Crisis in Israel

The current crisis has penetrated every Israeli town and neighborhood, reaching every man, woman and child on the most personal, individual level. Thankfully, most are able to ease their fears by taking comfort from the community that continues to bind us together, in good times and particularly in times of crisis.

But the isolated elderly, children and youth who were already at risk, immigrants cut-off by language or culture from the Israeli mainstream - these Israelis need help to understand and cope with the extreme stress that is now dominating their lives.

That's where JDC's partnership in Israel becomes so crucially important. Because it gives us a way to help these Israelis in two vital ways - by relieving isolation; and by treating the symptoms of stress.

Relieving Isolation
Our initiatives in this area aim to alleviate the social isolation many Israelis endure, an isolation that in time of crisis limits their ability to cope with their fears and find the assistance they require. These initiatives assure that these most isolated Israelis can obtain the social support, information and assistance that their special situations might otherwise make inaccessible and, where relevant, strengthen their communities' ability to draw together.

Examples of our efforts to relieve isolation are as follows:

Elderly Population
Supportive Communities for Elderly - Over 100,000 elderly Israelis are recent olim, whose Hebrew is either limited or non-existent. Assisted living complexes provide vital social contact and emergency services for elderly who would otherwise be isolated in their homes.

These supportive communities provide an environment where these elderly olim are able to communicate in their native language and further ensure that they are not isolated in this time of crisis. There are 50 of these supportive communities in Israel, strategically located in areas with high concentrations of elderly immigrants.

Day Care Centers for Elderly - There are over 150 day care centers in Israel which provide crucial social communication links, as well as professional counseling, for both ambulatory and homebound Israelis, who are transported to the center as part of the program.

We are receiving reports that these day care centers have significantly increased activity during the present crisis.

Ethiopian Olim
45% of Ethiopian-Israeli adults cannot carry on a basic Hebrew conversation. 70% are illiterate. One can only begin to imagine the sense of isolation and fear that they must feel now, as they are cut off from normal communication channels. To that end, the following programs are specifically designed to reach out to Ethiopian immigrants:

Shaham: Home-based support for Ethiopian-Israeli families - Outreach home-based support programs for Ethiopian-Israelis at risk. Trained young Ethiopian adults reach out and meet regularly with Ethiopian immigrants who are disconnected from mainstream Israeli society. They provide counseling, information and comfort to their fellow Ethiopian immigrants in their native language of Amharic.

Amharic-language television - A vital telecommunications lifeline to Ethiopian immigrants, whose isolation is exacerbated by their inability to understand news broadcasts in Hebrew.

Relieving the Symptoms of Stress

Children and Youth at Risk
In times of severe stress, family dysfunction increases. Programs, aimed at treating symptoms of stress for children and youth at risk, include:

Emergency Centers for Children at Risk - These centers are strategically located in large cities. They provide emergency shelter to children throughout the region who are at acute risk of parental abuse.

Programs for Children and Youth in Battered Women's Shelters - While their mothers are being sheltered, this program enables the children of shattered families to overcome the trauma their home experience has caused.