Completely alone

There are about 200,000 single mothers living in Israel today.

While many do have family and community support, for others, the stigma of being a grusha or an aguna makes it extremely difficult to fit in to the community. Carrying the full weight of their families alone on their weathered shoulders would be challenging enough, without the added struggles of legal battles over custody and child support. Bills and expenses that would be challenging for a family with two incomes threaten to topple any sense of stability when there is only one meager salary being stretched to the limit. Many women separate from their husbands only after years of trauma and abuse. Even as they hope to take strides towards a new life, they are living in the shadow of fear.

But you can change that. When crisis strikes, your donation can make the crucial difference and help a family keep their heads above water.

 

We stand behind you

"…One day to my utter shock and surprise I found myself holding a voucher for 550 shekels to buy meat products. All I could do was cry. And cry. Finally I was not all alone. I could put down my burden for a moment- someone else was going to help me to carry it! My relief expressed itself in copious hot tears. I had tried so very hard to be strong for the kids, to be strong enough for a mother and a father. But the stronger I pretended to be the weaker I felt. Now for a moment I could let go of the façade. Someone cared enough to help me. Perhaps there might be a light at the end of my tunnel. In that moment I allowed myself to hope…" (From a thank you letter from one of the recipients) 

 

The YIKGH* tzedaka project is there for single mothers when nobody else is, and also helps melamdim and others whose families who have low incomes or are facing emergencies. The fund provides:

Food programs:

  • Three hundred low income melamdim receive 700 NIS food vouchers on a monthly basis
  • 150 grushos and agunos in the cities of Beitar, Ofakim, Jerusalem and Tzfat receive 350-550 NIS (depending on the size of the family) worth of chickens for Shabbos each month**
  • A soup kitchen provides cooked meals for Shabbos for 100 families each week
  • Before major holidays, hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of aid is distributed to needy families.

Basic supplies:

  • 7,800 winter quilts were purchased at wholesale discounted prices and provided to needy families across Israel. (5,000 donated by YIKGH, 2,800 from our partners)
  • School supplies were provided for children of grushos and agunos at the beginning of the school year to allow them to begin their studies with dignity like all of the other children

Clothing and Shoes:

  • Clothing was provided for the children of grushos and agunos at key times during the year, at the beginning of the school year, before holidays, and at the beginning of the winter**
  • Shoes and boots were provided to the children of grushos and agunos before the chagim and at the beginning of the winter**

Since the initiation of this project, in March 2011, we have provided over$1,000,000 in assistance to over 5,000 families in more than 20 cities across Israel.  These include many almanos, yesomim, cancer patients, gerushos, agunos, melamdim and talmidei chachomim, who are in desperate need of assistance.  The monthly budget of the program is approximately $50,000, and it increases significantly before yomim tovim. 

Please help us continue to help Israel's neediest!

 

* The Young Israel of Kew Garden Hills Charity Fund is under the direct auspices of Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld and Rabbi Doniel Lander, Rosh HaYeshiva Ohr HaChaim.  The fund provides money for food and clothing for needy families in Israel, and operates on 0% overhead.  All funds (excluding the percentage charged by the credit card processing system) are used entirely for Tzedakah.

**Participating stores contribute 6-8% value of the vouchers.