Israel

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.

People of the Book

A fluent Arabic speaker and former journalist, Rabbi Elhanan Miller saw that many Muslims he knew didn’t have a clear understanding of Jewish practices and beliefs. What better way to effect mutual understanding and friendship between people in the Middle East with different religious and cultural backgrounds than education? People of the Book uses short animated videos that explain Jewish faith and ritual in Arabic and compare them to similar Muslim practices. The success of Rabbi Miller’s approach is best found in the tens of thousands of subscribers who access the People of the Book social media channels. Our funds are used for website development and administrative expenses.

Candles of Hope

Pregnancy and infant loss is rarely discussed in Israeli society. Elysa Rapoport and her husband had very few resources available to them when they lost a child and went through their unique journey of grief. In Israel approximately 6 infants are stillborn per 1000 live births and 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in loss, but there was no national pregnancy and infant loss response or support services. (According to a 2016 study, the first of its kind in Israel, over a third of women who suffer pregnancy or infant loss go on to develop full PTSD.)

This young program has already held a national symposium which was very well attended. Our matching grant is directed towards a brochure to disseminate to the medical community and beyond.

Kaima Nahalal

Merav Carmi is a sixth-generation farmer whose family has worked the land in Israel’s north since long before the establishment of the State. Her background in environmental studies, biodynamic agriculture and community building made the founding of this latest Kaima farm a natural evolution.

Kaima Nahalal is the only farm in the Kaima model focused only on helping young girls who have not succeeded in more traditional educational settings. An overwhelming number of them have experienced sexual trauma, as well. The girls run all aspects of the farm and in so doing develop new skills as well as a sense of responsibility, a connection to nature, a sense of initiative, and a foundation for future economic security. Our funds cover the cost a new vehicle for farm operations, and cover the cost of residential
program staff.

Road to Recovery

Road to Recovery’s volunteers provide transportation for people from West Bank and Gaza checkpoints to Israeli hospitals for critical care. Each ride fosters friendship between people for whom peaceful coexistence has been consistently unattainable — the positive outcome founder Yuval Roth was hoping for after losing his brother in a terrorist attack.

Despite Covid restrictions, volunteers made 9,650 trips for 15,000 patients. 2020 also saw the opening of RtoR’s new transportation logistics center and a partnership with Pesia’s Kitchen (another GPF grantee), to provide infant formula and non-perishables to patients who live where food is scarce. Our funds are used to purchase medical supplies and fuel.

Kaima Hukuk

When you visit Kaima Hukuk on the shores of the Kinneret you quickly understand the isolation of this part of the country. That isolation means scarce resources for young people who have struggled to fit into more traditional classrooms. It was for this population that Efrat Noy, along with several educators and social workers, created Kaima Hukuk. Their alternative classroom attracts kids between the ages of 14- 21.

Many teens who cannot be recruited to the IDF come from similar backgrounds as the young Kaima farmers. Working with a program that facilitates national service activities, Hukuk’s empowering environment lets them fulfill this requirement as they flourish and set an example for younger participants. Our funds are directed to the construction of a packing house where young farmers assemble the CSA packages.