Israel is home to a wide range of charities addressing various causes such as poverty, education, healthcare, humanitarian aid, and more. Whether you’re interested in supporting vulnerable populations, promoting peace, or aiding in medical research, these Israeli charities work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities throughout the country.
Here are some of the most prominent Israeli charities across various sectors:
1. Yad Eliezer
Yad Eliezer is one of the largest poverty relief organizations in Israel, providing essential services to impoverished families, including food distribution, financial assistance, and emotional support.
- Mission: To fight poverty by providing basic needs like food, clothing, and financial support to families in crisis.
- What they offer: Food boxes, wedding and bar mitzvah support for underprivileged families, baby formula, and job training programs.
- How to support: Donate funds, sponsor a meal program, or contribute to a specific project through the Yad Eliezer website.
Example: Yad Eliezer delivers thousands of food boxes each month to families across Israel who are struggling to meet basic needs.
2. The Israel Cancer Association (ICA)
The Israel Cancer Association (ICA) is the leading national body working to combat cancer in Israel through research, prevention, and patient support programs.
- Mission: To reduce cancer mortality rates through education, research, and support for patients and their families.
- What they offer: Public education on cancer prevention, funding for cancer research, free patient services, and rehabilitation programs.
- How to support: Make a donation to support cancer research or participate in their annual fundraising events.
Example: ICA funds crucial research and provides extensive support to cancer patients and survivors, helping improve treatment outcomes in Israel.
3. Magen David Adom (MDA)
Magen David Adom (MDA) is Israel’s national emergency medical service (EMS) and disaster relief organization, affiliated with the International Red Cross. MDA provides lifesaving services, including ambulance services and blood donation.
- Mission: To provide emergency medical services, disaster response, and blood donations across Israel.
- What they offer: Emergency medical response, blood services, disaster relief, and first aid training.
- How to support: Donate to MDA’s general fund or sponsor an ambulance or medical equipment through their donation portal.
Example: MDA plays a critical role in responding to medical emergencies, including natural disasters, terror attacks, and accidents across Israel.
4. Latet
Latet (meaning “to give” in Hebrew) is a leading humanitarian aid organization in Israel that focuses on alleviating poverty and providing emergency relief, especially food assistance to struggling populations.
- Mission: To reduce poverty and provide aid to disadvantaged populations in Israel.
- What they offer: Food distribution to families in need, support for Holocaust survivors, and assistance to elderly people and children.
- How to support: Donate to their food bank program, support elderly care, or sponsor a food package through Latet‘s donation page.
Example: Latet distributes millions of pounds of food annually to underprivileged families, as well as emergency aid during crises.
5. Save A Child’s Heart (SACH)
Save A Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international organization that provides life-saving heart surgeries to children from developing countries, regardless of race, religion, or nationality.
- Mission: To improve the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children in developing countries and to create sustainability by training local medical professionals.
- What they offer: Free heart surgeries for children in need, particularly from the Palestinian territories, Africa, and other parts of the Middle East.
- How to support: Donate to help fund surgeries or volunteer with the organization through the SACH website.
Example: SACH has treated more than 6,000 children from over 60 countries, providing them with life-saving heart surgeries.
6. Meir Panim
Meir Panim is a charitable organization that provides food and humanitarian aid to individuals living in poverty throughout Israel. They aim to combat hunger through soup kitchens, food delivery programs, and employment assistance.
- Mission: To provide dignity and relief to Israel’s needy through food aid, job training, and youth services.
- What they offer: Soup kitchens, food vouchers, meals-on-wheels for homebound individuals, and programs for children and families.
- How to support: Donate funds to support their food programs or sponsor a meal at a soup kitchen through the Meir Panim website.
Example: Meir Panim runs soup kitchens across Israel, serving thousands of hot meals to the needy every week.
7. The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) is one of the oldest and most important organizations supporting Jewish people worldwide, focusing on immigration to Israel (aliyah), education, and social welfare.
- Mission: To ensure the future of a connected, committed, global Jewish people with a strong Israel at its center.
- What they offer: Assistance with aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel), Jewish education programs, and community development.
- How to support: Contribute to aliyah programs, youth education initiatives, or community development projects.
Example: JAFI helps Jews from around the world make aliyah and provides essential services to integrate them into Israeli society.
8. Shalva
Shalva is a leading non-profit organization that provides transformative care to individuals with disabilities and their families, offering a range of services from infancy through adulthood.
- Mission: To promote the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities through comprehensive education, vocational training, and social services.
- What they offer: Early intervention programs, inclusive education, vocational training, and respite care.
- How to support: Donate to fund their programs for children and adults with disabilities or volunteer to help with Shalva’s activities.
Example: Shalva serves thousands of families each year, offering day care, therapy, and vocational training programs for children and adults with disabilities.
9. Friends of the IDF (FIDF)
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supports the well-being of Israeli soldiers through social, educational, and financial assistance programs.
- Mission: To provide educational scholarships, financial aid, and well-being services for Israel’s soldiers.
- What they offer: Support for soldiers, including education scholarships, financial aid, rehabilitation programs, and cultural activities.
- How to support: Donate to specific FIDF programs, such as sponsoring a soldier’s education, or participate in fundraising events.
Example: FIDF raises millions annually to support Israel’s soldiers with educational scholarships, financial assistance, and family services.
10. Table to Table (Leket Israel)
Leket Israel (formerly known as Table to Table) is the leading food rescue organization in Israel, collecting surplus food from farms, hotels, and restaurants to redistribute it to people in need.
- Mission: To alleviate hunger and prevent food waste by rescuing surplus food and delivering it to the needy.
- What they offer: Food recovery, redistribution of fresh produce, and meals for the poor.
- How to support: Volunteer to help with food collection or donate to fund food deliveries through the Leket Israel website.
Example: Leket Israel collects millions of pounds of food annually, redistributing it to underprivileged individuals and families.
Final Thoughts
These Israeli charities are dedicated to addressing critical needs such as healthcare, poverty alleviation, emergency services, education, and community development. Whether you’re looking to support medical relief, fight hunger, or empower vulnerable populations, there are numerous opportunities to make a difference in Israel. Donations, volunteering, and active involvement in these charities ensure that critical services continue to reach those who need them most.