The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror has faced challenging days. Operating since the Second Intifada, the fund has dealt with numerous complex cases, but nothing prepared it—or any of us—for October 7.
Already on the evening of that "Black Saturday," an overwhelming wave of inquiries began to pour in. The fund’s team quickly realized there was no time to wait and that assistance had to be immediate.
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The women of the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror
(Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)
The goal was to reach the victims and provide them first of all with an initial emergency grant of 4,000 shekels. However, they faced a logistical challenge. "We asked ourselves how we could reach these victims because we understood that rapid assistance in this situation was critical," said Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, chair of the fund.
"So we went directly to evacuation sites in kibbutzim, Sderot, Ofakim and other areas to gather information firsthand. Thanks to the fund’s longstanding relationships with the National Insurance Institute, local authorities and hospitals, this groundwork was invaluable. But such a massive number of victims required much more."
The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror was established more than 20 years ago and has supported approximately 9,000 families during that time. However, just this year, more than 9,000 additional terror victims have already been added to this grim circle, and the needs are immense.
"Within days, the enormous scope of the victims became clear," recounted Nahmias-Verbin. "Yael Raz, the fund’s CEO, and I immediately realized that we needed to act swiftly to assist thousands of terror victims displaced from their homes."
The fund, supported by donations from Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod-United Appeal Israel, Spirit of Israel and additional contributors from Israel and around the world, has provided aid to more than 11,000 families affected by terror since the outbreak of the war, totaling over 80 million shekels.
The assistance includes rapid emergency grants disbursed within approximately 48 hours, as well as rehabilitation grants. In addition to financial aid, the fund offers group therapy programs developed in collaboration with communities to provide therapeutic support to affected civilians, families of hostages and returnees, survivors of the music festival attacks, bereaved families and others.
‘You can see the pain in my daughters' eyes’
One of the families of hostages supported by the fund since October 7 is that of Lishay Lavi Miran from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Her husband, Omri Miran, the father of Roni, 3, and Alma, 1.5, was brutally kidnapped to Gaza on October 7.
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Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, chair of the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror, and Lishay Lavi Miran
(Photo: Lior Daskal)
Since then, Lishay and her daughters have been waiting for more than 440 days for his return. "You can see the pain in my daughters’ eyes," Lishay shares. "Just because they’re young doesn’t mean they don’t feel Omri’s absence. I want them to grow up as healthy and happy children."
Amid this unbearable reality, a connection grew with Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin, chair of the Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror, who has been personally supporting Lishay. "She’s been there for me with the Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror almost from day one, offering encouragement, messages and holding my hand when things are hard and painful," Lishay shares.
"There are many organizations and much support, but ultimately, my focus is on bringing Omri who has been held hostage home, along with the other hostages. Life came to a halt on October 7—not as a slogan. There are days I feel it physically, like when Roni wakes up from bed terrified. The last time the girls saw him was when he was kidnapped before their eyes. Until Omri is back, we cannot even begin to heal."
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According to her, "The physical and financial assistance helps a lot, but for me, having a space to share stories, receive support and engage in personal conversations—these are the things that help me the most personally, and the Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror has been incredibly supportive in this regard."
To provide families with some breathing room in the meantime, the fund distributed rapid aid grants, prompting Jewish Agency leaders to embark on global fundraising efforts. "When I first spoke with members of the communities in Australia, I couldn’t stop crying," shares Nahmias-Verbin. "That same week, representatives from North American communities came to Israel on solidarity visits, despite heavy rocket fire, their support was incredible, and the immediacy and coordination in such a short notice made a big difference."
Over the years, the fund has recognized the importance of restoring the victims’ sense of control over their lives "When victims receive a grant, even if it’s 4,000 shekels, it helps them regain control over their lives and provides a sense of resilience. They decide how to use it," explains the fund’s chair.
"The Jewish Agency is there, offering the embrace of global communities, regardless of religion, race or gender—everyone. All civilian victims of terror. From partygoers attacked near the Gaza border to residents of towns, kibbutzim and the Bedouin victims in the south."
'Bereaved grandparents, siblings—we realized that the needs for assistance are evolving'
The fund quickly understood that the scope of those affected was far broader than ever encountered before, prompting the development of additional support measures. "We realized shortly after the disaster that it wasn’t enough to only care for the direct victims," says Nahmias-Verbin. "We needed to focus on supporting their entire environment—working to restore resilience to secondary and tertiary circles through programs designed to process grief and build strength."
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Children participating in an activity organized by the Jewish Agency's Fund for Victims of Terror
(Photo: The Jewish Agency)
Currently, over 4,000 people are participating in resilience programs run by the Fund for Victims of Terror, including bereaved grandparents who take part in therapeutic workshops.
Additionally, terror victims with recognized disabilities and bereaved families receive a supplemental rehabilitation package worth 25,000 shekels over three years. "We began distributing rehabilitation grants to bereaved families. Many victims are unable to return to work, their livelihoods are impacted, and this affects various aspects of life, including children’s education," she explains.
Support also includes mental health treatments and alternative therapies, with the fund’s staff making it a priority to understand the specific needs of each individual and tailor the assistance accordingly.
"Our team works closely with communities, meeting party survivors, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and affected Bedouin families. We’ve learned that each person needs a unique rehabilitation and resilience package," says Nahmias-Verbin. "Thanks to the fund’s accumulated experience, we’ve built a significant partnership with the Welfare Ministry."
What would you consider a silver lining in the Fund for Victims of Terror's activities in the coming year?
"I hope we’ll soon be able to distribute the grants set aside for hostages who return, so we can provide our support and backing to the families as they navigate what I imagine will be a challenging journey after their return. We will be there for them throughout this turbulent process. Rehabilitation and building resilience will be unlike anything we’ve seen before—these processes are more complex and deeper. Even now, we are dealing with extremely difficult cases."
Another silver lining Nahmias-Verbin highlights is the broad cooperation the fund has managed to create. "Three months after the disaster, we convened a roundtable with all aid organizations, including the Hostages Families Forum, the Hostage Directorate, organizations like NATAL, Enosh, ERAN, the Community Centers Corporation and hospitals like Ichilov and Sheba that focus on treating post-trauma. We meet every two and a half months, identify gaps and work together to find solutions. This roundtable is one of our most important work tools because it helps us understand more broadly what terror victims need. The shared learning and these meetings are a kind of silver lining. You see the solidarity and how many people are committed to doing good here."
With reports of an emerging hostage deal in the background, Lishay wishes to end with an important message: "The time has come. After all the achievements, we need one comprehensive agreement that will include all the hostages—whether to return them to the embrace of their families or to a burial in Israel."
We invite everyone who wishes to join Lishay's prayer and bring light to the coming year to light a candle on the Jewish Agency’s virtual Hanukkah menorah on Ynet. It will be displayed across Israel and on digital platforms worldwide. You can also write a message of hope. Together, as a Jewish community in Israel and the Diaspora, we will amplify the light of the Jewish people and stand united in the face of the challenges still to come.
In collaboration with The Jewish Agency.