NIS 26.6 Million in Winter Support Distributed to Needy Israelis

Photo Credit: Guy Yechiely / IFJC

Holiday delivery

As cold and windy winter rains return to Israel, and after more than 15 months of war and related hardships, an international humanitarian organization has stepped up to provide assistance to the nation’s needy.

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) has doubled its efforts to provide annual winter support to elderly and poverty-stricken Israelis — but this year the organization has added support for tens of thousands of internal refugees forced from their homes as a result of the war, as well as families of the hostages held by Hamas and others directly affected by the war.

The Fellowship has announced the distribution of NIS 26.6 million to meet these needs, representing a 250 percent increase from the 2024 campaign.

The support goes to more than 73,000 individuals and families, who receive monetary assistance to purchase food and warm clothing.

The organization has also chosen to increase support for the elderly community who are often overlooked desperately need basics like food and home heating.

“This year is different. With the economic, emotional, and psychological strain of the war, Israelis need more support,” said IFCJ President Yael Eckstein.

“They need to know that we are there for them and so this year we have decided to more than double our funding. We are incredibly grateful to our more than 750,000 supporters around the world, whose unwavering solidarity and partnership with Israel are a beacon of strength and hope,” she added.

Since the start of the war, the cost of living in Israel has increased and many households are struggling to pay for rent and basic food items. The elderly are suffering from increased feelings of loneliness and abandonment, while senior day centers have often been closed for stretches of time, resulting in longer hours spent at home and higher costs for home heating.

Most affected are the families of the hostages who have been forced to abandon their jobs to dedicate themselves to fight for their loved ones’ release, resulting in personal financial hardships.

Through the organization, tens of thousands of Israelis in the above sectors are receiving assistance that helps them survive.

* Nearly 24,500 elderly people across Israel receive “Golden Pass” cards worth NIS 400 that can be used to purchase food and supplies.
* 300 families of hostages receive digital food cards worth NIS 1,500 shekels.
* 7,600 families evacuated from the northern and southern borders receive digital food cards worth NIS 1,000.
* 18,000 children in welfare daycare centers receive clothing cards worth NIS 400.
* 2,100 new immigrants who arrived with the help of the IFCJ receive digital food cards worth up to NIS 1,000.
* 93,000 Jews in the former Soviet Union also receive food packages, heaters and financial aid for heating and electricity bills.

The Fellowship allocates large amounts towards the support of the Jewish community in the former Soviet Union through partnerships with the Joint Distribution Committee and Chabad.