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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.
Darya, 33, is bringing up three young children (ages 12-15) on her own. Darya divorced her husband ten years ago because he was physically and emotionally abusive. The last time he attacked her, she ended up in the emergency room in critical condition. That’s when she knew she had to...
Kfir, 23, and Naama, 24, are in dire circumstances. Together, they are raising two young daughters, ages 2 and 3, and Naama is in her fifth month of pregnancy. Kfir suffers from diabetes and two herniated discs in his back. Because of his physical issues, he hasn’t been able to...
Bella, 85, is living in a public housing unit with her 55-year-old unemployed son. Bella’s physical and mental capabilities are deteriorating, and she now has a full-time caregiver through the government. Bella spends most of her day at home in a wheelchair. Her apartment has no heat or air conditioning....
Shani, 33, and Gidon, 36, are going through a rough time. The couple is raising three young children, ages 4-10, on a very tight budget. Shani doesn’t work outside of the home; Gidon has an independent business as a graphic designer but since the Corona crisis hit, business has been...
Liran, 19, is an inspiring young man. Liran’s father has chronic health issues. For the past ten years his physical condition has impacted his ability to work and, six years ago, he stopped working altogether. He receives monthly disability payments. Liran’s mother works as a teacher’s assistant and earns a...
Dalia, 57, and Nissim, 48, have five children (ages 16-30). Dalia is unemployed, while Nissim works in a factory. The couple struggles to make ends meet each month. Dalia and Nissim live in a small, dilapidated apartment with two of their children. Their 22-year-old daughter, Rotem, lives in a youth...
Rina, 39, and Gilad, 43, are going through a very rough time. Rina suffers from fibromyalgia, obesity, diabetes, chronic migraines and anxiety disorder. She receives a monthly disability stipend and is also entitled with regular sessions with a social worker. Gilad is also unwell; he too has been diagnosed with...
Reut, 44, is struggling to raise her three children (ages 8-14) on her own. Reut’s husband died suddenly in a car accident, and the family is still processing the trauma. Reut is having trouble finding work due to a number of physical and emotional issues. She is working with social...
Galit, 31, is determined to stand on her own two feet. Galit and her partner separated three years ago. Together, they have four children (now ages 3-7) whom she is now raising on her own. Galit herself grew up in a very unstable home and never earned a university degree...
Alona, 28, is developmentally impaired as a result of Down’s Syndrome. She is quite high-functioning and can handle most daily activities independently, She does have trouble dealing with finances, cannot navigate public transportation or hold down a job. Alona volunteers once a week in a kindergarten but, otherwise, spends most...
Tal, 37, is divorced and raising her three-year-old son on her own. Two years ago, Tal turned to social services for help in dealing with her abusive husband. She attended sessions with her social worker regularly and slowly came to the conclusion that she needed to end her marriage. In...
Tamara, 29, and Eran, 26, are trying to build a life together, along with their two-year-old son, Yarden. Eran suffers from autism but is extremely high-functioning. He works as an assistant in a day care center for the disabled. He also receives a monthly disability stipend. Tamara, who has been...
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Vered, 37, is in the midst of a divorce. She is a mother of two children, ages 7 and 9. The divorce has been very emotionally challenging for Vered who was financially abused during her marriage and had no independence. Her ex-husband does not provide any financial help, and she...
Sophie, 47, is raising four children (ages 8-21) on her own. Sophie’s oldest daughter is physically and mentally challenged, and needs a great deal of attention. Because she is a single mother, Sophie, who is a caregiver in an old age home, can only work part time as she needs...
Rosa, 49, came to Israel from Russia eight years ago. She is single and raising two children, ages 13 and 19, on her own. Rosa worked in a supermarket until two years ago when the Corona crisis hit. She was let go and has been on unemployment ever since. Unfortunately,...
Even at the young age of 16, Rafi is inspiring. Rafi’s parents both work as DJs. During the pandemic, they had little work and their financial situation became quite dire. They are raising six children and had to take out numerous loans in order to cover their cost of living....
Chen, 44, is raising three young children (ages 2-6) on her own. Chen has been in contact with social services for years due to her status as a single mother, her dire financial situation and her emotional state. Chen has been diagnosed with a schizophrenic disorder and is under the...
Orit, 22, is doing her best to raise her two-year-old son, Omer, on her own. Omer’s dad, Guy, and Orit dated for two years but broke up during Orit’s pregnancy. Though he sees Omer regularly, Guy cannot help Orit financially. Orit works as an aide to the elderly but because...
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...
Leora, 50, and Tzion, 57, haven’t had it easy. Tzion was raised in a series of foster homes, as his mother was incapable of caring for him. He graduated high school and completed his full army service. Leora had a relatively normal childhood, graduated high school, and got a degree...