Israel is facing complex challenges of unprecedented nature and scope. Since the outbreak of war more than six months ago, The Rashi Foundation, like many civil society organizations, has responded by offering crucial emergency relief. We will continue to do so as needed.
Working together with our network of affiliate associations, we focus on helping those who were most affected by the crisis: the residents of war-torn communities in the western Negev and on the northern border.
Our main emphasis during the first months was on providing emotional, social and educational support to children and youth who had to leave their homes and stay in evacuation centers.
Now the accent is shifting to designing and implementing mid-term and long-term solutions: thinking beyond repair of the war damage to renewed social-economic growth. The plans we are developing with local municipalities in Israel’s southern and northern periphery aim to strengthen them so that they can rebuild opportunities for their residents and thrive once again. These cities and communities must be able to offer even better education and employment opportunities than before in order to attract their residents to return.
We would like to thank you, our partners, for your trust and contribution to these vital efforts. Your partnership is essential in rebuilding Israel’s periphery and our resilience.
Wishing you a happy Passover, full of rejuvenation and hope. May we all enjoy days of peace and good tidings.
The war has upended the lives of Israeli youth who were evacuated from southern and northern communities. Even those who are back at home have a hard time resuming their previous activities. Now the matriculation exams are coming up. In order to help them close the gaps in their studies, Rashi has joined Bank Leumi in a national initiative that offers educational reinforcement – free of charge.
The project includes study marathons in different locations around the county, as well as online sessions through the GOOL website. The marathons will take place over 6-7 weeks, with the participation of 3,000 high school students. This will be a game-changer for these students, improving their grades and opening up higher education opportunities they may not have otherwise.
Sofia Galperin, 18, from Sderot: “I didn’t study regularly for the last 6 months. Now I go to school but the schedule changes from one week to the next and it’s still hard to concentrate. I’m sure the marathon will be a big help.”
The unprecedented evacuation of more than 200,000 war zone residents was done hastily and without on orderly plan. Many organizations, the Rashi Foundation among them, have undertaken to help the displaced families, often without government participation.
A cross-sector conference initiated by Rashi is intended to pool and record the knowledge that was gathered through this work – success stories as well as difficulties and obstacles. Pooling the knowledge will allow us to improve the solutions for evacuees from the north, whose return is not yet in sight, and to be more prepared for crisis situations we may face in the future.
The conference is being planned and organized by Rashi in cooperation with the Union of Local Authorities, Civic Leadership – the umbrella organization of 3rd sector organizations, the Forum of Foundations in Israel, the Institute for Law and Philanthropy at Tel Aviv University, and Israeli Movement.
In view of the success of The Magnet – a youth center that was opened in Ofakim in partnership between the municipality, Rashi and Cisco, we are planning to duplicate the model in other communities to build resilience among youth who were affected by the war.
The model is based on incorporating informal, experiential activities into the education system, both during and after school hours. Covering a range of fields – music, sport, art, STEM and more – the activities will help to develop personal and social skills while also providing emotional support and strengthening a sense of belonging and identity.
“It’s a great space for a different learning experience, exposure to new subjects, empowerment and inspiration. A magical place!” – Daniella, home room teacher in an Ofakim high school
“My kids really enjoy the opportunity to learn new things, meet friends and develop their skills. I recommend it for everyone to come see it and join the activity.” – Liraz, a mother of two teenage boys from Ofakim
Pretech, a new initiative to advance the inclusion in high-tech of young people from different demographics, is launching a pilot in five locations: Ofakim, Sderot, Rahat, Nazareth and Tel Aviv (for evacuees).
The initiative invites young adults to participate in online introductory sessions, followed by a two-stage preparatory program where they will gain the knowledge and skills they need for further technology studies or vocational training. At the end of the program, they will receive personalized assessment and career guidance.
Partners: Ministry of Labor, Google Israel, Beyachad Foundation and Crown Family Philanthropies
Not long before October 7, Rashi launched a dynamic business forum. This community has stepped up to the plate and continues to play a significant role in the present emergency activity. We are pleased to share with you some of the initiatives that were started in recent months in collaboration with our business community.
“I have always been active in social causes, but this is the first time I have volunteered in a formal framework. I was paired with Daffy Gedalyahu, head of preschool education in Sderot. As a CPA by training, my ideas for working with her focused on excel sheets, budgets and operations. But Daffy was thinking bigger.
We went through a creative process together, full of hope. I connected her to her counterpart in Tel Aviv who she can learn from, and we took it from there: an organizational change was powered by tailwind from me and joint brainstorming. In the end, I received more than I gave, and even won a friend for life.”
“I have always been active in social causes, but this is the first time I have voluntee... Read More
“One of the main guiding values of our company is giving and engagement in social activity. At Rashi’s ‘Education for Life’ conference I learned about the challenges facing people in the periphery and about the initiative to advance informal education. I believe that education is the basis for everything in life, and felt that this is my place to make an impact as an IT expert.
I have been advising local municipalities in order to create a database that will enable them to connect children and youth to educational opportunities. The goal is to design a smart and adaptable model that in the end realizes dreams for children. I see it as a mission.”
“One of the main guiding values of our company is giving and engagement in social activ... Read More
“I work in the field of digital content, believe in connecting people, ideas, initiatives and goals, and specialize in campaigns to change the public discourse. Rashi’s ‘Education for Life’ initiative resonated with me as a mother of three, because I could see that the education system is unable to remain relevant and give children tools for today’s world.
With my experience and passion, creating the social media influencer program for youth is a dream come true. My involvement in it is not only professional but also emotional: I know it can change the lives of teenage boys and girls, and that excites me.”
“I work in the field of digital content, believe in connecting people, ideas, initiativ... Read More