The Jewish Agency Response
Due to the sharp decrease in suicide bombings over recent months, the Jewish Agency Fund for Victims of Terror decided to close. Sadly, today’s current emergency situation has forced the Jewish Agency to reopen the Fund for Victims of Terror, in order to provide much needed emergency support to the thousands of Israelis who were victims of the missile attacks in Northern Israel.
In response to requests from Federation leadership and the UJC, the Jewish Agency respectfully requests emergency funding to reopen the Fund for Victims of Terror to respond to the specific needs of victims of the current crisis. Founded in 2002, by the Jewish Agency, with the support of the United Jewish Communities and Federations across North America, Keren Hayesod, foundations and individual donors worldwide, the Fund for Victims of Terror responds to the dire need for individual assistance to Israeli citizens whose everyday lives were terrorized during the Intifada. Since its inception, the Fund has assisted some 3,200 families – a total of 18,000 individuals, with total support reaching $20.5 million.
The reopened Fund for Victims of Terror will continue to operate as in the past, under the supervision of a Jewish Agency committee, chaired by Judge Kama, and made up of representatives from Government Ministries, UJC, Federations and Keren Hayesod. The Fund will play a vital role in meeting the humanitarian needs of victims not fully met due to various limitations or where other types of funding fall short. Based on the first fund, the Fund will provide the following assistance:
- Higher education scholarships
- Emergency help exactly where families need it
Due to the urgency of the current situation, the Jewish Agency has already convened a preliminary emergency meeting with representatives from the Ministry of Absorption, Ministry of Defense, National Insurance Institute, and Judge Kama, past chair of the Fund, to discuss how the Fund for Victims of Terror can effectively respond to Israel’s immediate needs during this difficult time. Once reopened, the fund's professional committee will meet every two weeks to review applications and its advisory committee will meet every two months.
Funding Request
An estimated $10 million will enable the Fund to support immediate needs of victims (per assessment of initial need and at funding available up to $5,500 per person/family unit)
Long-term needs of the Fund will reach $20,000,000
Photo Credit: Naftali Hilger / Avi Hirschfield