Jul 15, 2024

The Impact of the Israel Emergency Fund: Part Three in a Series

According to Federation’s longtime overseas partner, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), a mental health crisis is impacting 55 percent of Israel’s population, or 5 million Israelis, with 2 million having developed post-traumatic stress disorder since October 7. Providing trauma counseling and other mental health support is critical during this time, which is why Federation and other communities across North America are funding a vast array of services to address the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of affected Israelis.

As of the end of June, $101 million of the national Israel Emergency Fund’s (IEF) $848 million raised thus far has been allocated to trauma relief and other vital medical care provided by JDC, The Jewish Agency for Israel and numerous other Federation partners. Recognizing the national trauma, Federation is prioritizing mental health support for victims of terror, released captives, lone soldiers, first responders, sexual assault victims and families coping with loss, injury or abduction of relatives. The IEF, for which generous Miami philanthropists donated nearly $30 million, is providing support for psychiatric hospitals, community hotlines, resilience centers, mental health awareness and outreach, and both conventional and innovative therapy options. The focus now is initiatives with longer horizons and system-level impact, with efforts to increase the number of professionals, improve quality of care, build capacity and provide digital solutions.

In addition, from addressing urgent gaps in hospitals and emergency response services to ongoing care tailored to special populations, Federations have enabled:

• Israel’s emergency response services, essential medical supplies and support for first-responders

• Hospitals stocked with medical equipment and capacity, training for responders and support for emergency teams

• Tailored care for those with disabilities, the elderly, Holocaust Survivors, refugees and asylum seekers, combat soldiers and other populations

• Reinforcement and expansion of hospital rehabilitation wards as more soldiers are injured

Thus far, more than $11 million has been allocated to fund medical equipment for 25 national hospitals, 10 psychiatric facilities and numerous rehabilitation centers.

Click here to see the national IEF allocations to date. In the weeks ahead, this Federation Five newsletter will provide more details on how IEF dollars are helping Israelis since 10/7.