A Fellowship-commissioned survey revealed the financial toll the war since October 7, 2023, has taken on Israeli households, with 43% of respondents saying their economic situation has worsened over the last three years. Additionally, 63% said they have had to cut back on expenses like clothing to maintain their food budget.
This financial strain was found to be especially prevalent among families of reservists, with 19% of respondents having a family member serving in the reserves. Of those families, 55% reported an increase in household expenses because of the demands of reserve duty, including transportation and fuel costs. Half of respondents said reserve duty has negatively affected their employment, with many reporting lost opportunities for career growth or reductions in pay and working hours.
This is also the time of year when parents make sure their children are ready to return to school. Sadly, 23% of parents said they don’t have enough money to buy all the required supplies, while 58% said the cost of living was hurting their ability to ensure their children are prepared for school. More than 75% said they have put off buying clothes for their children, with nearly a quarter describing their financial situation as severe. Parents also reported that their children were anxious about starting school.
In response to these findings, The Fellowship is expanding our “Back to School with Fellowship” initiative by distributing gift cards to more than 10,000 children and teens. This is being done with the help of our partners, creating more opportunities to support reservists and their families.
“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—” (Psalm 103:17).