2024 Grant Recipients
Israel Grants
Since October 7th, 2023:
Yad Elie $7000
Rather than stopping to contemplate the current difficult situation, Yad Elie made a decision not only to continue but to expand our activities of feeding Jerusalem school-children, making sure that every kid gets the start they deserve in life. With the help of a grant from Jewish Helping Hands, Yad Elie recently added two more schools in the poorest parts of East Jerusalem to our list of partners. East Jerusalem has been hit particularly hard economically during the Gaza war, as many residents of East Jerusalem have lost their places of employment in West Jerusalem. During the current month of Ramadan, we were able to provide food packages to needy Muslim children, sending a message of caring and openness from the Jewish to the Muslim residents of Jerusalem.
Yad Elie is also making a great effort to find new sources of funding for our project, as well as making an renewed effort to locate the neediest schools in West Jerusalem and provide them with much needed support. During a time of crisis, it’s easy to turn inwards and direct our help towards the children of “our side”, but Yad Elie’s board feels that it’s our duty to create the reality we pray for rather than accept a reality that is forced upon us. All children need to study, all children need to eat. That’s where you’ll find Yad Elie.
ASSAF $5000
ASSAF labors tirelessly and participates in many efforts for the protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Israel. We have struggled to provide health and welfare services to elderly asylum seekers from Africa. Moreover, we continued our struggle for extending health services to Ukrainian refugees.
During the past year, we continued providing direct support to the refugee communities through our different projects. We have designed a new unique project for the mapping of needs and supporting Ukrainian refugees, while also assisting all other refugees and asylum seekers through the providing of psychosocial services and guiding the most vulnerable individuals among them: minors, torture survivors, sick and disabled people, single-parent families, and others. We have also expanded the activities of our youth club, which today serves 120 boys and girls. We will struggle to remove any obstacles to the normal development of these children or the fulfillment of their potential.
Yahel $4800
Yahel is proud to partner with Jewish Helping Hands as we stand alongside the Bedouin community in Israel during these challenging times. Jewish Helping Hands' contributions have empowered us to collaborate with various local grassroots organizations, addressing its pressing needs. Over the past several months, we have provided essential food packages to families in Segev Shalom, Rahat, and several unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev. A particularly powerful element to the support provided is the unity displayed during the food packaging events, where both Jewish and Arab volunteers join forces to assist the Bedouin community.
Teaming up with "Bedouin Women for Themselves", we packed 100 food packages for families in unrecognized villages. Throughout the day, engaging discussions with the women provided invaluable insights into their experiences and social activism efforts. Our hosts graciously invited us to partake in an Iftar meal, underscoring the spirit of unity and understanding as we shared in breaking the Ramadan fast together.
Jordan River Village $1800
In 2024, Jordan River Village (JRV) is committed to supporting 100-150 family members of hostages and returned hostages. Our initiative aims to provide these families with a nurturing, medically secure space that promotes relaxation, healing, and familial connections. To achieve this, JRV plans to provide each family a three-day stay at the Village. This includes accommodations, meals, drinks, and personalized recreational activities designed to meet the unique needs of each family. Furthermore, to ensure a comprehensive care experience, we will have medical professionals, including nurses, psychologists, and social workers, available 24/7. Their presence guarantees continuous support and care for all family members during their time at the Village.
Rishon LeZion Foundation $1800
On behalf of the Rishon LeZion Foundation, I want to thank you again for your support towards purchasing suitcases for the evacuees of Kissufim, a small rural village a few kilometers from the Gaza border.
As you know, Israel is still struggling with one of the most difficult times. In the morning of October 7, over 1,200 citizens and soldiers were murdered. The horrible massacre on the border of the Gaza Strip by Hamas left thousands of families hurt as their loved ones were murdered. In Rishon LeZion 66 women and men (both citizens and soldiers) were murdered. 30 victims were related to residents of the city.
Some were murdered in the Nova Music Festival in Reim and some in the events of October 7. One resident and 11 relatives of residents are still held hostages by Hamas. Thoughts about the hostages are heartrending and the bereavement circles are widening.
As a result of the Gaza war, approximately 120 displaced Israeli citizens from Kissufim, a small rural village a few kilometers from the Gaza border, have been living in Rishon LeZion, without any clear resolution in sight. When they arrived at the city almost 6 months ago, they did not bring any clothes. In order to help them start their lives anew, the Rishon LeZion Foundation brought them clothes and the grant of the Jewish Helping Hands assisted in purchasing suitcases for 100 displaced families from Kissufim, so they could pack their new clothes. We used your entire donation for this endeavour.
SAHI $2500
SAHI – Special Hessed (Grace) Unit operates 50 youth giving units across Israel, which engage more than 1,500 youth, active weekly in community-giving activities, supporting and aiding families and elderly in need in their communities, while changing their own lives for the better.
During the Swords of Iron War SAHI have been operating an emergency program to respond to the needs created as a result of the crisis:
Starting on October 8, and for several months, SAHI opened and operated distribution centers in several locations across Israel, to facilitate logistics and quickly respond to various requests for aid. We purchased food and equipment, transported it weekly (or daily at the beginning of the war) to the logistic centers, and distributed more than 40,000 food packages to families and elderly in need across the country. (in the southern region the aid was distributed directly to the families, or through the municipalities). SAHI continues to support thousands of families in need across Israel.
SAHI was called to answer the urgent needs of displaced and affected youth. Since November 2023 we adjusted the program, recruited staff, and in cooperation with the communities where the youth come from, opened new units in Jerusalem, Eilat, Tel Aviv, Tiberias, Hadera, and Kiryat Gat, which are adapted specifically to meet the needs of youth who were evacuated from 14 locations in Northern and Southern Israel. The program provides the youth with an active and regular volunteering framework in which they can help others in the community on a continuous, regular basis. By participating in the program the youth regain control over their lives, feel capable and meaningful again, and strengthen their self-resilience.
Ofakim Community Resilience $4000 Yahaloma Zechut
Through the Tavshil House Soup Kitchen in Ofakim food packages were delivered to the disadvantaged residents of the area.
Hands on Tzedakah $3000 Arnie Draiman
Provided food for Israelis in shelters and displaced by the war, toiletries, transportation and relocation accommodations, medical supplies and therapy for traumatized children.
Bridges of Hope $10,100 Rabbi Edgar Nof
Helped families of those murdered, wounded or evacuated, taken hostage or fallen into poverty.
Zichron Group $5000 Michal Kidlan, Cindy Eisner, Gideon Ben-ami, Nicole Fleischer,
Sent money, blankets, food, etc., to refugee families who get no benefits or help and are not entitled to the support the government provides to others.
Tel Aviv Street Medicine $3600 Ronnie-Lee Sneh
Took teams of doctors and medical students into the poorest areas and gave treatment to those in need on the street and built successful individual plans for rehabilitation. Facilitated the purchase of a portable sonagram machine.
NATAN $20,000 Alan Silberstein, Daniel Kahn
The Resilience Center began operating in Eilat and in Ofakim for hundreds of the most traumatized relocated residents.
Moshav Meitzar $2000 Shana Cohen
Gave support to this moshav near Syrian border.
Economic Empowerment for Israel $4000 Claudia Goodrich-Avram
Sustained Ethiopian businesses and jobs in Ramat Eliyahu, by providing consulting and accompaniment through the crisis for over a hundred women.
Kehilat Yonatan $500 Rabbi Mickey Boyden
Resettled a displaced extended family, the Kotlars, in their community.
Jordan River Village $1800 Etai Freedman
Created a short-term camp for 150 returning soldiers, hostages and their families providing them with a nurturing, medically secure space that promotes relaxation, healing, and familial connections.
HelpUp $2000 Tal Adar
Helped transition returning soldiers to civilian life.
"By the Hands of Your People: Feeding Gaza Families During Ramadan" $2400 Rabbi Toba Spitzer
Supported local Gazans who are providing food for their communities in 28 kitchens preparing 1000’s of meals.
Tsabar Ruth $10,000 Helene Naftali
Helped the Fricker family attacked by HAMAS that lost absolutely everything, will stay in a hotel for another six months, then be in a trailer and after about 3 years be able to return to Kibbutz Beeri.
Jack's Kitchen $1000 Mitch Bacharach
Prepared warm meals for Israeli soldiers in both the northern and southern fronts and sent their food truck on a biweekly basis to the border to make soup and pizza for soldiers at their bases.
World Wide Grants
Humanity Relief $5000
A three-time grant recipient fighting hunger and homelessness in Chicago. The migrant crisis of asylum seekers has exacerbated an already difficult situation and quickly depleted limited resources. The JHH grant has allowed the group to continue to make purchases at Costco, which are repackaged into family and individual sized quantities of fresh fruit, chips/cookies, beverages, soap, socks, razor, hand warmers, female hygiene products, diapers and baby wipes.
Once transition housing is obtained for those on the street or in a shelter, HR shows up with starter furniture (mostly donated, some purchased), consisting of mattresses, bed frames, sheets & pillows, dressers, and basic household cleaning supplies.
Kathaana Sand Dam Farmers $5000
This report highlights the activities conducted after receiving the Jewish Helping Hands Grant. The main activities included:
Purchase and installation of the solar panels
Purchase and installation of the power controller and the solar pump.
Laying the pipes in the agricultural land.
Connection of the pipes from the water source to the storage water tanks
Connection of the water from the storage tanks to the farms
Fencing of the area for security purposes.
We have resumed our farming activities this time round using the solar as the source of power. It is very economical, very enjoyable and less tiresome. We remain very grateful for this support which shall change the livelihood of the rural community members.
Mercy for Youth and Women Empowerment $5000
The mission is to improve girl’s education and long-term health by constructing girls' toilets at Kalangaalo secondary school in the Mityana District of South-Central Uganda. These toilets will reduce school dropout rates due to the social stigma of visible menstruation, enabling many girls to learn skills to improve their income earning potential.
Economic Empowerment for Women $4000
JHH supported a financial education program for Ethiopian women from the Ramat Eliyahu community center in cooperation with the "Mercaz Zeirrim". The local partners requested the group also include local women not from the Ethiopian community because of the importance of integration and strengthening the community for all women.
28 women took part in the program, out of which 18 were Ethiopian women
100% of the participants reported receiving tools and knowledge for working with banks
100% reported feeling more confident regarding financial issues.
100% reported receiving tools for financial decision making.
95% reported rise in self-confidence.
90% reported receiving tools to understand their paycheck.
95% reported being able to conduct positive communication regarding money.
Women reported: having a monthly plan; more effective time management; change of habits; receiving many small tips for everyday conduct; learning to differentiate between will and need; started taking about money at home; reduced stress about money; leaned from past mistakes; changed way of thinking; started saving; started taking responsibility; started writing down and tracking expenses and income; started planning; learned to prioritizing; goal setting; paying more attention to credit cards.
One woman summed the program up as "eye opening" and said many that the program offered not only tools and knowledge but the support of the group and speaking with other women about the sensitive topic of money as well becoming a stronger part, and even joining other programs offered by of the local community.
We hope to return for another program and expand our work to other communities as well.