The New Face Of Poverty In Israel

By Rabbi Zvi Friedma

This year, my visit to the Five Towns was profoundly moving. As always, I felt the warmth, hospitality, and the steadfast love for Israel in each and every person I met. But this time something felt different. Not in the way I was received, but in what I carried inside of me from home. Because Israel has changed.

We are a nation still in the throes of a multi-front war. For nearly two years, the ripple effects of October 7th have reached into every corner of Israeli society, not only in grief and trauma, but in the everyday struggle for survival. At Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, we are seeing a new and heartbreaking reality: the face of poverty in Israel has changed.

Meet nine-year-old Dina. Her father was killed in battle at the onset of the war and in one fell swoop, her family lost their breadwinner and life became a painful struggle. Dina, her mother, and eight siblings live in the southern city of Ofakim, where the toll of October 7th was exceptionally harsh. On that day, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack, killing 47 residents, among them Dina’s father. Her family’s personal heartbreak is compounded by the added stress of having to provide for nine children with limited support. Losing her father means there’s less food in the refrigerator, a mother who is working long hours to provide for her children, and no hope of the “luxuries” of life like new clothing and toys.

With nobody else to turn to, Dina’s mom turned to Yad Ezra V’Shulamit in order to keep food in the refrigerator, a roof over their heads, and basic necessities for Shabbos.

Poverty, which was relatively unknown before October 7, has become a constant reality in the lives of the survivors of the Ofakim massacre and in other small towns in Southern Israel. Small business owners have suffered the collapse of their businesses while they serve in miluim, and hard-working people struggle to keep up with inflationary prices in all aspects of life.

At Yad Ezra V’Shulamit, we’re not only supporting widows, orphans, and the poor, we are supporting the new face of Israel’s needy, people like Dina and her family.

We saw more food basket requests this Passover than ever before, and thankfully, no one went home empty-handed, even as food prices continued to rise. According to a recent Ynet report, the cost of basic food items has soared, with some staples rising by as much as 74% in a few weeks. Chicken, grape juice, vegetables, coffee, and even pickles have all seen sharp price increases. Dairy products, normally protected by government price controls, are no longer immune. Prices for milk, cheese, and yogurt creep up every few months, adding to the stress on over-burdened parents. 

And these are not luxuries. They are the daily essentials. For families already struggling to make ends meet, the impact is immediate and painful. When cooking oil, fresh vegetables, and a simple loaf of bread become unaffordable luxuries, it’s no longer a matter of budgeting: it’s a human crisis.

As Shavuot approaches, we’re preparing to distribute thousands of food baskets across Israel to the families that need it most and rely on us for support. We want to be there for them. We cannot say no to anyone. Our work is not just about food—it’s about preserving the dignity of mothers and children and restoring hope to families who want to celebrate the holiday although money might be scarce and their hearts might be broken.

For some, this support gives them just enough strength to get back on their feet. For others—like widows, orphans, the ill, and the elderly—it’s a reminder that they are not forgotten. That they are loved. That someone cares about them. Everyone deserves to celebrate Shavuot b’simchah and with hope for a brighter future. Help us restore that hope. Help us to give them that simcha even while they are rebuilding their shattered lives. Simply put, what we put in our food baskets is more than food—it’s hope. It’s a restoration of their faith. It’s love. It’s knowing that Klal Yisrael is there for them and will never let them fall. It’s knowing they are not forgotten.

I want to thank the community for hosting me so graciously. Most importantly, thank you for being true supporters of the people of Israel who need you the most. If everyone reading this article donates a food basket, we will be able to give to everyone who requests food from us for Shavuot. 

Donations are accepted yadezra.net/shavuout25FT 

Tizku L’Mitzvos! n

Yad Ezra V’Shulamit is a 501(c)3 tax exempt Charity in Israel, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, & the EU. They are located at 20 Yoel St., Jerusalem. You can contact them directly via telephone at 866-513-3969 or via email at [email protected] or visit them online at YadEzra.net. Please see their ad in this issue of the 5TJT.