In response to the devastation and loss of life caused by the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and ongoing crisis, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has provided grants to 10 nonprofits to address emergency and basic needs — the first round of funding out of $5 million allocated for this purpose.
The targeted attacks on civilians and the escalating conflict, which constitute the broadest invasion of Israeli territory in decades, have killed hundreds, injured thousands more, and destroyed entire communities.
The Foundation is deploying grants in several phases and will continue to assess the situation and work with grantees and partners in Israel to identify the most critical needs over time. The first round of $1.4 million focuses on rescue efforts, basic needs, and health care for residents of communities in southern Israel.
These funds will go to the following organizations — many of which are existing grantees — that either have prior disaster-relief experience or have the capacity to work in the Negev, the desert region in southern Israel where the attacks began.
- $250,000 to The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore to support victims and their families in Ashkelon, Baltimore’s sister city.
- $250,000 to The Jewish Agency for Israel and Amigour to support direct services for older adults, including Holocaust survivors in affected communities.
- $250,000 to The Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to support the needs of older adults who are isolated and help restart the supportive communities for older adults in southern Israel.
- $150,000 to Latet to provide food and hygiene products on the front lines and assistance to older adults, while coordinating the work of 180 organizations.
- $100,000 to ERAN to support mental health services for victims and their families.
- $100,000 to IsraAid to support relief efforts, including building the infrastructure for disaster relief.
- $100,000 to NATAL to support trauma therapy and other mental health services.
- $100,000 to Yad Sarah to support providing emergency equipment, health care, and home-care services for individuals who are homebound throughout the affected communities near Gaza.
- $50,000 to Tzedek Centers to support communities mobilized to host families from southern Israel and provide funding for equipment, transportation, and other needs.
- $50,000 to ZAKA to support search-and-rescue efforts and burial preparation for individuals killed in the attacks.
The Weinberg Foundation’s response to other emergencies and disasters includes $850,000 after the wildfires in Maui; $250,000 after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria; $250,000 after Hurricane Ian in Florida; $250,000 after the mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill.; $250,000 after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas; and $1 million after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
