A year of solidarity

When Hamas attacked Israel last year, JUF–drawing upon the strength of its Annual Campaign–immediately opened an Israel Emergency Fund. Chicago’s generous community has contributed almost $60 million to address the staggering additional needs brought by terror and war. The committee allocating those precious resources, comprised of JUF lay leaders and staff, initially provided grants that met immediate and emergency needs.

Taking into account the entirety of the nation’s needs–as well as other sources from fellow Federations to private-foundations, from corporate grants to the government–JUF made allocations designed to maximize our impact. In the process, JUF has smartly leveraged other funding sources, while also making a significant difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Israelis in their own right.

Adjusting to changing conditions midway through the year, JUF shifted from mid-size grants to dozens of organizations to large grants to fewer grantees. This new strategy reflected both prevailing and emergency realities–in the war, and in society.

The large-scale projects that JUF supports in this second phase will meaningfully impact Israel in the years ahead, especially in two key areas: the economy and mental health.

Economy and employment

Israel’s economy has been devastated–businesses closing, foreign investment declining, and unemployment spiking. Israelis who were struggling before the war find themselves facing financial collapse. The country is suffering from two counter-intuitive forces: critical labor shortages and high unemployment. Twenty percent of the workforce cannot work as usual; 7% of those with jobs have been called to serve in the IDF.

JUF partnered with one of its historic partners, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), deploying mobile Employment Centers to help evacuees from both the north and the south find work. At the same time, the program connects evacuees to training for jobs in emerging industries, while helping them pursue jobs more effectively.

JDC’s Mobile Employment Centers and other programs connect job seekers to today’s in-demand skills. JDC works closely with employers to identify these highly sought skills so job seekers can compete. The programs are run in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Welfare, making for a potent partnership between JUF, the JDC, and the government.

Mental health

Following the outbreak of the war, Israel’s Ministry of Health admitted that the existing system could not cope with new patients, existing ones, and previous ones whose old trauma was re-triggered by October 7. The Ministry responded by building a broad program to respond on different levels, including a Community Intervention Initiative.

The initiative fuels collaboration between psychiatric departments in general and psychiatric hospitals, to provide accessible, and affordable mental health treatment, aiming to prevent institutionalization, while diminishing any stigma to seeking treatment.

Hospitals nationwide are establishing 16 new intervention centers outside of their facilities, offering day treatment primarily for those exhibiting severe symptoms or deterioration. The target population includes direct victims of October 7 and soldiers with PTSD. It is estimated that 10% of people exposed to the events will require intensive treatment. Others receiving treatment will be existing patients experiencing conditions worsened because of the conflict, evacuees, and youth awaiting diagnosis and treatment.

The new community intervention centers will include staff from large psychiatric departments and professional therapeutic teams. Technological innovation, AI, and research will be used in the centers to offer targeted and enhanced treatments.

These projects–supported by strategic grants from JUF–are already in operation. Addressing both the economic and emotional, JUF is having a huge positive impact on Israel at the time that the country needs us the most.

Ofer Bavly is a JUF Vice President and the Director General of the JUF Israel Office.