Israel is currently fighting on seven different fronts. But alongside these complex military challenges, two other fronts are no less strategically important to the country's future: the north and the south. Both demand sustained investment. Without the north and the south, there can be no State of Israel.
The situation calls for massive investment in rebuilding and long-term growth. Much has been said about physical reconstruction, repairing buildings and infrastructure, military capabilities, deterrence and border security. All of these are undoubtedly essential. But a country cannot rebuild itself through concrete and advanced weapons systems alone. A nation recovers and thrives when its people have hope and believe they have a future in the place they have chosen to call home.
Bringing residents back to their homes in the north and south is only the first step. The real test for Israel is whether we can give them compelling reasons to stay, raise their children and build their futures there. That means investing in education, employment, stronger communities and opportunities for growth. A country cannot be strong when large parts of it remain weak, and a society cannot be resilient when its communities are falling apart.
The public, business and social sectors each have a distinct role to play, but only through genuine collaboration can we bring about meaningful change. Partnerships allow us to reach further, expand our impact and achieve what none of us could accomplish alone.
At this critical moment, philanthropy and civil society have a decisive role to play. They have the flexibility, resources and courage to bring different sectors together and establish lasting foundations for growth over the coming decades.
That is why we are there, investing at the critical stages that shape the course of people's lives. We believe in creating a continuum of opportunities, from birth through entry into the workforce, and in every child's fundamental right to an equal opportunity for a better future. We all have a moral obligation, rooted in our shared values, to make that vision a reality. There is no higher calling than safeguarding the future of Israeli society.
I insist on remaining optimistic because I see communities that have found the strength to rebuild their lives. I see young people in the south and north who are driven by strong values, their eyes filled with hope.
The road to growth is still long and full of obstacles. But I know that the right choice is not to look back with satisfaction at everything we have already accomplished. It is to keep looking ahead and ask what more remains to be done. And in Israel's north and south, there is still so much work ahead of us.
The opportunity before us is nothing short of historic: to transform the profound trauma suffered by the Jewish people into an opportunity for healing, renewal and growth.
Michal Cohen is the CEO of the Rashi Foundation, an Israeli philanthropic organization working to advance social mobility and equal opportunity
