Strengthening Israel

After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and the ensuing war, exacerbated by the June 2025 Iran-Israel war known as Operation Rising Lion, helping Israeli society in its rebuilding and recovery process was even more of an imperative.

The Fund For Victims Of Terror

Since October 7, The Jewish Agency has provided millions of dollars in financial support to impacted individuals – from survivors to family members to returned hostages. Our Fund for Victims of Terror has been instrumental in distributing critical assistance to thousands, enabling therapeutic activities, rehabilitation, and long-term ongoing support.

Swords of Iron War grants distributed in 2025

~ 0

Distributed by the
Fund in 2025

$ 0 M+

Rising Lion Emergency Fund grants allocated to households in 15 impacted communities

Impacted individuals are receiving long-term ongoing support from the Fund

Kids and teens in summer respite camps organized by the Fund

0 +

Participants in Fund-faciliated programs

0 +

Total Fund support
since October 7th

$ 0 M+

"October 7th changed my life in an instant. I deal with a lot — emotionally, mentally, physically — and it's not always visible. Sometimes, even I forget how much strength it takes just to keep my head above water. The Fund’s support came exactly when it was needed. It's not just the money; it's the feeling that we are not forgotten, that there are people in Israel and around the world who care."

Itai

A survivor of the Nova Festival and a recipient of support from the Fund for Victims of Terror

"Even today, my kids are dealing with deep anxieties and difficult memories from October 7. And yet, out of all that pain, they eagerly count down the days to the Fund's summer camp. To know someone sees their struggle, gathers them together and gives them rich experiences and great love gives us strength and provides a feeling of true support."

Adi

The mother of two kids who attend the Fund's summer camps; Adi’s sister was murdered at the Nova Music Festival

Supportive Communities Program

Further support has been offered by the Supportive Communities Program, which provides a range of group-based interventions, including retreats, nature and art activities, and more. And specifically for relatives of hostages and victims, the “Family Circle” initiative seeks to strengthen resilience among extended family members through group-based practices.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The togetherness, partnership, and group embrace in such complex moments are a rare and vital commodity for all of us in this period. The retreat allowed us to gain strength, remember the power of togetherness, and find a moment of quiet and meaning inside the storm. Your support gives us hope and is not taken for granted.”

Mor

Brother of a hostage survivor, who participated in a retreat organized by the Family Circle program

Operation Rising Lion

Then, in June 2025, amid the ongoing Swords of Iron War, Iran began launching multiple attacks on Israel every day, killing and injuring civilians, damaging homes and displacing families. We responded in real time, opening our Situation Room in Jerusalem and operating it 24/7, coordinating emergency efforts across the country and supporting the most vulnerable.

We launched the Rising Lion Fund to provide emergency aid to victims of missile fire from Iran, including grants to bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the deadly attacks, support to the wounded who were hospitalized for over 48 hours, help for those whose homes were destroyed or declared uninhabitable by the authorities, as well as longer-term psychological and social assistance. We also worked to help program participants from abroad return home from Israel safely, even with flights in and out of the country heavily restricted, and ensured new immigrants and other beneficiaries received support.

Supporting IDF Reservists

Beyond individuals and families, many Israeli businesses – especially those owned by reservists called up for duty – have suffered economic blows due to the war and needed help staying afloat. In November 2025, we announced the launch of a new grant program in collaboration with Class Action Foundation to support spouses of IDF reservists whose businesses suffered during the war. The Fund, totaling 60 million shekels (over $18 million), will provide one-time grants ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 shekels (~$1,500 to $6,000), in addition to mentoring and other support.

In 2025, ~4,000 Israeli businesses were supported through loans and grants facilitated by The Jewish Agency and ~11,000 Israeli reservists have received support through business funding.

“Over the past two years, I’ve heard countless times how ‘strong' I am for holding down the household, the business, and the family while my partner went in and out of reserve duty. But that doesn’t help me. What I wanted was to feel supported, that people genuinely care and understand what I’m going through. This grant is your way of saying, ‘We see you and we know how hard this is’ – and that is exactly what I needed."

Shir

A business owner who received a 5,000 NIS grant

Fostering Identity and Jewish Peoplehood

In 2025, we strengthened Jewish identity across Israel’s educational landscape at scale. We expanded our Eshkol program to more than 60 schools, reaching thousands of high school students at a critical stage, cultivating their leadership skills and social activism. We educated ~400 youth at our Nitzana Campus, an innovative living-learning program in the Negev where young people from diverse backgrounds come together for informative experiences that promote tolerance, mutual understanding, and respect for themselves, each other and the natural world. We also supported 1,300 children and teens with behavioral, emotional or familial issues at our Youth Villages across Israel, housing students in safe and rehabilitative boarding school settings and helping them maximize their potential.

At the same time, we provided 1,500 young adults with leadership training through pre-army academies focused on study, service and personal growth, and through a one-year national service program dedicated to volunteering in communities across Israel.

"After visiting the youth village, I knew I had to come here, otherwise I would have ended up dropping out of school completely… Here, I have been provided with a safe and warm space to express myself. The staff have offered support and given me confidence to keep moving forward, to help me develop myself without limitations.”

Mina

A student at The Jewish Agency’s Hadassah Neurim Youth Village who had struggled to fit in at her previous school

Partnership2Gether

And entire Israeli communities have also benefited from support facilitated through The Jewish Agency in the aftermath of October 7. The Partnership2Gether Network continued to deepen relationships between Jewish communities in Israel and across the Jewish world. And with so many cities and kibbutzim devastated by the October 7 massacre, Communities2Gether connects impacted communities with global Jewish communities committed to offering sustained support and an ongoing relationship.

Youth Futures

Another program that increased its reach in 2025 was Youth Futures, a leading positive intervention program that partners mentors with at-risk kids, providing support and assistance to the entire family. With a need to serve more vulnerable populations impacted by the October 7 attacks and war, Youth Futures began a $13 million expansion, enabling over 17,000+ kids and families across Israel to participate in Youth Futures throughout 2025.