Israel

JLM Food Rescuers

40% of edible food, around 2.5 million tons in Israel alone, is discarded unnecessarily along every step of the food supply chain. At the same time, food insecurity, or the ability for people to provide sufficient healthy food for themselves or their family, continues to be a problem. Daniella Seltzer and Itay Peled have come together to start the JLM Food Rescuers in the Givat Shaul produce market in Jerusalem. This creative social business builds community in the city, while at the same time rescues tons of beautiful produce which is redistributed to hungry people, and also used for delicious recipes for the program’s catering business.

Our matching funds are directed to expenses incurred at the produce market where the program operates.

Ruca’s Farm

Nir Lahav grew up on a kibbutz in Israel where farming and working the land always had great relevance — “a place where there is an encounter between body and mind, one that, I believe, can do ‘wonders.’” he says. He knew that there were certain populations that could benefit from such an experience. After speaking with a friend doing research on PTSD, he realized that many IDF soldiers who have returned from service with this diagnosis — an estimated 58,000 — could be helped by a therapeutic farm. He maintains “… the combination of agricultural work, group support and appropriate group therapy can help those coping with PTSD.”

And so, with the help of four friends, Ruca’s Farm has become a reality. Numerous fruit trees have been planted on the donated land, staff has been hired.

Our matching funds are used for land development.

Magen for Jewish Communities

Sexual abuse within Israeli society (and elsewhere) has finally come out of the shadows and is receiving the attention it deserves. As the Executive Director, Shana Aaronson and her staff are deeply committed to providing multiple ways to support victims of this trauma. Working with compassion, they offer victims access to therapy and other communal resources. But, perhaps, most important is their belief in the victim, so often missing in these circumstances. Magen also works to educate the community and promotes full transparency. For them, victims’ needs take precedence.

Our funds are directed to advocacy and investigatory staffing.

Roni’s Neighbors

For Roni Lee, helping the more than 200,000 other elderly Israelis living alone became her life’s passion. Together with Matan Asulin they created Heart to Plate (in 2021) which has now become Roni’s Neighbors after Roni’s tragic death at the age of 28. Roni had been reorganizing this work to address the epidemic of loneliness that plagues the country’s elder population. The new multi-faceted program will offer numerous programs, utilize technology and advocacy and ultimately, change the face of aging in Israel.

Our funds are directed to administrative expenses.

Fighting Online Antisemitism

Over the past 5-6 years antisemitism and cyberhate have gained even greater ground around the world. Tomer Aldubi, founder, later joined by attorney, Nir Kaplan, began Fighting Online Antisemitism (FOA) only two years ago. FOA has more than 200 trained volunteers across the globe who monitor seven leading social media platforms, reporting hateful content to those platforms and raising awareness of the phenomena of cyberhate among the general public (through educational workshops and webinars).

Our grant is used to help expand the volunteer corps, as well as for administrative expenses.

Al-Baqour

Al-Baqour, appropriately translated as” first fruits” was started by Shlomit Somech-Lehmann, an Israeli social worker and activist, and Dr. Foad El Sana, a Bedouin pediatrician. Each, through their respective work, recognized that Bedouin children and their parents do not receive sufficient support through traditional Israeli government programs resulting in critical developmental delays. To address this serious deficiency, they began Al-Baqour which runs programs for parents and toddlers including small lending libraries in Family Health Centers where young children can access books and parents are taught the importance of reading to their children. In addition, Bedouin women are trained in techniques like story-telling, music and movement.

Our grant is directed to their music and movement program.