JIJ Upholds Underprivileged Communities in Holiday Season

As families throughout Israel gathered together to usher in the Jewish New Year (Rosh H’Shana), the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) undertook several humanitarian initiatives, including our annual Back to School Backpack Distribution and special Rosh H’Shana dinners for lone soldiers. According to the National Insurance Institute's 2010 poverty report, approximately 850,300 children currently live in poverty within the nation of Israel. In an attempt to break the poverty cycle among children, JIJ seeks to empower this population by providing practical materials that will aid them in their educational efforts. Over 2,200 backpacks and hundreds of school supplies were distributed by JIJ to disadvantaged Israeli students and children across the nation just prior to the new school year.

JIJ’s main distributions took place in Rehovot, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. In collaboration with Admaso Allali, advisor for Ethiopian affairs to Prime Minister Netanyahu, JIJ facilitated a special distribution of backpacks and school supplies to an Ethiopian youth soccer team in Rehovot. As the distribution began, the atmosphere was filled with both excitement and anticipation; smiles spread across the faces of each team member as they eagerly received their backpack of choice.

In Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, JIJ distributed schoolbags and school supplies to handicapped children, lone soldiers, and children of single mothers in low-income neighborhoods.  "I want to thank you for the wonderful things that you’ve done," said one of the mothers. "There were many families that greatly needed supplies for school, and today, they received backpacks [necessary] for both kindergarten and primary school. Amazing job!"  Smaller distributions were also held in areas including Beit Shemesh, Tiberias, Nazareth, and Beitar Illit, while backpacks were given to community leaders to distribute among other underprivileged communities in Israel.

In honor and celebration of the Jewish New Year, JIJ also organized and hosted three extravagant holiday meals for lone soldiers at a Jerusalem restaurant, providing them with a sense of community, while apart from families and away from home.  An average of 30 soldiers attended each meal over the course of the holiday. Customary for Rosh H’Shana, gifts, including watches, Dead Sea cosmetics, leather belts, and holiday delicacies, were given to each of the soldiers.  The soldiers greatly enjoyed themselves and expressed deep gratitude for the dinners and gifts. This was the first soldier’s event officially co-sponsored by JIJ, Beit H’Chayal (lone soldier housing) and the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers. 

JIJ would like to thank you for continuing to partner with us in extending practical love to the poor and offering a warm embrace to those in need.  As temperatures begin to drop and the first rains have begun to fall, we are currently preparing for our annual Winter Project in which we will be distributing warm blankets and winter coats and accessories to Holocaust Survivors and other disadvantaged sectors of Israeli society. We hope that you will join us in this next initiative. Thank you again for helping us uphold Israel's underprivileged communities while advancing social justice in the State of Israel.

JIJ distributes backpacks to Ethiopian youth soccer team in Rehovot

Smiles spread across the faces of team members as they received brand new backpacks

JIJ hands out school supplies to handicapped children in Jerusalem

Items were also distributed to lone soldiers and children of single mothers

In celebration of Rosh H'Shana, JIJ organized & hosted three extravagant holiday meals for lone soldiers