Israel Program Director Binny Shalev
When October 7 happened, not only did our team need to pivot, but our program work also pivoted to respond to some of the urgent needs emerging from the start of this war. Our work intensified because we moved to having a daily team meeting to assess the role of philanthropy in the first two weeks of the war. Many others were doing the same – both individual funders and foundations were looking for every way possible to help.
We reached out to our colleagues to try to understand what the challenges were and took on the responsibility of addressing them. We focused on trying to quickly meet emergency needs in those first two-and-a-half weeks.
Then, in consultation with The Russell Berrie Foundation’s senior leadership team in New Jersey, we realized that a tremendous amount of money was initially raised for the war response by the Jewish Federation system and many additional private philanthropic sources. Our trustees urged us to identify how we could be uniquely effective and where our funds might have the most impact.
We consider: where are the gaps, where are the last miles, where can we make a difference, and where could our dollars go to meet important needs and support efforts where not necessarily everyone is directing their donations? Our work today is more strategic, sophisticated, and balanced; that’s where we function best, where we can ask tough questions and be confident that our money is going to the right cause.
We will hopefully identify where we can be impactful and make a difference, not only with our dollars but also in the work we’re best known for... that is, in defining a problem, identifying the opportunity, and thinking smartly about how to develop the best response to that challenge.
That said, it was also incredibly challenging to focus on work during this time. Israel is a small country, and when you have so many people who were massacred or died in battle…people taken hostage, casualties…it’s bound to reach your circle. And if it’s not your first circle, and you’ve been spared that tragedy affecting your immediate family and your community, then it’s your next circle.
On a personal level, it’s the grief and the tragedies that are so difficult to process. In my community, for example, one of our members lost their son. One friend I checked in on in the days after the attacks replied with the shocking news that both of his parents had been killed. Knowing that I’m one step away from a more intimate connection to so many atrocities that happened on October 7 and what’s followed…that’s what causes you to not sleep well at night, causes you to be very nervous and worry, causes you to experience anxiety, causes you to cry.
Personally, the fact that we have four kids in the military increases that level of stress to a higher degree. But we’re not alone…we’re like hundreds and thousands of other households who share the same worry and stress. That’s what leads you to lose the focus that you’d typically have in a routine situation.
I live not far from Haifa, and Hamas has fired rockets from Lebanon to the bay area. You’re constantly reminded that Israel is at war and our kids are fighting, our friends’ kids are fighting, our neighbors are fighting. It’s very complicated to be in a situation like that and try to maintain some order in your life.
Personally, the fact that we have four kids in the military increases that level of stress to a higher degree. But we’re not alone…we’re like hundreds and thousands of other households who share the same worry and stress.
I honestly think we’re experiencing a reality of biblical proportions…we’re fighting for the survival of the state of Israel. It’s taken a toll and it’s going to be a long haul. We pray that it will end well.
----------------------
On the other hand, there’s amazing, unbelievable solidarity here. Alongside the anxiety, stress, and grief, there’s also something very significant going on in terms of solidarity, patriotism, unity…it’s extraordinary. Especially given all the demonstrations that preceded the war, where we had such terrible polarization and felt the country being ripped apart, we’re seeing the complete flip side now. Israel has never been more united than this. There’s this amazing civil society that has risen to meet so many of the challenges. It’s absolutely incredible to experience…this feeling that we’re all here for each other. And even though the trust level in government is at an all-time low, that feeling of unity and solidarity is at an all-time high. We have an amazing country.
----------------------
Many of our grantees have stepped up in extraordinary ways. For example, Maoz is responding as we would expect them to by using their network of alumni to meet many of the challenges Israel is facing. For example, we’ve seen a serious escalation of tensions between the Jewish and Arab communities, and Maoz has long been invested in addressing that issue. And within the ultra-Orthodox population, they are working to identify opportunities for Haredim to feel much more a part of Israeli society than they felt, or were even capable of feeling, before the war.
There’s this amazing civil society that has risen to meet so many of the challenges. It’s absolutely incredible to experience…this feeling that we’re all here for each other.
I can also point to the work of the aChord Center at Hebrew University. aChord applies social psychology to intergroup relations and is one of our most important grantees when it comes to navigating the challenges of diversity within Israeli society. They are working intensely to provide expert guidance and professional tools to leaders within companies and academic institutions to minimize tensions between Jews and Arabs that have been exacerbated by the war.
And then there’s Rabbi Menachem Bombach, a longtime grantee and entrepreneur in the Haredi community who leads the Netzach Educational Network. He’s a pioneer who is at the forefront of connecting the Haredi community to Israeli society through education. Now, Bombach is initiating a major effort to encourage Haredim to be drafted into the army. Several thousand Haredim have shown interest in joining the IDF. He’s someone who is really asking himself, “How can I respond in a way that can redefine the relationship between Haredim and Israeli society?”
----------------------
Overall, as Israel confronts the immediate and long-term challenges of the war, there’s an important role for philanthropy, and The Russell Berrie Foundation in particular, to play because of the complexity of the situation. What’s clear is that the public sector, the business sector, and the nonprofit sector all play a major role in rebuilding Israel. Because the day after this crisis ends is really about rebuilding.
I think we, together with many others, will occupy a key role in rebuilding the country. The Russell Berrie Foundation is regarded as one of the most strategic philanthropies in Israel, and we bring important credibility to the field. It could be that our impact is catalytic in terms of strategies, and not necessarily determined by the amount of money we’ll be investing. Or by building partnerships and collaborations and identifying gaps where we’ll need to mobilize allies to work together. We will hopefully identify where we can be impactful and make a difference, not only with our dollars but also in the work we’re best known for... that is, in defining a problem, identifying the opportunity, and thinking smartly about how to develop the best response to that challenge. I think we’ll have our work cut out for us, god willing.
And I want to close by saying I’m hopeful and optimistic…I want that to be really clear. Despite the huge challenges ahead, I think Israel is going to rebuild itself at the end of the day. That optimism is what carries me forward.