The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County has been able to deploy both rapid emergency funding and strategic one-time grants that are already supporting families, reservists, children, and entire communities affected by the war.

This update highlights how your support is making an impact right now, through direct assistance, trauma care, economic recovery, and community rebuilding.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE: SYSTEMS YOU HELPED BUILD ARE NOW SAVING LIVES

Since the outbreak of war with Iran, we have seen an extraordinary return on decades of philanthropic investment in Israel’s emergency infrastructure. The systems developed through our core partners: The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), are not being created in real time. They are already in place and operating. From rapid financial assistance for victims to a national mental-health infrastructure and coordinated local support for reservists’ families, these investments are delivering measurable impact exactly when Israel needs them most.

IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SUPPORT

Jewish Agency for Israel – Fund for Victims of Terror

Created in 2002, the Fund for Victims of Terror provides immediate financial relief to families whose lives have been shattered by attacks.

Within 48 hours of a missile strike, families whose homes were hit receive emergency grants to purchase essentials and begin rebuilding their lives. Beyond financial assistance, the program provides longer-term rehabilitation support and coordinated help for evacuees and families who have lost their homes. Watch this video summarizing the impact.

In response to the current war, The Jewish Agency has launched the Roaring Lion Fund, which provides:

• Financial assistance to bereaved families, the injured, and those whose homes were destroyed
• Emergency aid and resilience support for evacuees working with municipalities
• Targeted assistance for vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and trauma survivors

JDC Emergency Response

As sirens sound across Israel and families rush to shelters, JDC’s national emergency systems, built with Federation support, are already activated. What is already working thanks to your support:

• Emergency medical and rescue supplies distributed to municipalities are currently in use in areas impacted by attacks.
• A national mental health initiative with specialists in 200 municipalities is providing immediate emotional support to communities under fire.
• Digital emergency tools are helping Israelis cope with the psychological impact of the war, including:
• Nafshi, a platform with 800+ vetted mental-health resources
• VIVID, an online support app for parents and children
• Emergency content through major Israeli media
• Arabic-language emergency resource portals

RAPID RESPONSE ON THE GROUND

JDC teams have already deployed emergency assistance in communities affected by missile strikes. In Beit Shemesh, they delivered 1,700 tons of humanitarian aid to evacuees housed in Jerusalem hotels and provided emergency rescue equipment to strengthen municipal response teams. Across Israel, 200 municipal mental-wellbeing coordinators are delivering immediate emotional support in communities under attack.

JDC is also expanding the Ad HaBayit (“All the Way Home”) program to support families whose homes were severely damaged. Professional caseworkers help displaced families navigate housing, access government benefits, and stabilize their lives following displacement.

STRATEGIC ONE-TIME GRANTS: STRENGTHENING RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

Alongside emergency response, our Federation donors funded several targeted one-time grants to address urgent needs created by the war.

ELI – Therapeutic Counseling for Children and Families

Your support is helping expand child protection and trauma therapy services for families impacted by war. ELI has opened 20 new therapy rooms in areas directly affected by missile attacks, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, and Jaffa. These facilities provide specialized treatment for children experiencing trauma and abuse amid displacement, school closures, and severe family stress.

Reservists and their families have borne enormous personal and economic costs during the war.

Through the Latet Reservist Recovery Fund, your support is providing six months of food assistance and essential supplies to 110 reservist families, helping stabilize households at risk of falling into poverty.

JDC – Back on Track Employment Rehabilitation

Thousands of Israelis injured physically or psychologically since October 7 face the challenge of rebuilding their lives and returning to work. JDC’s Back on Track program provides trauma-informed employment rehabilitation, including individual career counseling, employer guidance, and long-term employment support. The program has already:

Watch Jenny’s story here.

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY AND CONNECTION

Campers2Gether – Bringing Israeli and North American Teens Together

The Jewish Agency’s Campers2Gether program offers Israeli teens affected by war the opportunity to spend the summer at Jewish camps in North America, forming meaningful connections with peers across the Jewish world. This initiative supports Israeli teens coping with war-related trauma while strengthening Jewish peoplehood by connecting them with North American Jewish youth.

Your support helps send Israeli teens impacted by the war to camp this summer, creating safe spaces for healing, friendship, and global Jewish connection.

Makom BaLev – Community Resilience for Young Families

Through the Association for the Advancement of Community Centers in Israel, the Makom BaLev program supports young families returning to northern communities after evacuation. The program provides:

• Parent-child emotional resilience sessions
• Parenting workshops and counseling
• Community-building activities

These programs help families rebuild trust, connection, and emotional stability as they return home after prolonged displacement.

Agriculture is the backbone of many border communities. Our Federation grant will support Kibbutz Dan, enabling farmers to replant 26 dunams (6.5 acres) of avocado orchards, approximately 1,400 trees, restoring livelihoods and helping residents return home.

YOUR IMPACT

These investments represent just a snapshot of the incredible impact made possible by the generosity of our South Palm Beach County community. Because of you:

• Families impacted by missile strikes are receiving immediate emergency support
• Children are accessing trauma therapy
• Reservist families are receiving food and financial relief
• Injured Israelis are rebuilding their livelihoods
• Teens are finding connection and healing through Jewish community
• Farmers are restoring the land and rebuilding northern communities

Your support ensures that Israel is not facing this crisis alone. It is strengthening resilience today while building the foundation for recovery tomorrow.

50% — Emergency Response
(JDC & JAFI emergency funding)

13% — Trauma & Mental Health
(ELI therapeutic counseling + Makom BaLev family resilience)

19% — Economic Recovery
(Latet Reservist Recovery Fund + JDC Back on Track employment rehab)

19% — Community Rebuilding & Connection
(ReGrow Israel agriculture + Campers2Gether teen connection)