Three years after the October 7 attacks, and a year after closing the $908 million Israel Emergency Fund, Jewish Federations have raised and invested $283 million through our Rebuild Israel framework to support Israel’s long-term recovery, help rebuild communities, strengthen small businesses, expand mental health services, and support families affected by the war. 

 

“Our commitment to Israel did not end when the immediate emergency passed,” said Rebecca Caspi, Director General of Jewish Federations’ Israel Office and Senior Vice President, Global Operations said at The General Assembly. “Rebuilding means more than restoring what was lost. It means helping families regain stability, strengthening local economies, and ensuring that communities have the resources they need to thrive for generations to come. Through these investments, Jewish Federations are helping build a more resilient Israel.” 

 

After closing the Israel Emergency Fund, Jewish Federations continued to stand with Israel, now in a changed reality. Our partnership with The Jewish Agency for Israel and JDC remains as steady as ever. Building on that foundation, Federations are investing in Israel’s long-term recovery, through programs that address the ongoing economic, educational, and social challenges facing Israeli communities. 

 

One way Federations are supporting Israel’s economic recovery is through our small business loan fund, which President Isaac Herzog recently recognized. The fund has so far provided $242 million in loans to 4,132 Israeli small businesses, supporting an estimated 28,000 jobs and 25,000 families. Of that amount, $80 million has already been repaid and lent again at no additional cost to donors, allowing the funds to continue supporting businesses in need.

 

Jewish Federations also provided $176 million in loans to 13,773 reservists in partnership with Schusterman Family Philanthropies – Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel, and Bank Leumi. Federations joined with the Ministry of Negev, Galilee and National Resilience to found a new national headquarters which has placed family coordinators in 105 local authorities to provide additional support to reservists and their families. 

 

Recognizing the lasting psychological impact of the war, Jewish Federations partnered with JDC to reach 203,400 people across 215 municipalities through more than 2,600 vetted mental health interventions. Together with the Ministry of Health, eighteen new mental health centers are now providing treatment to nearly 7,500 people. 

 

Education and community rebuilding remain central to the recovery effort. Through the Habaita/Homeward initiative, Jewish Federations are supporting 40,000 students across 14 municipalities, recruited 800 educators, supported more than 100 programs, and launched over 90 educational initiatives. For families in frontline communities, education ranks second only to security among the reasons to remain in their communities. 

 

Jewish Federations mobilized more than 30,000 volunteers through Volunteer in Israel, a joint initiative with Birthright Israel. Together, volunteers contributed more than 150,000 volunteer days, primarily supporting communities in the Gaza Envelope and along Israel’s northern border. 

 

Through Partnership2Gether and Communities2Gether, Jewish Federations supported 194 programs in the Western Negev, strengthening connections between Israeli communities and their North American partners. Since the war began, individual Federations have also contributed nearly $100 million directly to partner communities. 

 

“We have a generational imperative to stand up for communities and all of our children and adults with deep and enduring connections to the beloved State of Israel,” said Gary Torgow, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Jewish Federations of North America. “We must stand beside our brothers and sisters in Israel through the long and difficult work of recovery, through Rebuild Israel, during a time when Israel is facing tremendous challenges from within and from without.” 

 

As Israel continues to rebuild, Jewish Federations remain committed to working with partners on the ground to address evolving needs, strengthen communities, and support Israel’s long-term resilience.