Where Your Support Goes

 

As of December 5, CJP’s Israel Emergency Fund has granted $19.26 million through a combination of direct distribution, designated gifts, and via JFNA grant distribution.

100% of the fund will go toward the direct support of Israel—supporting victims of terror and addressing the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by these horrific attacks.

As of December 5, CJP has granted* $4.76 million directly to the following organizations, by category:  

  • Direct support for victims of terror and trauma response (including mental health)
  • Hospitals/medical/emergency response
  • Tactical support for those in harm’s way, including reservists, soldiers, and lone soldiers
  • Specific parts of the country most impacted (Southern Israel and Northern Israel)
  • Infrastructure needed for safety during war
  • Volunteer mobilization
  • Haifa and local needs for our sister city

*Grants approved by CJP’s Israel Emergency Fund Task Force take time to process. CJP is committed to sending funds to recipient organizations as expeditiously as possible. 

Direct support for victims of terror and trauma response: Total giving $2,310,000 

Kibbutz Re’im - $1,000,000

ABOUT KIBBUTZ RE’IM
Kibbutz Re’im in Southern Israel was the site of the music festival that was the primary target of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. The residents of Kibbutz Re’im displayed immense courage, resisting Hamas militants for more than seven hours until reinforcements arrived. The 430 surviving kibbutz members temporarily relocated to a hotel in Eilat, with nothing but the clothes they wore.

WHY CJP GAVE
Money from CJP’s Israel Emergency Fund will provide temporary housing in Tel Aviv for all 430 kibbutz members, along with essential items (such as clothing and furniture), and a communal space in Tel Aviv for Re’im residents to gather for activities. CJP’s grant will also provide much-needed psychological support for survivors of the attack, support for Re’im children as they integrate into Tel Aviv schools, and money to help create a kibbutz business recovery plan. CJP is the first federation to pilot offering kibbutz-specific aid, and will report back to Jewish Federations of North America with learning from the grant.

Givat Haviva - $315,000

ABOUT GIVAT HAVIVA
Established in 1949, Givat Haviva is a social change organization that emphasizes the importance of a Jewish and Arab shared society. Givat Haviva works to promote a prosperous, democratic society for all citizens of Israel, one that strives for peace with its neighbors and the solidarity of all peoples. The organization does this work through focusing on education, equality/empowerment, regional partnerships, arts, language and culture, and public engagement.

WHY CJP GAVE
Without hesitation and budget, Givat Haviva took in 260 evacuees from Ashkelon, a community in Southern Israel that is impacted by constant rocket attacks. Givat Haviva is providing housing and overall support for evacuees on its physical campus, which is located between Haifa and Tel Aviv. CJP may consider additional grant requests from Givat Haviva for work preventing escalation between Arabs and Jews. Givat Haviva is reputable and well-established in Israel, and both CJP and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston have a longstanding relationship with the organization.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) - $250,000 

ABOUT JDC 
JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. Through its significant presence in Israel, the JDC regularly provides services to more than a million vulnerable Israelis (such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and families at risk). At the start of the crisis, JDC activated its emergency response team, establishing a direct line of communication with key government and municipal partners to assess and respond to needs.  

WHY CJP GAVE 
JDC is training front line social workers, teachers, caregivers, and medical professionals to provide trauma relief in Southern Israel; maintaining strong operations of its support programs for vulnerable populations in Southern Israel, including seniors and disabled citizens who have been evacuated and relocated; and providing emergency financial support to small businesses and municipalities in Southern Israel.

Brothers and Sisters for Israel - $250,000 

ABOUT BROTHERS AND SISTERS FOR ISRAEL 
Brothers and Sisters for Israel is the largest civilian aid organization operating in Israel, entirely powered by volunteers who are former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. 100% of funds raised for the organization are used for acquiring essential resources and supplies, including combat gear for soldiers, humanitarian support, meals, clothing, and evacuation for those in war zones, and accommodations for the displaced. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
Currently, there are more than 200,000 refugees without homes in Israel. Brothers and Sisters for Israel is helping families who have been displaced and need a place to sleep, and providing them with medical supplies, clothing, food, and water. The organization is also supporting psychological support for children and families who have experienced trauma, and in partnership with the IDF and the Israel Security Agency, is using advanced facial recognition software to identify hostages and missing people.

ImpactIsrael (formerly Yemin Orde) - $100,000 

ABOUT IMPACTISRAEL 
Needham-based ImpactIsrael (which has a longstanding relationship with CJP and many of our volunteers) is the North American philanthropic partner of Yemin Orde and Village Way Educational Initiatives (VWEI), both based just south of Haifa. Yemin Orde is home to 400+ at-risk and immigrant youth from around the world, and provides teenagers who have suffered neglect, abandonment, and extreme poverty the chance to find a home, a family, and a future. VWEI brings the groundbreaking educational methodology originally developed at Yemin Orde to 78 different communities across Israel, reaching more than 35,000 at-risk youth and their 3,600 educators.  

WHY CJP GAVE 
ImpactIsrael is providing enhanced security at Yemin Orde, including portable and renovated shelters, monitoring systems, and additional equipment and capabilities; emergency financial assistance for graduates and their families; significantly increased mental health resources for youth, graduates, and staff; and resources for VWEI communities in Southern Israel that have been devastated.  

Itach Ma’aki - $100,000

ABOUT ITACH MA’AKI
Itach Ma’aki—Women Lawyers for Social Justice—was established in 2001 to give voice to women subject to social, geographic, national, ethnic, and economic discrimination in Israeli society. To achieve its goal, Itach Ma’aki provides free legal aid and representation for women in various areas of the law at each of its branches in Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva, and Haifa. 

WHY CJP GAVE
In response to the current crisis, Itach Ma’aki is purchasing goods and delivering food baskets (with an emphasis on needs for babies, such as diapers and formula) to families in unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev. Additionally, the organization is providing emotional and therapeutic support for these communities through both individual and group therapy sessions. CJP’s funds will provide therapy for three months for 500 women and their families, and provide two food baskets each for 400 families. 

Kfar Izun - $100,000

ABOUT KFAR IZUN
Under ordinary circumstances, Kfar Izun (Rebalance Village) serves as a haven for young adults battling drug addiction, offering them the necessary support to overcome their struggles. It is an innovative and unique treatment and rehabilitation village, the first of its kind in Israel and around the world. The village provides a therapeutic community for backpackers and young people in crisis between the ages of 18-40. Additionally, it acts as a highly effective refuge for soldiers dealing with PTSD, aiding them in their healing journey.

WHY CJP GAVE
Following the Oct. 7 attacks, Kfar Izun swiftly mobilized to extend mental health assistance to the more than 2,000 survivors of the music festival that was the primary target of the Hamas attack. Many of the survivors of the festival were under the influence of drugs, which compounds the trauma; Izun has expertise to address this need and provide specific treatment. The organization is also anticipating and preparing for the hundreds—if not thousands—of PTSD cases that may arise post-war. Kfar Izun stands out for its exceptional quality of care, its team of dedicated professionals, and the strong support it receives from Israeli philanthropists. Kfar Izun is committed to providing top-notch mental health support, ensuring that those in need receive the help they deserve during this challenging time.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Israel - $50,000

ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ISRAEL
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization that has been operating worldwide for more than 100 years. To date, tens of thousands of children and teenagers have benefited from the one-on-one support of their “Bigs,” who have helped change their lives for the better.

WHY CJP GAVE
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Israel is providing tablets and laptops to 68 at-risk families, each with up to four children, to support students in their remote learning. All the families are known to the welfare system, and 19 of the children are evacuees from the south who lost one or both parents. A volunteer will deliver the equipment, install it, and train the families to use the computers and tablets. The grant will have an immediate impact in helping children in need who cannot learn any other way.

Educating for Excellence (E4E) - $50,000

ABOUT E4E
Educating for Excellence (E4E) strives to strengthen Israeli society by reducing socioeconomic disparity, promoting equality, and creating social mobility for talented youth with potential from underserved communities across Israel. Through after-school programs and a graduate network, E4E invests in the 1 million Israeli children currently living in poverty. The organization helps children and young adults between the ages of 8 and 28 channel their talents and become involved and engaged citizens in Israeli society.

WHY CJP GAVE
Since the onset of the war, E4E officials have met with thousands of Jewish and Arab youth in marginalized locations and from at-risk families to assess their immediate needs and identify solutions. Schools lacking bomb shelters are closed and parents have either been called up for military service or are working longer hours, leaving kids alone for long periods of time. Despite being short-staffed, with more than 100 personnel called up for service (including the CEO), E4E quickly opened new Educational Excellence Program Centers to provide youth with access to social workers and mental health support, trauma counseling for staff and parents, and online programming for kids who are homebound due to constant rocket attacks.

ERAN - $50,000 

ABOUT ERAN 
ERAN provides lifesaving emotional first aid services, offering initial response and emotional support on the phone and online, while maintaining strict confidentiality and anonymity. For five decades, ERAN volunteers have been reaching out to people in stressful situations, discreetly and confidentially. The range of referrals to ERAN is broad and includes situations such as dealing with trauma, depression, economic distress, teen challenges, loneliness, violence, abuse, eating disorders, self-image and sexual identity, difficulty in raising children, distress of Holocaust survivors, anxiety, and more. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
Entire communities were eliminated in only a few hours. Almost every family in Israel has lost a family member or friend. The gruesome images of the extreme violence are bringing up trauma from the Holocaust, in addition to losing Israel’s basic sense of security. In this time of war, families of terror victims, family members of abducted citizens, children, the elderly, and professional service providers (such as police and soldiers) need access now to increased mental health support, which ERAN can offer.  

Machshava Tova - $45,000

ABOUT MACHSHAVA TOVA
Machshava Tova operates community centers for technology education and provides online educational opportunities to serve underprivileged communities that lack access to technology. The organization is focused on reducing social gaps in Israel by using technology.

WHY CJP GAVE
Machshava Tova is responding to the current crisis in Israel by taking over hotels in Jerusalem filled with Sderot-based evacuees, including children who need technology to access school and adults who require technology for work and day-to-day needs. The organization is giving evacuees computers, bringing their mobile technology centers to the hotels, and providing temporary educational curriculum to students. CJP’s grant will fund computer purchases, projectors, and other equipment to provide 60 children with ongoing educational sessions. The equipment will later be donated to the Sderot school system when it is safe for normal classes to resume.


Tactical support for those in harm’s way, including reservists, soldiers, and lone soldiers: Total giving $580,000 

Brothers for Life - $250,000 

ABOUT BROTHERS FOR LIFE  
Brothers for Life (BFL) is a nonprofit organization—created and run by injured Israeli veterans—that gives critical and immediate help to other injured Israeli combat veterans who sacrificed their lives for the safety of the Jewish people. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
Brothers for Life is deploying teams to the hospitals to conduct more than 1,000 initial meetings with injured soldiers, assessing each soldier’s immediate needs, such as financial needs or accommodations for family members to stay near the hospital. BFL is distributing short- and long-term personal needs for extended hospital stays—from personal hygiene items, bedding, and clothing to laptops and iPads, and helping families of injured soldiers living near the Gaza Strip with financial aid, short-term housing, and personal household goods. 

ICON - $250,000

ABOUT ICON 
ICON  (Israel Collaboration Network) is a nonprofit organization based in Silicon Valley and in Israel that provides essential equipment for Israeli soldiers and first responders through fundraising, procurement, and shipment efforts, and funding medical equipment for civilian and military medical facilities. The organization maintains a close partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the IDF, ensuring that every step is validated and approved.  

WHY CJP GAVE
ICON recently orchestrated the delivery of vital supplies from the United States, including protective gear, drones, thermal clothing, medical supplies, and generators. These supplies were distributed to reservists, engineers, and affected towns and kibbutzim, in coordination with Israeli authorities on the ground. 

Nefesh B’Nefesh - $80,000

ABOUT NEFESH B’NEFESH
Nefesh B’Nefesh (Soul to Soul) supports North Americans who make aliyah (immigrate) to Israel by helping them find jobs, warm communities, and a holistic Jewish life. Nefesh B’Nefesh has special programs to specifically help medical professionals and lone soldiers acclimate to life in Israel.  

WHY CJP GAVE
Nefesh B’Nefesh is offering mental health support, housing, and other basic needs to lone soldiers fighting and/or called for active duty in the current conflict. The organization is also providing relief to olim (immigrants in distress), support for families of lone soldiers, and is coordinating the arrival and acclimation of volunteer physicians to strengthen Israel’s health care system. There are 42 lone soldiers from Boston that we know of currently, and we will ensure they are supported with these funds. 


Specific parts of the country most impacted: Total giving $805,000

Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) - $500,000

ABOUT JAFI
Since 1929, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) has been working for a secure, diverse, and thriving Jewish people. JAFI provides the global framework for aliyah to Israel, ensures global Jewish safety, strengthens Jewish identity, and connects Jews to Israel and one another.

WHY CJP GAVE
Throughout Israel, owners of small businesses have been deeply impacted by the war. Some have had to close their businesses because all their employees have been called into military service, others have had to evacuate their production facilities, and some are mourning the loss of loved ones. There are also thousands of small businesses near the Gaza border that have either been destroyed, evacuated, or are existing under constant rocket fire.

CJP’s grant to JAFI will be split between two programs, with each receiving $250,000: Small Business Emergency Grants and SparkIL.

  • Small Business Emergency Grants are providing aid for businesses in Israel’s south, including emergency grants for small businesses and mentorship for small business leaders. Most small business owners generally live from paycheck to paycheck, and many are in Israel’s socioeconomic and geographic periphery. This grant will provide immediate and needed support to many business owners. 
  • SparkIL is facilitating interest-free loans to small businesses in Israel. SparkIL has launched an emergency relief loan fund to support Israeli small businesses from all over the country that are affected by the war. Already, SparkIL is helping approximately 130 businesses. Since opening the application process for the emergency fund, SparkIL has received hundreds of requests from business owners with difficult stories. This grant will help sustain the fund to, in turn, help more businesses that are suffering from the loss of revenue due to the war.

Israel Association of Community Centers - $150,000

ABOUT ISRAEL ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY CENTERS
The Israel Association of Community Centers (IACC) is Israel’s leading social organization. It aims to build and develop a nationwide network of sustainable local communities that contribute to a strong and resilient society, where everyone feels valued. IACC operates a nationwide network of 800 community centers that serve millions of residents in more than 150 local authorities from all sectors and populations of Israeli society.

WHY CJP GAVE
The funding to IACC will help support women and children in the 14 Druze villages in Northern Israel. Many Druze community members have been called for reserve duty in the IDF and other security forces since the war began, leaving behind single-parent families facing challenging circumstances. In this difficult period, many mothers are tasked with addressing their own fears, anxieties, and uncertainties, as well as those of their children. Through the community centers it operates in some of the Druze village, the IACC will provide emotional and social support through temporary learning centers with computers and educational materials for children whose formal education has been disrupted due to the war; workshops for women on coping with stressful situations and parenting during the crisis; and enrichment activities and care programs for children and youth.

Co-Impact - $130,000

ABOUT CO-IMPACT
Co-Impact is a non-profit organization that believes that quality employment and shared workplaces are the change agents that will transform Israel into a more democratic, inclusive, and just society for all. Co-Impact empowers the largest companies in Israel to become diverse and inclusive workplaces and build strong multi-sector partnerships to increase the number of Arab employees working in the private sector in Israel.

WHY CJP GAVE
With the funding, Co-Impact is working to further several of its initiatives, including: 1) Generating strong and clear voices for diversity and inclusion and shared workplaces through the national and business leadership; 2) Building and strengthening organizational resilience within companies by embedding Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) practices in this time of unprecedented crisis, supporting shared workplaces, and empowering employers and managers. 3) Strengthening interpersonal and professional connections in the face of crisis through its Jewish-Arab Mentoring Program; 4) Highlighting the benefits of DE&I practices and encouraging companies to access Co-Impact's tools and guidance on issues of shared workplaces through a public relations campaign; and 5) Strengthening the workplace engagement of Arab citizens of Israel through Mashbak – Co-Impact’s Community of Arab Young Professionals.

Dualis - $25,000

ABOUT DUALIS
Dualis is a nonprofit that has existed for more than a decade in the field of employment. Over the last five years, Dualis has been focused on getting young, at-risk people from disadvantaged populations throughout Israel trained and employed in a variety of fields. Their network of employers is an asset during wartime.

WHY CJP GAVE
Dualis requested funding for its Essential Jobs Campaign, which leverages its network of 60 affiliated companies to place young people in employment during times of war. In the first month of the war, Dualis received 600 applications and the volume remains strong. In addition to filling a wartime labor shortage with at-risk individuals, Dualis is concentrating on providing evacuees from Southern Israel with employment opportunities.


Volunteer mobilization: Total giving $740,000 

Civil Emergency Headquarters - $250,000 

ABOUT CIVIL EMERGENCY HEADQUARTERS 
From horror and devastation, Civil Emergency Headquarters has emerged as the largest volunteer organization in Israel. It’s responding to needs from residents and soldiers by connecting them with volunteers and organizations that can help. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
Since Oct. 7, Civil Emergency Headquarters (an organization entirely run and led by volunteers) has evacuated hundreds of residents from the conflict area, connected thousands of families with suitable hosts, and collected and distributed thousands of boxes of basic supplies and food for IDF soldiers and displaced residents. Also, the organization has assisted the residents of Southern Israel, transported hundreds of residents and soldiers to their destinations, provided support and assistance to bereaved families, and, most importantly, consolidated all initiatives under one roof.   

The Jerusalem Civilian Command Center - $250,000

ABOUT THE JERUSALEM CIVILIAN COMMAND CENTER
The Jerusalem Civilian Command Center (JCCC) is a vital emergency wartime coalition comprising seven organizations and NGOs. It was established on the afternoon of Oct. 7 to address Israel’s urgent civilian and military requirements. To date, the JCCC has successfully mobilized more than 4,000 dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly in shifts around the clock to fulfill time-sensitive needs on an hourly basis. Situated in the heart of downtown Jerusalem, the JCCC operates seamlessly across 20+ departments, including a 30-person multilingual call center, a well-stocked warehouse, and a dedicated transportation team.

WHY CJP GAVE
CJP is proud to support the activization of thousands of Israelis who have, overnight, built response mechanisms for this crisis and are taking a direct role in helping those on the ground in need. The coordinated efforts of the JCCC ensure efficient and effective support, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to the well-being of the community during these challenging times.

Dror Israel - $100,000 

ABOUT DROR ISRAEL 
Dror Israel works to build a caring, just, shared society in Israel through innovative education, around leadership and responsibility for self and community, promoting social activism to drive positive change. Dror Israel comprises 1,300 trained educators in 16 communities on the social and economic periphery who are dedicated to bridging gaps and solving local problems, bettering the lives of 150,000 people every year. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
Dror Israel is operating 14 centers with day care and programs for evacuees from communities along the Gaza Strip, running educational activities in public shelters in Southern Israel in the most underprivileged neighborhoods and in hospitals to allow medical staff to work without worrying about their children, funding youth counselors in bomb shelters, and providing in-person and online programming and activity kits for children and families sheltering in place.
 

Israeli American Council (IAC) - $50,000 

ABOUT IAC 
The IAC works to build an engaged and united Israeli American community that strengthens the Israeli and Jewish identity of our next generation, the American Jewish community, and the bond between the people of the United States and the State of Israel. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
IAC New England is mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to donate, pack, and sort supplies, such as clothing, toiletries, and medical items needed by both Israeli military members and civilians. Some of the items are being brought to Israel with passengers on El Al flights, and some items are being shipped. CJP is supporting shipping costs. 

Tzedek Centers - $50,000 

ABOUT TZEDEK CENTERS 
Established in 2016, Tzedek Centers is a national grassroots movement of local activist communities that offers leadership programs and training; community, cultural, and public events, and action groups, all in service of giving Israelis a way to promote change in their communities and cities. Inspired by the Jewish tradition of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and the Israeli Declaration of Independence, the network of eight national Tzedek Centers works to promote democracy, equality, and solidarity in Israeli society.  

WHY CJP GAVE 
Tzedek Centers quickly mobilized to provide an educational framework for evacuated communities from the Gaza Envelope. Tzedek Centers is also offering support for families and victims, caring for their logistical and emotional needs, and is serving as a conduit of information about missing people. 

Tishreen - $40,000 

ABOUT TISHREEN
Tishreen is a nonprofit and non-partisan civil society organization that aims to achieve social change in the Triangle Region of Israel, which is home to about 300,000 Arab citizens of Israel. The organization, which is based in Tayibe (north of Tel Aviv and east of Netanya) was founded in 2008 by activists of diverse backgrounds.

WHY CJP GAVE
Tishreen is establishing an Emergency Support Center for young Arabs to promote open dialogue, ease tensions, and help foster a stable political climate with coexistence between Jews and Arabs. This organization addresses a critical challenge in Israel today: the struggle of young Arab Israelis with the current war through a lack of physical security and profound identity confusion. With the funding, Tishreen will mobilize a volunteer team in the community and schools to create educational activities, which will serve 250 young Arab men and women for three months as they process and cope with their emotions.


Haifa and local needs for our sister city: Total giving $325,000 

Boston-Haifa Connection - $325,000 

ABOUT THE BOSTON-HAIFA CONNECTION 
For more than 30 years, Greater Boston’s Jewish community has worked in partnership with its sister city of Haifa. The Boston-Haifa Connection is based on a simple idea: The best way to bring our communities and our people closer is through building relationships and addressing challenges together. Working side-by-side, the communities support at-risk families in Haifa, foster Jewish identity in both communities, connect youth in Boston and Haifa, and empower change-makers in the communities. 

WHY CJP GAVE 
There are many needs in Haifa, including support for educational activities and child care for children of vulnerable populations and families in reserve or active duty, reinforcement of bomb shelters in underprivileged neighborhoods, and the absorption of internally displaced families and evacuees from the south and the north. CJP professionals in Haifa—working with local volunteer leadership—have established a review committee to prioritize needs and allocate CJP’s funding accordingly. 

$1,250,000 has been granted from the Israel Emergency Fund to the following organizations, as designated gifts from donors.

Donors contributing $1M+ have the option to designate a portion of their gift to organizations fitting the categories of giving set by the Task Force. Please see our Fund Approach for more detail.

  • $25,000: New Israel FundSupports ongoing emergency efforts, including humanitarian aid and basic needs, safeguarding human and civil rights, bolstering Jewish-Arab relations, and providing an alternative vision for Israel’s future.
  • $50,000: Brothers for Life - Gives critical and immediate help to other injured Israeli combat veterans.
  • $50,000: IsraAid - Partnering with local and civil society organizations to coordinate humanitarian efforts, provide psychosocial support, and deliver urgent aid to evacuated communities.
  • $125,000: International Fellowship for Christians and Jews - Providing food, psychological aid, and security.
  • $1,000,000: Project Falcon - Working with national authorities, local authorities, and eventually nonprofits to identify critical needs.

In addition, as of December 5, CJP has contributed $13.25 million from the Israel Emergency Fund to JFNA’s Emergency Fund, which has released $72.441 million* as of November 29, 2023.

Sample of funds granted:  

See the full list of grants here, updated when JFNA makes a grant recommendation.

*In total, JFNA has released more than $211 million in support of Israel and her people. JFNA’s emergency fund has released $72.441 million, while another $138.841 million has been designated by federations across North America.