Since the war with Hamas erupted so unexpectedly and savagely early on Saturday morning, killing over 1,200 Israelis, wounding another 3,000, and with 150 taken hostage, we have been flooded here at ISRAEL21c by a stream of thoughts, prayers and good wishes from our readers.
I can’t tell you how heartening this has been.
In a crisis, it’s easy to feel very alone and your good wishes have been a constant reminder that people all over the world recognize the tragedy of what has happened here, and wish Israel well.
Many of you also requested information about where to send donations and how to help.
To make things easier for you, we have compiled a list of organizations we know that are helping people across Israel, and who need support to carry on their good work.
We will also be bringing you more in-depth stories about some of the incredible humanitarian work going on in Israel.
Please feel free to send this list to everyone you know, and also let us know about any organizations or help groups that we should add. We will continue to update the list.
Thank you so much for support and your caring. Together we are stronger, and will get through this.
General
Israeli Hospitals
Israeli Hospitals are providing services for injured civilians, soldiers and other personnel, who have been hurt due to rockets or in contact with terrorists. You may donate directly to the southern Barzilai Hospital, where patients are currently treated under fire, Jerusalem based Hadassah hospital where many soldiers are admitted among others, and the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, where many hundreds of injured patients are treated these days, which is recruiting funds for urgent basic medical equipment, required for essential patient care.
National Emergency Fund
This new fund was established by JGive and many of its partners to provide assistance to the victims of the recent attacks in Israel, and in the war that has followed.
All the donations collected will be distributed to charities that offer relief services, welfare, equipment, food and other necessities to the victims of the war and their families.
The funds will be distributed through a public committee headed by Gen. Eliezer Shkedi and Natan Sharansky.
IACC (Israeli Association of Community Centers)
The IACC and Magen David Adom (Israel Emergency Medical Services), have jointly established an Aid Coordination Center. The Center assesses the situation and caters for the needs received from more than 70 community centers in the regions of Israel under attack. The community centers serve as frontline emergency hubs, providing for the essential humanitarian needs of their communities with currently more than 200,000 people, in the war zones. These needs include food supplies, toiletry, baby provisions, first aid kits.
For donations from the US via the American Friends of the Association for the Advancement of Community Centers in Israel (AFIACC), click here. For donations from Europe and Israel via JGive, click here.
Volunteer Emergency Services
Magen David Adom
Magen David Adom first responders have been providing medical assistance to victims of the Hamas attack from the start of the crisis.
They have provided treatment to hundreds of injured citizens and soldiers in the south, and have made dozens of medical evacuations by ambulance and helicopter.
MDA staff have also collected thousands of blood donations from people across Israel, keeping overwhelmed hospitals supplied.
A senior MDA EMT was killed by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, the first day of the war, as he drove an ambulance to Ofakim to help save lives.
Another four MDA volunteers have been injured by gunfire, and some are missing.
American Friends of Magen David Adom
This US organization supports the activity of Magen David Adom, supplying its 33,000 paramedics, EMTS, first responders, and first-aid providers, volunteers and staff, with training, equipment, and medical supplies. Donate to the American Friends of Magen David Adom here.
United Hatzalah
Some 1,500 United Hatzalah volunteer doctors, paramedics, and EMTs have been providing medical assistance to the thousands of wounded in the south and center of Israel, often under fire and at risk to themselves.
On Sunday, a volunteer EMT was killed while helping residents of the Gaza periphery.
Aside from medical assistance, volunteers have also transported hundreds of people to hospital using dozens of ambulances and helicopters from the medevac unit.
The organization’s logistical unit is moving large amounts of medical equipment to the southern region and has asked for help in collecting additional equipment such as CPR bags, oxygen cylinders, consumable medical equipment such as bandages and gauze pads, portable chargers, hygiene products, closed water bottles, dry food products that do not require cooking, disposable utensils and more. Donate to United Hatzalah here.
NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief
NATAN, which usually works abroad, has established a medical clinic with CLALIT Health Service, where physician volunteers care for patients 16 hours a day.
In addition, NATAN teams are mentoring youth movement counselors working with children and teenagers displaced from their homes; recruiting social workers for home visits; and providing trauma support to police officers who have witnessed unspeakable violence and atrocities. To donate, click here.
ZAKA
ZAKA paramedics, famously known in Israel as the ones who come into the most horrific sites and violent events to deal with their aftermath, are on-call every hour of every day and deployed around the country, in their mission to offer the deceased with “True Virtue” (Chesed Shel Emes), to honor the dead and ensure a full Jewish burial. Zaka volunteers are in urgent need of safety equipment, medical supplies, first aid kits, and more.
One Heart – Lev Echad
One Heart is a national response network that operates in times of crisis, founded by alumni of the Ein Prat Leadership Academy, at the time of Israel’s disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Since its founding, the One Heart network has activated over 100,000 volunteers across Israel and in other countries (in distress situations). The NGO has deployed 30,000 volunteers but is gathering funds in order to reach 100,000 volunteers to deal with the magnitude of the current crisis – donate here.
Trauma Support
Israel Trauma Coalition
The Israel Trauma Coalition for Response and Preparedness (ITC) was founded in 2002, in the wake of 9/11, as an initiative of the UJA-Federation of New York. Today, ITC is a cornerstone of Israel’s national trauma care, providing leadership, direction, and resources before, during and after crisis.
ITC runs 12 resilience centers, eight in the Gaza border area, which are now flooded with people seeking help. Together with its member organizations, ITC provides training for mental-health professionals and clinical services for new immigrants, the elderly, children, disabled, veterans, Israeli Arabs and others in crisis throughout Israel.
Donations to the Israel Trauma Coalition by credit card here.
IsraAID
IsraAID usually sends humanitarian assistance abroad in the wake of disasters, but now the organization has turned its attention to home.
The organization is establishing child-friendly spaces in hotels hosting families evacuated from their homes in the Gaza border region. It will also train grassroots volunteers in psychological first aid, self-care, and burnout prevention, using their humanitarian expertise to support those who are helping the community.
Emotional First-Aid by Telephone & Internet (ERAN)
Eran helps Israelis navigate various crises by phone or online chat, free of charge, anonymously and confidentially.
The NGO’s 1,600 volunteers have been providing mental health support to survivors of the attack on southern Israel on October 7, their relatives and the general population who feel immense anxiety due to the tragic events.
The service is available in Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian, Amharic, French and Spanish.
Dream Doctors
Dream Doctors, the Israeli organization of medical clowns working on the staff of hospitals and in humanitarian crises around the world, is extending its therapeutic clown services to hotels and other places where war refugees are sheltering.
“We’re committed to creating pockets of peace and comfort in this distressing situation,” says CEO Tsour Shriqui, himself a resident of the Gaza envelope.
Dream Doctors donations can be sent here.
Bayit Cham
Bayit Cham was established in order to provide the best support for Israeli facing mental health challenges, and is directing its efforts at this time to establish a fund to provide therapy for 1,000 children from the south region near Gaza, affected severely by the recent acts of terror.
NATAL: Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center
NATAL is an apolitical organization providing multidisciplinary treatment and support to direct and indirect victims of trauma due to terror and war in Israel since 1998, and is continuing to do so during this crisis – donate here.
Helping our Soldiers
Yashar LaChayal
Founded in 2006, Yashar LaChayal – which means “straight to the soldier” — is dedicated to helping Israeli soldiers and making their service more comfortable while they protect Israel.
It has a range of projects to support soldiers from impoverished families, those injured in the line of duty, and bereaved family members. Donate here.
The Giving Back Fund (Israel Reserve Fund)
The Israel Reserve Fund supports soldiers in this emergent war with Hamas and possible other entities. As flights to Israel have been extremely expensive and difficult to secure, many soldiers are paying out of their own pockets but cannot afford to do so. This organization is currently raising money to assist any soldier who needs help by paying for their plane ticket home – donate here.
Bayit Brigade
Bayit Brigade is raising funds to assist Israeli soldiers, with transportation expenses to get to/from bases quickly covered, groceries and basic home necessities so soldiers can rest during time off of base, offering also rent relief for any veteran soldier who will be unable to work and may fall behind on bills, as well as supplies, hygiene products, and clothing for active soldiers in the field, and covering medical bills for soldiers that require long term care – donate here.
Belev Echad
Belev Echad is an international initiative dedicated to supporting and empowering Israeli veterans, and is currently raising funds for protective gear meant for soldiers in the field – donate here.
Friends of the IDF
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) is a non-political, non-military organization that provides for wellbeing of the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), veterans and family members. Established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors, FIDF is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation that operates 26 regional offices in the United States with headquarters in New York City. The organization is currently raiding funds meant for temporary field hospitals, intensive care ambulances, hygiene and plasma kits, as well as other IDF needs – donate here.
Helping Israel’s civilians
KKL-JNF (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund)
KKL-JNF is providing the Gaza envelope communities with emergency assistance of 9 million shekels, including immediate support for security needs and the rehabilitation of the security and infrastructure of the communities – donate here.
Community support campaigns
Several funding campaigns have been raising funds for local communities affected greatly by the war: Shinua Chevrati (Social Mobilization), in partnership with BIG, is delivering groceries to Israelis relocated from their homes due to the situation, along with other campaigns aimed at aiding citizens with essentials including B’nai B’rith International and The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
On the online front, The Fighting Online Antisemitism Organization (FOA) is raising funds to train online activists in combating antisemitism online – donate here.
Latet
Latet (To Give) was established in order to reduce poverty, for a better and just society, by providing assistance to needy populations, mobilizing Israeli civil society towards mutual responsibility, and leading change in national priorities.
Upon learning of the disaster, Latet began to act in “emergency mode” and is now aiding citizens as well as the security forces on the front line with emergency aid kits, containing food and hygiene products – donate here.
Hashomer Hachadash
This recruitment organization dedicated to safeguarding farming lands and aiding Israeli farmers opened a “Situation Room” to assist farmers and communities under attack. The organization is reaching out to donors worldwide to assist in the mobilization of trucks with fire extinguishing equipment, 500 emergency jeep volunteers and other emergency equipment (road and body cameras, thermal drones, rescue kits, tear gas, etc) – donate here.
Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
SPNI has opened its southern field schools, free of charge, to any family fleeing the Gaza violence, and families are already arriving.
It costs $300 a night to host a family, including three meals, beds for the family, and a program of children’s activities led by trained counselors. SPNI can provide shelter for up to 300 evacuees in the Mitzpeh Ramon Field School, 100 kilometers from Gaza.
Adopt-A-Safta
Adopt-A-Safta is a nonprofit initiative that pairs young adult volunteers with lonely, isolated seniors, having a special focus on forging warm ongoing connections with Holocaust survivors. During the war, many seniors cannot run to shelter when there’s a siren and cannot go out to buy necessities. The organization has mobilized hundreds of volunteers and donors to fulfill requests from cities, eldercare homes, and people living abroad with elderly parents in Israel.
Jewish Federations of North America
The Jewish federations system represents 146 independent federations and a network of 300 smaller communities across the continent with the goal of enhancing the well-being of Jews worldwide through meaningful contributions. Now the organization is directing and collecting funds for the purpose of supporting Israeli victims of the conflict – donate here.
Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel
SPNI has opened its southern field schools, free of charge, to any family fleeing the Gaza violence, and families are already arriving.
It costs $300 a night to host a family, including three meals, beds for the family, and a program of children’s activities led by trained counselors. SPNI can provide shelter for up to 300 evacuees in the Mitzpeh Ramon Field School, 100 kilometers from Gaza.
OneFamily
OneFamily is an Israeli nonprofit supporting the mental and physical rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks – whether soldiers or civilians. They also work with bereaved families.
OneFamily provides financial and legal assistance, psychological services, therapeutic retreats, healing camps for the young, support groups and workshops as well as personalized holistic therapy programs. Donate here.
Yad Sarah
Yad Sarah, a volunteer-run nationwide network of health-related services, is mobilizing emergency aid during the war: transporting equipment, evacuating residents from combat zones, escorting wounded people to funerals of loved ones, helping search and rescue teams locate missing persons via the organization’s distress call buttons for the elderly, and more.
