When the conflict with Iran began, The Fellowship prepared a reserve of around 1,500 emergency purchase cards to be used for food, clothing, and other necessities for people in Israel displaced by Iranian rocket attacks. Those evacuated to hotels and shelters have also faced challenges accessing food and essential items they left behind at home. Over the past three weeks, as the war has continued, these cards have been steadily distributed throughout Israel, particularly in the hardest-hit communities.
Northern and central Israel have been battered by Iran and its terror proxies. It is not only families losing their homes in these attacks, but also elderly individuals—some of whom are Holocaust survivors—along with olim who have recently arrived in Israel, and children. In recent weeks, more than half of these emergency purchase cards have been distributed to families forced to leave their homes in cities that have experienced devastating attacks, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Be’er Sheva, Beit Shemesh, and northern communities near the Lebanon border.
The Fellowship’s impact in these cities extends beyond long-time beneficiaries. Jewish families and lone soldiers whom The Fellowship helped make aliyah have also been affected. The organization supported them in settling into their new lives by securing plane tickets, arranging housing, and guiding them through the intake process. After Iran began its attacks, The Fellowship’s Manager of Klitah (integration) assembled a team and traveled to Be’er Sheva to distribute emergency purchase cards to the same families they had previously assisted.
This week, Fellowship staff visited the Leonardo Hotel in Jerusalem while distributing cards in Beit Shemesh, where more than 140 people are currently staying after being evacuated when their homes were destroyed earlier this month. In addition to purchase cards, the evacuees also received activity kits for children.
The Fellowship has distributed 618 purchase cards to displaced individuals across Israel and 380 to lone soldiers in the IDF. This effort—serving as a lifeline for so many who have lost so much—would not be possible without the support of our generous donors.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
