You choose.
Personal stories are brought to us by social services professionals around Israel. The names of all applicants are changed to protect individual privacy. The names of the verifying social worker and agencies are real. Photographs are illustrative only.
Rinat, 43, and Moshe, 39, are struggling. Both immigrants from Ethiopia, Rinat and Moshe are raising three young children, ages 4-11. Moshe is a factory worker, and Rinat is currently unemployed. She receives a disability stipend because she is visually impaired, but the two incomes don’t cover the family’s basic...
Tikva, 27, has worked at a call center for the past two and a half years. Despite Corona, she tried to miss as few days as possible. Although her job is full-time, Tikva earns so little that she qualifies for both rent support and social security payments. Recently, Tikva and...
Olga, 36, is living under very harsh circumstances. She and her husband, Nicholas, separated years ago, and he now lives on the street. The couple have no contact, nor does Nicholas have any relationship with their 14-year-old daughter, Mia. Olga and Mia now live with Olga’s partner, Victor. Mia learns...
Nomi, 61, really needs our help. She is raising her adopted son Guy, now 14, on her own, and it isn’t easy. For many years, Nomi worked in the travel industry. Unfortunately, three years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent a year of chemotherapy and took medications...
Chana, 49, is divorced and has four children. Two of her children are married and out of the house, one is a soldier and the fourth, who is partially disabled, is in 10th grade. Chana works from home as a cosmetician. With the arrival of Corona, she saw a major...
Life is difficult right now for Tomer, 35, and Carni, 34. Carni suffers from numerous physical and psychological issues, including psoriasis, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety. She cannot work because of her condition, yet she is recognized as only 52% disabled and receives no government stipend. As a result, the couple...
Gila, 37, and Rafi, 51, tried to make their marriage work for many years. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the couple split up four months ago. They have four children, ages 7-18, whom they are raising together. Gila and Rafi have had financial troubles for years. Gila works as a...
Noa and Barak’s story is quite sad. Barak, 36, is a recovering addict. He spent several stints in prison and is currently under psychiatric care. He cannot hold down a steady job. Barak’s situation leaves Noa, 31, alone to take care of their four young children (ages 2-10) and support...
Hila, 24, is an inspiring young woman. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and Hila lived with her mother. Over the years, Hila’s mother struggled to provide for her and her two brothers. From the age of 14, Hila worked in order to help cover expenses. Eventually,...
Vered, 14, has had a complicated childhood. Her parents, both 43, are divorced, and her mother is remarried. Vered now has two young step-siblings. Vered’s mother, Anat, comes from a highly dysfunctional family. Today, she has no contact with her father who was abusive and an unstable relationship with her...
Ronit, 43, and Michael, 40, are going through a particularly difficult time. Both previously married, they have three young children (ages 2-7) together. Michael has always been physically unwell, suffering from severe epilepsy. As a result, he cannot hold down a job, and Ronit has always been the sole breadwinner....
Valerie, 36, is an impressive young woman. A single mother to two children (a 17-year-old and a baby), she has weathered a lot of storms and is determined to move forward with her life. Valerie’s daughter, Or, suffers from severe anemia and ADHD. She takes regular medication and is under...
Recently Funded Personal Stories
Roni, 40, is raising four young children (ages 1-9) on her own. Roni is no longer in contact with her children’s father who pays no child support. She supports herself and her children solely on a monthly government stipend. Last year, social services became aware of Roni’s dire financial situation...
Hadas, 22, and Daniel, 24, are a struggling young couple who are trying their hardest to build a brighter future. Both Hadas and Daniel grew up in ultra-Orthodox homes with many siblings. Upon finishing high school, Daniel completed his full army service in a combat unit. After they got married,...
Dorit, 38, has not worked since the birth of her youngest son, two years ago. Dependent on her National Insurance stipend, Dorit often has trouble making ends meet. She does her best to cover her four children’s needs, but sometimes there is not even enough money for food. Now that...
There was a time when Addis worked temporary jobs, aiming only to earn enough to get drunk each night. Ultimately, she realized that this was no life. She pulled herself together and found a steady job taking care of the elderly. More importantly, Addis joined a program designed to help...
Yitzchak is 71 and alone in the world. He has no family in Israel and no support outside of social services. He lived for many years in a public housing apartment. Unfortunately, when he was hospitalized for an extended period of time with kidney issues, the apartment was given to...
Sara, 35, and Chaim, 40, are raising nine young children, ages 1-14. The couple lives an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle; Chaim learns in a yeshiva and Sara works as a computer instructor. David, the couple’s nine-year-old son, has been diagnosed with severe ADHD and hyperactivity. He also suffers from learning disabilities and...