organization's members, numbering more than 150,000 volunteers, rushed to the impact sites within the first hours and helped thousands of evacuees, while also operating 18 command centers from south to north where they have assisted evacuated civilians, regular and reserve soldiers, hostage families and more since the early hours of the October 7 attack.
"A united Jewish people"
"The moment the operation with Iran began, we contacted the Federation, and to my great joy, they mobilized very quickly," the organization's CEO, Tomer Dror, said. "This allowed us to continue our intensive activity across the country, knowing we have support. We operated a logistical operation on a very wide scale – we repaired about 8,000 apartments for people whose homes were damaged, we organized activities for children evacuated to hotels, and we took care of the basic needs of the evacuees."
The organization's activity gained even deeper meaning as an emotional pillar in an impossible situation. "One of the most significant things we observe is the number of evacuees who say 'I found myself in the worst situation I could imagine. If the volunteers who give me mental strength hadn't arrived, we wouldn't have survived this,'" Dror said. "Our connection with the Federation exemplifies the interface between civilian power and philanthropy, and knowing there's a united Jewish people standing with us, not just a state alone, is incredibly comforting."
"Thousands of people in New York's Jewish community wake up in the morning thinking about the State of Israel and mobilize to help," Shmuli concluded. "There is deep understanding of how fateful this time is, that this is a struggle for the home of the entire Jewish people. Thanks to them, we are investing enormous resources exactly where our heart is – on the ground, within the cities that were hit. Among thousands of sirens and chaos, we had a clear role – to be the safety net for those who had nothing else to lean on."
Published in partnership with the UJA Federation of New York
