We Lead the Jewish Response to Global Crises

When natural disasters or other calamities strike, we are the Jewish hands who help communities of all backgrounds and faiths rebuild. We’re on the ground from the very beginning, and we stay long after it’s over to make sure those communities get back on their feet. We also bring our expertise to slow-moving crises, like endemic poverty, food insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, and the plight of refugees.

We know the importance of promoting resilience and rebuilding the community — not just the roads. That’s why we’re committed to helping people chart a new future, rebuild a sustainable local economy, and prepare to weather the next storm or crisis.

We do this by deploying the best of Jewish humanitarian interventions and philanthropy; Israeli tech innovation; expertise in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; and partnerships with Jewish communities from South Africa to Morocco on social action initiatives that are lifting lives every day.

We lead a Jewish response to global humanitarian needs, doing our part to make the world a better place for all humanity.

countries where JDC has responded to a natural disaster or other crisis

Access to Health: Spine Center

A CNN Hero with five honorary doctorates, Dr. Rick Hodes has given thousands a second chance at life. Living in Ethiopia for more than 35 years, Dr. Rick holds a clinic in the basement of a crowded public hospital in Addis Ababa, treating impoverished patients with spinal deformities –– a program JDC launched in 2006. Right now, we’re focused on creating a fully equipped Spine Center and a national training program that will build the skills of local doctors to perform spinal surgeries in Ethiopia, as well as developing other innovative public health initiatives across the continent.

Disaster Relief

From Turkey to Nepal, Haiti to Morocco, we’re on the ground when disaster strikes, working with communities to not just recover but truly rebuild and come back stronger than before. That’s why we lead innovative, sustainable solutions, and develop local capacity to ensure that the most vulnerable people in the hardest-hit towns and cities are better prepared to mitigate future emergencies. We leverage a century of rescue and relief experience to launch an effective response in places like Ethiopia, Chad, and India, and throughout the Ukraine crisis, where we’ve delivered life-saving aid and medical care and equipment to those impacted by the conflict.

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Food Security: Sustainable Agriculture

JDC’s Tikkun Olam Ventures (TOV) Agricultural Development Program helps lift smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, along with their families and communities, out of poverty. We do this by deploying market-based solutions, Jewish philanthropy, and Israeli know-how. Through TOV’s revolving loan fund, farmers purchase Israeli agriculture technology, are trained in best practices, and improve and increase their crop yields and sales.

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Food Security: Imagine More

Though women and girls still lag behind in achieving equal levels of health, education, and earnings in many parts of the world, they are also powerful agents of social and economic change, as well as a source of hope for promoting resilience. Initiatives in urban farming, beekeeping, and clean cooking stoves give women in South Africa and Ethiopia access to finance, technology, and the know-how they need to develop sustainable livelihoods, boost their income, and enhance their food security. Alongside our local partners, we catalyze innovative economic opportunities so that women can thrive and “imagine more” for themselves, their families, and their communities.