October 7, 2024, marks one year since Hamas’ brutal attack plunged Israel into war. Entire communities were decimated, cities evacuated, and hundreds of thousands of lives were torn apart.
From day one, JDC was by the side of the most vulnerable Israelis. Immediately following October 7th, JDC activated a range of emergency services that to-date have directly assisted over 450,000 Israelis struggling with trauma, displacement, the loss of livelihoods, and destruction of property.
Today, JDC is still at the forefront, leading efforts to heal in a way that empowers Israel’s vulnerable communities to rise from the ashes to create – and thrive – anew.
In supporting JDC’s work, you are supporting a response that not only meets the urgent needs of today – it does so in a way that builds for the future. More than just bandaging the bleeding, we are healing wounds. Our strategic interventions help Israelis who have been upended by the war get their lives back on track.
This report highlights key examples of our impact in this most difficult year.
Together with your generous support, we have:
- Addressed the growing mental health crisis, including amongst traumatized children
- Helped unemployed Israelis get back to work
- Protected vulnerable elderly and people with disabilities
- Strengthened frontline cities including Ashkelon, Nahariya, Ofakim, and Rahat
- Supported global Jewry in the wake of rising threats
Thank you for standing with JDC – and the people of Israel – in this heartbreaking time.
Tackling Israel’s Growing Mental Health Crisis, Including Traumatized Children
The horrors and strain of the ongoing war led to a mental health crisis affecting over half the country. And as the conflict drags on, growing numbers of Israelis are feeling the strain. At the same time, mild mental health symptoms risk developing into serious mental illness.
JDC is responding with solutions to help Israelis of all ages, from the youngest children dealing with intense trauma, to adults at risk of falling through the cracks of Israel’s overburdened mental health system. With far too many people struggling with emotional distress, overwhelming the country’s ability to respond, JDC is revolutionizing Israel’s mental health system. We are helping it expand beyond traditional one on one therapy to include a wide range of new treatment models and mental health solutions.
Highlights include:
Psychological First Aid:
65% of Israelis in mental distress don’t realize they need help and don’t seek assistance. But the sooner these needs are treated, the less likely they are to escalate into serious mental illness. JDC is training public service providers – police officers, HR departments, health clinic staff – in early detection, helping them identify red flags, provide “psychological first aid,” and direct those suffering to additional support.
Innovative Digital Solutions:
From an online database (Nafshi.info) that quickly connects Israelis across the country with the targeted assistance they need, to apps offering peer and A-I based support, and VR treatments, JDC is helping Israel grow beyond traditional therapy to reach the expanding number of Israelis who need care.
Helping Children Heal:
While children throughout the country are on edge, evacuees and those living under constant rocket fire are suffering a deeper level of trauma. JDC is helping these children express and process their fears and anxieties. We must reach them now, before their trauma becomes even more engrained and harder to address.
We are doing so by introducing Hibuki therapy – where children learn to express their feelings and fears with the help of a sad-faced plush doll – and other play-based therapies to kindergartens and preschools. We have helped over 30,000 young children and trained over 1,000 early childhood professionals – including teachers and guidance counselors – to recognize and address trauma in their young charges while simultaneously dealing with their own anxiety and strain.
Getting Israelis Back to Work
The war decimated businesses and put tens of thousands – including evacuees and injured soldiers – out of work. Statistics show that if these newly unemployed don’t rejoin the workforce within two years, their chances of ever doing so are close to zero.
In the devastating first months of the war JDC ensured that small Israeli businesses remained solvent. Today, we are helping Israelis get back to work. The strategic assistance we provide today means thousands of Israelis will have an income tomorrow.
SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES offered 3,000 farms and small businesses the boost they needed to remain viable. Aid included small grants, consultations and networking assistance, retail space in malls, an online “Pay Now, Receive Later” program, marketing assistance, and pairing small farms with volunteers and business mentors.
JDC’S EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS has already helped over 10,000 reservists, evacuees, and injured soldiers get back on track to employment through skills training and job placement assistance. Our groundbreaking Employment Rehab reaches participants as soon after their trauma or injury as possible, integrating job counseling with trauma care to ensure these vulnerable Israelis don’t fall into chronic unemployment.
Protecting the Elderly and People with Disabilities
In the chaos of war, Israel’s elderly and people with disabilities have been left behind. Their pre-war support systems are overwhelmed, and local resources are focused elsewhere. At the same time, the war has disrupted routine and made older adults less likely to leave their homes, putting them at serious risk for physical, psychological and cognitive decline. Israelis with disabilities are likewise suffering – hundreds of thousands of Israelis have a disability that affects their ability to get to shelter quickly.
With your support, we are protecting these vulnerable Israelis through programs such as:
COMMUNITY CASEWORKERS:
In 94 towns across Israel, 164 caseworkers provide individual support to over 13,000 older adults and people with disabilities, connecting them with services, social support, and community. These caseworkers bring immediate assistance to those who need it and ensure that elderly join the communities and activities that will keep them active and prevent decline.
SAFE HOMES:
Hundreds of people with disabilities now have safer homes in which to shelter. JDC assesses immediate needs, identifies accessible protected areas, makes adjustments, and introduces technology to improve personal safety. We also ensure that public evacuation centers are adapted to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
Strengthening Frontline Cities
The suffering caused by the war is especially acute in the cities and communities on Israel’s southern and northern borders. In the south, cities slammed by rocket fire and terror are still struggling to restore residents’ sense of security. In the north, many communities remain under fire, while living with the threat of further escalation. With your support, JDC is there for them.
Our work in this realm includes:
PREPARING FOR ESCALATION IN THE NORTH:
As the threat of a wider war looms, JDC proactively identified the most at-risk individuals and distributed Emergency Kits to 30,000 homes
in 16 northern towns. These kits, customized for older adults, people with disabilities, and young families at risk, include first-aid supplies, battery-powered radios, and other emergency items.
In parallel, we are planning for
the day after, working to rebuild communities and strengthen social services in 24 northern locations.
MASHIV HARUACH (REVIVING THE SPIRIT):
In the frontline cities of Ofakim, Ashkelon, and Rahat in the South, and Nahariya in the North, many residents are still scared to leave their homes. In partnership with local communities, JDC creates safe, vibrant public spaces, develops local resilience programs, trains volunteers and emergency responders, and initiates programs to promote healing and help residents regain a sense of safety and hope for the future.
Supporting Global Jewry Amidst Rising Threats
Ripple effects from the war in Israel are touching Jewish communities around the world. Rising antisemitism, a growing sense of isolation, and fear for their own security are impacting Jews everywhere. In Europe, many Jewish communities also serve as a point of refugee for stranded or traumatized Israelis.
As the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization, JDC stands with them, offering emergency grants to European communities – for security of Jewish communal spaces, programs for displaced Israelis, and other pressing needs. We also provide extra security to Jewish organizations in North Africa and the former Soviet Union, and work with Jewish leaders in Latin America, preparing them to respond to potential security crisis.
Israel Emergency Budget
| Israel Emergency Needs (October 2023 – December 2025)* |
Budget, USD |
| Tackling the Mental Health Crisis | |
| Addressing risk behaviors among teens and young adults | 4,570,000 |
| Initiatives for people with disabilities | 1,960,000 |
| Innovative education during crisis | 5,580,000 |
| Mental health initiatives | 7,040,000 |
| Mental health innovation fund | 17,440,000 |
| Protecting early childhood development | 1,530,000 |
| Trauma support for children and families | 2,000,000 |
| Subtotal | 40,120,000 |
| Services for Vulnerable Elderly | |
| Additional caseworkers | 3,470,000 |
| Equipping frontline municipalities to assist their elderly | 2,600,000 |
| Inclusive communities | 2,500,000 |
| Support for displaced elderly | 2,200,000 |
| Subtotal | 10,770,000 |
| Getting Evacuees, Reservists, and Newly Disabled Back to Work | |
| Financial rehabilitation for young adults, families, and older adults in need | 3,780,000 |
| Loan fund for people in distress | 11,630,000 |
| Newly Disabled | 1,980,000 |
| Solutions for war-related jobseekers | 15,270,000 |
| Strengthening employers and businesses | 4,750,000 |
| Subtotal | 37,410,000 |
| Strengthening Frontline Communities | |
| Building capacity of frontline municipalities | 9,790,000 |
| Economic development in hard-hit areas | 4,240,000 |
| Facilitating collaboration in the rebuilding efforts | 4,480,000 |
| Grassroots and civil society innovation | 2,460,000 |
| Research | 1,050,000 |
| Resilience Cities Initiative | 13,580,000 |
| Subtotal | 35,600,000 |
| SOS Fund for the Northern Front | 20,000,000 |
| Supporting Global Jewry in the Wake of Rising Threats | 1,100,000 |
| Total | $ 145,000,000 |