There are moments when "emergency aid" is not just an action or what we do, it is what we stand for. A statement of mutual responsibility, of an unbreakable bond between members of the Jewish people, of choosing to be there even when it is difficult, even when it hurts.
Since October 7, The Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror has been a lifeline to thousands of people. It offers not just a financial grant but also a warm hug. It is an immediate solution - but also a bridge to long-term rehabilitation. Behind the numbers and data are real people who restore real hope.
I recently had the opportunity to meet with families whose worlds collapsed in a single moment. I heard children asking, "when will things return to normal?" and mothers who tried to convey a sense of security even when they themselves were broken.
And each time, I am reminded that our presence, the Fund's presence, is not just significant - it is lifesaving.
From the burning south to the northern border, the Fund operates without pause. Rehabilitation grants, emotional support, assistance for children and youth, strengthening communities, group and individual aid - thousands of families have received and will receive direct, tailored assistance. Often, we are the first to arrive. Often, we are the only ones to arrive.
Our message is clear: no one is left behind. Not in the south, not in the north, not in the center. Not those who faced tangible loss, nor those who carry internal scars.
The Fund's work is living proof that when the Jewish people act together, we can heal hearts, rehabilitate communities, and build, from within the pain, a new reality filled with hope.
With every grant we give, we make a statement: we are with you. We see you. You are not alone.
I would like to thank the Fund’s leadership from the bottom of my heart - Ayelet, Yael, and Rona – as well as the amazing team that champions this cause with heartfelt commitment, exceptional expertise, and unwavering conviction.
Thank you to our dedicated partners, the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, the Spirit of Israel, and hundreds of donors in Israel and around the world, who enable us to turn our vision into reality.
With deep respect and enduring optimism,
Yehuda Setton
CEO and Director General of The Jewish Agency
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Inauguration of the Fund’s New Home |
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In March, we celebrated the inauguration of our new offices at the Kedma Youth Village with a mezuzah ceremony and ribbon-cutting event.
We were honored to be joined by Jewish Agency for Israel Deputy Chairman of the Executive Yaron Shavit; CEO and Director General Yehuda Setton; Fund for Victims of Terror Chair Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin; and former Jewish Agency CEO and Director General Amira Ahronoviz, who shared our early vision for establishing this new home. We were also warmly welcomed by Nati Lerner, Head of the Yoav Regional Council, and our dear partners at Kedma Youth Village, who opened their doors and embraced us into their community.
Many friends, partners, and colleagues attended this meaningful occasion, including our new neighbors in the complex — the Partnership Unit and the Western Negev Rehabilitation and Development Unit. The atmosphere was joyful and emotional, and we are thrilled to walk through the doors of our new offices each day. We look forward to welcoming you to visit us there soon.
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Summit Day for Fund Families |
1,400 children, teens, and parents — all beneficiaries of the Fund for Victims of Terror — came together from across the country, from Majdal Shams in the north to the Gaza envelope in the south, to participate in the Fund’s spring Summit Day at the Ramat Gan Safari.
Families enjoyed a special guided tour of the zoo, where they had the chance to observe and learn about a wide range of animals. Afterwards, everyone gathered for refreshments, while the children delighted in arts and crafts, face painting, and dedicated photo and TikTok stations created just for them.
Held twice a year, the Fund’s Summit Day offers families a meaningful break, a moment of joy, and precious time together. This gathering gave us the opportunity to meet face-to-face with many of the beneficiaries we stay in touch with throughout the year. The warmth, gratitude, and excitement that filled the day were deeply moving, and we were honored to stand alongside these families as we welcomed the spring season together, with hope for brighter days ahead.
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Iftar Meal for Women and Children from the Bedouin Community |
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During the month of Ramadan, the Fund hosted its second festive Iftar meal for Bedouin women beneficiaries affected by the events of October 7.
More than 70 women and their children attended the gathering — including members of bereaved families, families with injured or directly affected loved ones, and families of hostages. The event took place in Wadi Attir in the Negev, a unique initiative that blends agriculture and rehabilitative work in partnership between Jews and Bedouins.
During the evening, Abir Abu Madiam, one of the Fund’s beneficiaries, spoke on behalf of the participants. Abir, whose eldest son was severely injured on October 7, is part of a therapeutic women’s group established by the Fund that operates year-round. In her remarks, Abir shared the deep sense of connection and support she finds within the group, and the strength she draws from meeting other women who share her pain. She highlighted the resilience and hope that have emerged from this partnership and how it has helped her cope with post-trauma while supporting her family.
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Resilience Award for the Brave Children of October 7
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For the first time in Israel, the Fund for Victims of Terror — in partnership with the Community Stress Prevention Center and Keren Hayesod — held a special ceremony to present the Children’s and Youth Resilience Award, honoring the memory of Ofir Libstein, head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, and his son Nitzan, who were both killed on October 7. At the ceremony, 26 children and teens from across the country were recognized for their inspiring actions during the war. The selection committee included Vered Libstein, mother of Nitzan and widow of Ofir; Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, Chair of the Fund for Victims of Terror; Prof. Mooli Lahad, founder and president of the Community Stress Prevention Center; Edna Weinstock-Gabay, CEO of Keren Hayesod; and Yoram Shaliar, Chair of the Israel Psychological Association and member of the Community Stress Prevention Center’s public council. The winners, ages 6–18, were chosen from numerous inspiring stories submitted by the public. Half received the Resilience Award, accompanied by a personal scholarship, while the others received honorable mentions for exceptional achievements. In addition, three groups of teenagers were recognized with joint awards for their collaborative efforts. The emotional ceremony, hosted by actress Eliana Tidhar, moved everyone present — from honored guests to the families of the young prizewinners. Speaking at the event, Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin said: “The past year and a half have taught us all so much about loss and pain, but also about our tremendous national and personal resilience — the resilience that allows us to rise, to heal, and to help heal others, within our families, communities, and society as a whole. While we meet far too many families and children who have paid heavy prices in this war, the winners of the Resilience Award show us that even from deep pain, we can grow and inspire hope.” |
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Passover Camps Bring Joy and Connection
With the arrival of spring, the Fund for Victims of Terror once again hosted its annual Passover camps, offering hundreds of children a joyful break filled with meaningful activities. This year, as throughout the past months, the circles of children we serve expanded, reaching even more young participants with diverse and engaging programs.
In southern Israel, 160 children took part in four exciting camp days at Kedma Youth Village, featuring a magician’s show, a mentalist, animal therapy, painting and tie-dye workshops, a music and sound (“looper”) session, a headphone party, and many more creative activities with their counselors. They also spent a thrilling day as young archaeologists at the Beit Guvrin Reserve and wrapped up the week with a movie day at Cinema City, complete with popcorn and treats.
Meanwhile, about 400 children from 10 evacuated kibbutzim, still unable to return home, participated in a special circus day at Kedma Youth Village, which generously opened its gates once again for this important purpose. The children engaged in magic workshops, juggling, crafts, music, animal therapy, and more. The following day brought even more excitement, as they explored the Science Park in Rehovot, taking part in science games, splash fountains, refreshments, and receiving scientific gifts at the end of the day.
In addition to these activities, the Fund also organized special programs for teens. Around 30 middle- and high-school students joined a surfing workshop and beach games in collaboration with the Home by the Sea association, followed by a day of sand surfing and outdoor training (ODT) alongside Masa Israeli guides. The teens had time to relax, connect, surf, and share meaningful conversations — and we were thrilled to see them laughing, bonding, and making the most of their vacation time.
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Rights Awareness Day at Ibim
The Southern Rural Team of the Fund for Victims of Terror recently initiated a special Rights Awareness and Access Day for Ethiopian olim (immigrants) living at The Jewish Agency’s Ibim Absorption Center in southern Israel.
The event was held in partnership with representatives from the National Insurance Institute’s rehabilitation and victims of terror divisions and was accompanied by an Amharic interpreter to ensure full accessibility.
Around 120 immigrants — all of whom, together with their families, were affected by the events of October 7 and require ongoing rehabilitation support — took part in the gathering. Participants received clear explanations on how to formally apply for recognition as victims of terror and how to access the rehabilitation services offered through the Fund.
The Fund’s team, together with the Western Negev Rehabilitation and Development Unit and the Ibim Absorption Center’s professional staff, will continue to accompany these families and ensure they fully exercise their rights and access the support they need.
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Family Gathering for Passover |
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Just before the spring holiday, the entire Fund staff gathered for a special Passover toast, bringing their families together to join in a meaningful activity. Together, they collected, sorted, and repaired old toys as part of Wings of Hope, a community sustainability project in memory of Livnat Kutz — a cherished friend and longtime partner of the Fund. This colorful, moving initiative is a beautiful testament to the unique and creative light Livnat shared during her life and continues to shine today.
Words cannot fully capture how deeply moved we were to help create the beautiful “wings” and how present Livnat, along with Aviv, Rotem, Yonatan, and Yiftach Kutz, remains in our hearts. May their light continue to guide us through times of darkness; their vibrant, colorful wings have become an inseparable part of our workspace — and so has their memory.
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| Eden Zer: Customer service representative |
My name is Eden Zar, I’m from Kibbutz Dvir, married and a mother of two daughters. I am a body psychotherapist and a student of humanities and social sciences.
Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to populations different from my own, always feeling a deep desire to help and make a positive difference in the lives of people facing hardship.
In my adult life, I’ve worked with infants, at-risk youth, new immigrants, people dealing with mental health challenges, and elderly and dependent individuals.
I love seeing the light in people’s eyes, the smile on their face, and knowing that I’ve helped change someone’s reality – even for one person.
After October 7th, I felt an urgent need to bring light back to our people. I searched for a way to offer comfort and help begin the national healing process that I believe is so essential.
Fortunately, I found my way to the Fund for Victims of Terror, where every day I have the privilege to help, guide, support, and empower our beneficiaries.
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Dear Jewish Agency’s Fund for the Victims of Terror,
I wanted to express a huge thank you for the fun day at the Safari. These are difficult times for me as someone with PTSD, and for my whole family, the tension and pain were strongly felt in the air. And then came this day of pampering – we felt seen and that someone was there for us! You thought of everything so we could gain strength to continue coping with life. With such abundance of food, popsicles, cotton candy, popcorn, drinks, and a gift at the end. And the fact that the park was open just for us created a truly relaxed time. There are no words to thank you for how much strength this gave us all. I also got to see the amazing Sapir, who accompanies me and helps me so much – she is truly an angel from heaven. And the other wonderful people who run the organization. I think this was a time of victory for the people of Israel. The enemy hurt us, but you gave us strength! I appreciate it very much. On behalf of myself and my entire family, a huuuuge thank you.
Ruti Israeli
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