Emergency Fundraising Campaign

Israel is at war. WIZO is on the ground. We launched an emergency fundraising campaign to help us run essential programs as the war unfolds.

For the past 36 hours, Israel has been forced into a horrific war as it confronts an unparalleled hostage crisis following a surprise assault by Hamas terrorists from Gaza via land, sea, and air. This attack resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives — the numbers keep rising — and the infiltration of Israeli territory. The unexpected actions by Hamas on Saturday marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, and this comes after months of escalating violence between Palestinians and Israelis. The long-standing conflict is now entering unknown and perilous territory for which WIZO must stand strong and provide continuous support for tens of thousands of women, children, youth and their families.

WIZO is now reaching out to our federations worldwide, urging your communities and members to offer a range of essential provisions. These contributions are vital to ensure the safety and resilience of the communities we oversee, and ensure the mental wellbeing of children while schools are closed – made possible through your steadfast support.

Needs on the Ground:

With a deep sense of urgency, we are asking your support for the critical needs on the ground throughout our  various divisions. Hundreds of thousands of families in Israel are currently directly affected by the war as civilians living in the immediate war zone and as families who have lost their loved ones or lost contact altogether.

The community WIZO serves throughout Israel comprises of women, children, and teenagers who come from vulnerable life situations. Given the current extreme reality in Israel, it is a critical time to offer urgent and immediate mental health intervention for these individuals under WIZO’s care. Additionally, our dedicated staff is working tirelessly, around the clock, in double shifts to respond to the urgent needs on the ground and we need to make sure they have the support needed to continue their important work.

Ensuring a sense of daily routine is crucial for restoring resilience, especially for the many survivors who must endure the challenging period that lies ahead. It’s essential to maintain hope for a healthier future. We are now in dire need of making sure our bomb shelters are well maintained recreational spaces that help make the endless hours there more bearable. Additionally, we need to be able to provide early intervention in mental health at our locations to support our teams and address trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Given the ongoing Israeli war situation, we cannot overemphasize the importance of these matters. Any level of support is immensely valuable in enabling us to provide upgraded bomb shelters, and more therapists and resilience workshops as quickly as possible.