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Shaping Social Opportunity in Israel
Students of the Menachem Begin School in Dimona, participants in the STEM program. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) , One of many programs operated by JDC in Israel
The socio-economic challenges facing Israel’s most vulnerable require creative and innovative solutions. JDC is developing the social solutions of tomorrow to empower Israelis today.
W hen Nofar Elkabetz gets ready for work every morning, she sees in the mirror a confident, strong and independent woman. "It hasn’t always been like that," she says. Nofar was born with cerebral palsy and has been traveling with a motorized wheelchair all her life. After years of living in institutional housing, she joined "Supported Housing," a program developed by JDC and the Israeli government that helped Nofar find an apar- tment suitable for her needs and develop independent life skills. "Moving to my apartment changed
into quality employment and increased productivity, as well as increasing the efficiency of public systems in Israel." The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world's largest Jewish humanitarian organization, works in 70 countries around the globe to aid needy Jews and build Jewish life. In Israel, JDC improves the lives of the most vulnerable by reducing the pressing socioeconomic gaps. JDC's extensive professional experience from longstanding and innovative social activities in Israel and around the world,
JDC at the invitation of the new Israeli government provided direct welfare and welfare services to the elderly and people with disabilities, established geriatric hospitals and hospitalization institutions, established the social work profession in Israel, established civil society organizations, and more. Two decades later, JDC transformed its strategic partnerships from the provision of direct services to the development of social services. The model was based on the development of innovative pilots, alongside accompanying research. If the pilot proved successful, it was transferred to the responsibility of the government to expand it to all parts of the country, and JDC proceeded to the next development. Through this model, Israel’s largest social services have been developed, including the elderly day care centers, early childhood centers, social clubs for Holocaust survivors, the first child development center in Israel, employment centers for Haredi and Arab society, regional clusters of local authorities, centers for independent living for people with disabilities, community courts, and more. "The uniqueness of JDC's Israel work today is that we create impact for people at the individual level and systemic impact throughout
Nofar Elkabetz , participant in the program "Supported Housing"
the country. "For Nofar, the change has been transformative. But also Israel’s welfare systems learned what policy, regulation and administrative changes they need to do in order to promote independent living in the community. By bolstering professional experts and creating services that meet people where they are, we enable socioeconomic change at the national level, a win for all Israelis. With more than 100 pilots developed by us each year, we’ll impact Israel for generations," explains Shelach. "Our role at JDC is to look 10 years ahead and understand how to prepare today to make sure that Israel’s most vulnerable populations are not left behind, and together with our partners to create a better tomorrow for the Israeli society."
my life, “says Nofar. “Today I run my life, live with my husband, work, drive, go out to restaurants, shop, and choose every day how to live my life." "Independent and autonomous living for people with disabilities is one of five areas of life
alongside its unique ability to create complex partnerships between the government, local authorities, the third sector, philanthropy, business and the powerful community, enable it to create socioeconomic change at the national level.
Sigal Shelach PhD. Executive Director of Israel Programs for JDC
Since 1914, the orga- nization has invested more than NIS 10 billion in the humanitarian needs of the vulnerable populations in the land of Israel. Even before the establishment of the State of Israel, the organization established soup kitchens and educational and welfare institutions. After 1948,
in which JDC is focused in Israel," says Sigal Shelach, Executive Director of Israel Programs for JDC. "In addition, we also deal with socioeconomic mobility for children and young people from the periphery; optimal aging at a time of longer lifespans; integration
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