Personal Stories

Roi is an impressive young man who deserves our help. Roi’s parents divorced when he was 10 years old. He and his four siblings lived with their mother until, in 9th grade, Roi was sent to boarding school. Roi flourished in high school and graduated with all of his matriculation...

We can help make Leah’s final years more comfortable. Leah, who immigrated from Ethiopia close to 40 years ago, is a widow with seven grown children. One of her daughters now lives with and cares for her. Though her other children visit often, none of them are in a position...

Ayelet’s story is heartbreaking. Married to Shimon for 14 years, Ayelet suffered emotional, physical, sexual and financial abuse. A year ago, after she was nearly beaten to death, Ayelet reported her husband to the police and left him. He is now under house arrest. Ayelet is currently living in a...

Keren and Dudi are going through a very rough period. The couple has six children; one of them, their nine-year-old son, suffers from autism. Yair is very low-functioning and doesn’t speak. He doesn’t recognize dangerous situations and needs round-the-clock care. Keren and Dudi were living a relatively comfortable, calm life...

Carni, 27, is trying to stand on her own two feet. Until she does, however, she needs a helping hand. As a teen, Carni was in a social services program for at-risk youth. She successfully graduated high school with partial matriculation exams. When she was 16, Carni met Maor, and...

Sofi, 30, has her hands full. She is raising four young children (ages 2-9) on her own; their father is in prison and provides no emotional or financial support. Sofi works part-time as an aide to the elderly. She supports herself and her children on her salary, a monthly government...

Benny, 60, is living a sad and lonely existence. Benny survives on a monthly disability stipend. He suffers from both emotional and physical issues, including a severe hoarding disorder. Of late, Benny has also displayed signs of memory loss. Benny is single and has no family support. He is poor...

Sometimes an individual just needs a helping hand in order to move forward. Lara, 46, is one of those people. Ten years ago, Lara’s partner, the father of her 20-year-old twins, took their children and left the country. Four years ago, the teenagers came back to Israel and now live...

Reut, 45, and Eran, 48, struggle to make ends meet each month. The couple has five children, ages 10-18, and they live in a small, cramped apartment.  Eran works odd jobs, and Reut works as a kindergarten assistant. Their combined income doesn’t come close to covering the needs of a...

Afternoon programs for their two young children (ages 1.5 and 4) will no doubt help Hagit and Ram get back on their feet. Noam, the couple’s youngest child, was born with a severe heart defect. As an infant, he underwent open-heart surgery. He receives a monthly disability stipend. Needless to...

Limor, 46, is raising two young daughters, ages 10 and 11, on her own. The girls’ father has no contact with the family and provides no financial support. Limor works as an aide to the elderly; she supports herself and her children on her small income and on a monthly...

Anat, who immigrated to Israel with her parents and aunt at the age of 12, is now raising two young children on her own. Anat is divorced but receives no child support from her ex-husband. By trade, Anat is a hairdresser but worked for many years as an aide to...

Valerie, 32, is doing her best to raise her two young children, ages 2 and 8, on her own. Neither of her children’s fathers are in touch with her and neither pay child support. Valerie immigrated to Israel from Russia at the age of 10 with her mother and two...

Anat, 34, is a single mother to three young children, ages 9-13. Her children’s father pays no child support and, at the moment, Anat is unemployed. She supports her family on a monthly government stipend. Anat had a traumatic upbringing, and her relationship with her children’s father was unstable and...

Vered, 45, is desperate to provide her daughter Tali with a laptop computer. Tali, five-years-old, has been diagnosed with autism, as well as with Celiac disease. One of the main symptoms of her autism are severe sensory sensitivities. For 12 years, Vered owned her own restaurant. During the Corona crisis,...

Tahel and Haggai are raising four young children (5 months – 8) and struggle to make ends meet each month. Haggai has been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and is unable to work; he receives a monthly disability stipend. Tahel has not worked since the birth of her fourth child, as...

Stav, 29, is a highly capable woman and an extraordinarily devoted mother to four young children, ages 3-8. Two years ago, Stav and her husband divorced; he hasn’t been in touch with his children in months and pays child support only occasionally. For the most part, Stav supports herself and...

Dana, 38, and Rafi, 52, are doing their very best to raise their five daughters (ages 4-17) with dignity. Both Dana and Rafi are recovered drug addicts; Dana has been clean for 15+ years and Rafi, for 5. They are determined to pick up the pieces of their life and...

Liel and Carmi desperately need our help. Together, they are raising three young children (ages 3-15) and are struggling to make ends meet. Stav, the couple’s youngest child, was born prematurely. She suffers from both developmental delays and physical issues, and the cost of her medications, therapies and hospitalizations are...

Mira, 21, is an inspiring young woman. One of nine siblings, Mira was raised in an ultra-Orthodox home. Her mother is disabled and receives a monthly government stipend, and her father works as a bus driver. As a child, Mira suffered severe burns from hot oil. She was hospitalized for...

Maor, 27, is a motivated young man who is determined to make something of his life. Maor’s background is heartbreaking. He was born to unmarried parents and never knew his father. At the age of one, he was taken by social services and put in foster care until third grade....

Anat and Eli, both 39, are going through a very difficult time. In 2013, the couple moved to Israel from South America. They lived here for two years but then had to return in order to care for Anat’s ailing mother. In 2019, Anat and Eli returned to Israel with...

Miriam and Ezra have done their very best over the years raising their 13 children. For many years, Miriam, now 57, was home raising her family. For the past ten years, she has worked as a telephone representative for a non-profit organization. She is now motivated to find a new...

Some people just need a little help overcoming small hurdles on their path to success. Revital, 30, is one of those individuals. Married with two young children (ages 3 and 5), Revital has had some temporary setbacks in life. A number of years ago, Revital underwent an accident that left...

Hagit and Noam are a struggling young couple who need a helping hand. Hagit, 24, works part-time as a kindergarten assistant; Noam, 30, works odd jobs and doesn’t have a steady income. During the Corona crisis, Hagit and Noam’s income dropped dramatically, and they have been struggling every since. With...

Sima, 42, has been divorced for nine years; her and her ex-husband have three children, ages 11-17. Their divorce left Sima and her children in an emotional and financial turmoil. Their lives were made even more chaotic three years ago when Sima’s ex-husband was imprisoned for a year. They are...

Kfir, an innocent 4-year-old boy, needs our help. Kfir and his twin sister, Talia, were born prematurely. Talia is developing normally, but Kfir is developmentally delayed and has been diagnosed with autism. Yael, the twins’ mother, stopped working during her high-risk pregnancy. She hasn’t gone back to work since she...

Rina, 53, has had a difficult life, but she is now trying to pick up the pieces and move forward. Rina grew up in a very unstable household. She was physically and emotionally abused and was eventually removed from her parents’ home and sent to boarding school. At the age...

Rachel and Tzion are raising seven children and struggle to make ends meet. Rachel receives a monthly disability stipend and is unable to work outside of the home. Tzion suffers from a genetic ailment which limits the number of hours he can work. To make matters worse, Tzion was put...

The Harel family desperately needs our help. Miriam and Yehuda, both 41, are raising seven children, ages 3-16. Miriam works as a cook in a day-care center; Yehuda works independently as a Torah scribe. They have struggled financially over the years, and social services has helped them wherever possible. Three...

Tehila, 30, and Chaim, 35, are doing their very best to raise their two-year-old daughter with dignity. Chaim, diagnosed with schizophrenia, does not work outside of the home and receives a monthly disability stipend. Tehila works part-time as a cleaner and is trying to increase her working hours. In the...

Adi is a single mother to two young girls, ages 4 and 5. Adi works as a secretary and does her best to support her small family with dignity. Until now, Adi and the girls have lived in a room in her mother’s house. Adi decided that they need their...

Malka, 37, is going through a very rough time and needs our help. Malka and her husband have three children, ages 3-14. In addition, they serve as foster parents for two of their nephews, ages 15 and 18. To add to Malka’s hardships, she and her husband are currently in...

Dana, 42, and Yaakov, 59, are doing their best to stand on their own two feet. Together, the couple have two young children, ages 4 and 7. Dana had a very complicated upbringing which included unstable family dynamics and abuse. She had a baby at age 17 with her first...

Ruth and Samuel don’t have an easy life, but they try their hardest to get by on their own. Samuel, 61, finished nine years of schooling, worked and then completed his full army service. Samuel has a multitude of health issues, including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. He also...

Navah, 42, is a single mother to two young children, ages 2 and 4. Navah works as a social worker for a non-profit organization. She has no outside support and does her best to provide for her two children. The family lives in a three-room apartment. All of Navah’s appliances...

Meital, 31, and Reuven, 34, are going through a very rough time. The couple has five children, ages 1-8. Three of the children have severe sensory issues that impact their daily functioning. In addition, their middle child is being evaluated for autism. Meital worked until her youngest child was born....

Carni, 53, is divorced and lives on her own. Her physical condition is dire; she suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, a herniated disc and chronic joint pain. She cannot complete the simplest daily tasks and depends on family members (including her elderly mother) for almost everything. As a...

Leah is divorced and raising four children, ages 14-20, on her own. Her ex-husband is now remarried and has nothing to do with his children. Though the couple signed a child support agreement, he has not held up his end, and Leah is currently litigating in order to receive the...

Michal, 38, is raising five children (ages 8-16) on her own. Michal and her husband divorced two years ago; she is now in therapy in order to rehabilitate after an abusive marriage. The therapy is expensive, but Michal knows that its vital in order to move forward with her life....

Nane, 52, is struggling and needs our help. Nane immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia over 20 years ago. She raised four children on her own and tried to build a stable life for them despite her difficulties integrating into Israeli society. A few years ago, Nane’s son, 25, was killed...

Liran, 25, is a very impressive young man who is determined to build himself a brighter future. Liran was raised by a single mother. He exhibited behavioral issues from a young age, including violent outbursts, and floated between different schools. At the age of 16, Liran was sent, by court...

Ofira, 44, has had a very difficult life but is determined to build a stable future for her children. Ofira herself had a very damaging childhood; she grew up in abject poverty with a father who had a criminal record and a history of drug abuse. Ofira has three children...

Lital, 59, recently immigrated to Israel from South America. She has been separated from her husband for many years, and he and their two children live abroad. Lital has a degree in psychology but has not been able to find a job here as her degree isn’t recognized, and she...

Reut, 50, lives in an apartment with her 25-year-old son. Reut worked in childcare for many years. Last year, she travelled abroad and was fired upon her return. Since then, her health has deteriorated, and she hasn’t been able to find a new job. Gil, Reut’s son, works part time...

Liya, now 36, moved to Israel from Ethiopia when she was five years old. Twelve years ago, she got married; from the start, Liya experienced emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. Two years ago, the abuse turned physical; afraid for her family’s safety, Liya took her five children...

Shir, 29 and Roi, 30, are trying their hardest to improve their circumstances, but they need a helping hand. Shir works as a music therapist; Roi works part-time as a truck driver and is studying to be a professional scribe. A few years ago, Roi was diagnosed with a psychological...

Gali, 45, and Shai, 47, are going through a rough time and need a helping hand. The couple has three children; their oldest (24) is married and out of the house – their middle son (21) is currently serving in the IDF – and the youngest (9) is living at...

Nurit, 34, does her very best to create a warm and loving environment for her two young children, Sapir, 6, and Alon, 11. Nurit, who is divorced, works part-time since she has to be available to take her children to school in the morning and pick them up later in...

Alona, 35, is an impressive young woman who needs a helping hand. At the age of five, Alona immigrated from Ethiopia with her parents. She is a single mother to three young children; their father is in touch with them but offers no financial support. Over the years, Alona has...

Shira, 42, and Leon, 43, immigrated to Israel from France three years ago with their five children (ages 5-15). In France, both Shira and Leon worked full-time and made a decent living. Today, Leon has opened his own shop selling insoles; he is struggling to succeed, mainly due to language...

Miriam, 61, and Chaim, 62, have 11 children; two of whom are still living at home. The family’s living conditions and overall financial situation are quite dire. Until a year ago, Chaim was working; he was then laid off and hasn’t found a job since. Miriam suffers from various physical...

Alona has lived a lifetime in her 19 short years. When Alona was three years old, her mother took her and her two siblings to a battered women’s shelter after being physically abused by her husband. The couple eventually divorced but because Alona’s mom couldn’t settle down, the courts awarded...

Rachel, 34, and Meir, 35, have seven young children, ages 1.5-14. Meir receives a monthly stipend for his daily learning in a yeshiva; Rachel recently began working as an assistant in a daycare center. The family’s home is sparsely furnished, and their electrical appliances barely work. Rachel and Meir’s most...

The first chapter of Lior’s life has been tragic; we can help make the next one meaningful and productive. Lior, 19, grew up in a highly dysfunctional home. Both of his parents have children from previous marriages and, together, they have four more. Lior’s childhood years were filled with tension and...

Shai, 54, is divorced and has joint custody of four of his children. Shai is a recovered drug addict who has been clean for a number of years. He supports himself on a monthly government stipend and is heavily in debt. When Shai’s children come to stay with him, they...

Yael, 41, and Noam, 44, are in desperate need of help. They are raising ten children (ages 1-19) and can barely make ends meet. For many years, Noam brought in an income working odd jobs. With the arrival of Corona, however, he was put on unpaid leave. Two years ago,...

Maor, 36, is physically disabled. He has a chronic spinal cord condition that makes any simple physical task challenging. Despite his difficulties, Maor works part-time as a counselor to people suffering from mental illness. He supports himself on his salary and a monthly disability stipend. Recently, Maor moved out of...

Sarena, 43, immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe with two young children; today, they are teenagers, ages 17 and 18. Sarena is divorced; her ex-husband lives abroad and pays a minimal amount of child support. Sarena does her best to raise her sons with dignity. She works as a dental...

Rinat, 33, is a single mother to seven young children (ages 2-15). While her family has been in crisis for many years, due to financial difficulties and parenting issues, Rinat has finally begun moving forward with her life. For years, Rinat was unemployed and the family of eight lived with...

Irit, 34, and David, 34, are raising four young children, ages 3-13. When she was 20, Irit and her partner had a baby. It was an abusive situation and, after their second child was born, Irit was able to break free of the relationship. Soon after, Irit met David, they...

Anat, now 21, has had a very rough start in life. A single mother to a two-year-old son, Anat is now looking to turn her life around. Anat comes from a highly dysfunctional home. Her parents divorced when she was younger and, after the divorce, Anat began displaying at-risk behavior....

Reut and Noam immigrated to Israel nine years ago with their oldest children, now ages 10 and 13. After their arrival, they had a third child who is now four-years-old. Six years ago, Noam had a work accident which left him with a severe hand injury. Soon after, he was...

Stav, 33, is a single mother to two young children, ages 2 and 5. Recently, Or, Stav’s five-year-old son, was diagnosed with autism. The family of three has been living in a one-room apartment. This has been extremely difficult, especially given Or’s challenges. They have now been approved for a...

Nurit, 31, is struggling to raise two young children (ages 3 and 5) on her own. Nurit works as an aide to the elderly, but her minimal income doesn’t cover her monthly expenses. She has also incurred heavy debts over the years that she is trying to pay off. Because...

Dorit, 37, is raising her 12-year-old son, Liran, on her own. Dorit left her husband two years ago, after years of being physically and verbally abused. The couple’s divorce became final a year ago. After her divorce, Dorit and Liran moved in with her parents in order to save money....

Dikla, 33, is an impressive young woman who has already been through a lifetime of hardship. As an only child who never knew her father, Dikla, along with her mother, moved to Israel from Eastern Europe when she was 12 years old. Her mother worked as an aide to the...

Galit, 47, needs a helping hand. Divorced, Galit is raising two children, ages 13 and 18, on her own. Her 18-year-old daughter is currently serving in the army, and her younger son is in 7th grade. Galit suffers from a psychological disorder and receives a monthly disability stipend. She lives...

Chen and Rafi are raising five children under very trying circumstances. Rafi suffers from psychological and emotional issues, and receives a monthly disability stipend. In addition, the couple’s oldest son is physically disabled. Chen bears a lot on her shoulders; she single-handedly cares for her husband, her children and their...

When Hannah and Benny met, Hannah had three children from her first marriage. She and her children moved in with Benny, and the two of them had five more children together (plus one on the way). While Hannah, 43, works outside of the home, Benny, 47, does not. He receives...

Nomi, 39, and Hillel, 40, are struggling to raise their nine children (6 months – 16) with dignity. Hillel works as a teacher; Nomi was working as a customer service representative but is currently unemployed. Nomi suffers from fibromyalgia and was recently diagnosed with depression. She can barely function and...

Keren, 36, is an impressive young woman who is determined to move her life forward. Keren has a five-year-old daughter, Julia. Keren and Julia’s father were never married and had a highly dysfunctional relationship. Today, Keren only has contact with him on issues related to their daughter. A year ago,...

Varda, 46, is divorced and has seven children. Most of them still live at home, but the older ones help with household expenses. Varda runs a day care center; she has a degree in Special Education. Her father helped her cover the cost of her undergraduate tuition. Varda is now...

Nomi, 34, and Yonatan, 36, are struggling. The couple has seven children, ages 1-13, and can barely make ends meet. Nomi has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She was working 30 hours a week as a secretary but since the birth of her youngest child, she has had to cut...

Liza and Peter’s current situation is heartbreaking. The couple immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe seven years ago. They have three young children, ages 4-8. Peter, 45, was working until a serious work accident left him with a severely injured leg. He underwent surgery and is still recovering. He is...

Batia, 59, has never been married and has no children. Three years ago, she moved in with her elderly mother in order to help her. Her life is lonely and difficult. Batia herself struggles with both physical and emotional issues. She survives on a monthly disability stipend, and there is...

Hila, 58, is going through a very rough time. Two years ago, her husband, Chaim, died of a heart attack. Chaim hadn’t worked the previous nine years, and the couple were in tight financial circumstances. For the past two years, Hila hasn’t worked either. She has a number of serious...

Liat, 31, and Nadav, 35, have fallen on very hard times. The couple have two toddlers, ages 2 and 3, and no source of income. Liat suffers from PTSD and cannot work outside of the home. Nadav had a job as a deliveryman, but his current medical condition forced him...

Shira and Yaakov, both 29, are raising three young children (ages 3-5) under very trying circumstances. When Yaakov was three months old, his mother, suffering from post-partum depression, committed suicide. Eight years ago, Yaakov himself was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He was hospitalized several times and is now under regular...

Gila, 35, and Chaim, 37, are raising their four young children (ages 3-12) on a very tight budget. Chaim learns in a yeshiva and receives a monthly stipend; Gila works as a kindergarten assistant. Their combined income barely covers the day-to-day expenses of a family of six. To add to...

For most people, a clothes dryer is not a necessity; for Tamar, however, it is. Tamar is divorced and has ten children; seven of them (ages 6-18) still live at home and five have been diagnosed with autism. Because of her circumstances, Tamar cannot work outside of the home. She...

Vered and Itzik, both in their 60’s, are struggling to make ends meet. Both of them suffer from numerous physical ailments. Itzik has diabetes and high blood pressure, and Vered suffers from diabetes, chronic back pain and a severe respiratory condition that requires her to be on supplemental oxygen. The...

Tami, 62, needs our help. Tami has lived a rather sad life. At the age of six, her mother died, and her father was unable to care for his children alone; they were sent to foster care. Tami lived with a number of foster families during her childhood, until she...

Meirav’s story is inspiring. For the past four years, she has participated in a social services program for at-risk youth and has made tremendous progress. Meirav, 23, grew up in an unstable household. When she was younger, her parents decided to adopt an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle. Her father couldn’t hold down...

Rinat, 27, and Shlomo, 33, are raising their two young daughters (ages 3 and 9) under very trying circumstances. Rinat works as a medical aide to a child with severe allergies; Shlomo works as an air-conditioner technician. His salary is based on the amount of work available and is very...

Genya, 48, is a single mother to five children; four of them are grown and out of the house. Her youngest, Barak (8), has been diagnosed with ADHD and anger management issues. Genya and the father of her children never married; he provides no emotional or financial support. Genya is...

Michal, 19, has had a rough start in life and needs our help moving forward. Raised in an ultra-Orthodox home, Michal’s parents divorced when she was three. Six years ago, her father died, and her mother has since remarried. Michal learned in a Yiddish-speaking school through fifth grade. She was...

Talia, 51, and her husband divorced ten years ago. They have seven children together (ages 12-25), six of whom live at home with Talia. Talia struggles to make ends meet. Her ex-husband pays no child support, and she survives on her monthly government stipends. One of Talia’s most pressing needs...

Lior, 42, is divorced and the mother of two children, ages 10 and 19. Social services has been helping Lior for a number of years because of her dire financial circumstances and her difficulty parenting. They have helped her research her rights, provided her with food and clothing vouchers, assisted...

Lena, 46, has an incredible story to tell, and we can help her tell it. Lena grew up in a violent and abusive household. Eventually, she ended up on the streets, working as a prostitute. Thanks to a number of non-profit organizations, she was able to leave this lifestyle behind...

Nurit, 45, is struggling right now but is determined to move forward with her life and build a brighter future for her one-year-old daughter, Dana. Nurit was married for three years. During that time, she tried to get pregnant but was unsuccessful. Eventually, she and her husband divorced. Last year,...

Leah, 50, and Ezra, 51, are truly struggling. They have eleven children, ages 9-28, and are in dire financial straits. The couple’s troubles began when their business went bankrupt. They were forced to sell their home, move into a small rental apartment and take out heavy loans. Both Leah and...

Rina and Binaya are struggling to make ends meet. Four of their seven children are currently living at home, and the couple don’t bring in enough money to cover their monthly expenses. A year and a half ago, Rina suffered a medical episode that left her unable to work; she...

Neither Shai, 36, nor Lital, 33, had an easy start in life. Shai comes from a very low socio-economic household and, as a child, battled cancer. Lital’s parents had an abusive relationship and eventually divorced; today, Lital suffers from both severe allergies and fibromyalgia. Lital and Shai have two children,...

Michal, 48, and Ori, 53, are truly suffering. They are raising 11 children, ages 3-22, and have lost three children to Tay-Sachs. Michal had a successful career in computers but stopped working to care for her dying daughter. Since her death, Michal has been unable to return to work. Ori...

Sigal, 45, is going through a very difficult time. She and her husband had eight children together and, two years ago, they divorced. Today, Sigal is raising their children (ages 4-24) single-handedly. Six of them still live at home with her; two are currently serving in the IDF. Sigal’s ex-husband...

Nurit, 39, and Mordy, 40, are in dire financial straits and need our help. Nurit works as a kindergarten assistant. Mordy was employed full-time until a work accident left him with a chronic back injury. He underwent surgery but hasn’t been able to return to work. His unemployment benefits have...

Our soldiers – and their families – deserve our support. Ronen is currently serving in the IDF. His parents, Nomi and Shlomo, are unemployed and still supporting their seven grown children. They have both tried, unsuccessfully, to find work and are surviving on a monthly government stipend. Needless to say,...

Ronit, 51, and her son Bar, 16, live in horrendous conditions. Both Ronit and Bar suffer from chronic illnesses. They live off a monthly government stipend and barely make ends meet. The family of two lives in a tiny, cramped apartment. It is damp and moldy, and their furniture is...

Hadar, 40, and Liran, 43, have four children (ages 5-18) and are struggling to make ends meet. Hadar works as a kindergarten assistant, and Liran is currently unemployed. They have heavy debts to repay and were recently forced to declare personal bankruptcy. As they try to sort out their financial...

Hannah, 30, and Leon, 35, certainly have their hands full. Leon had a complicated upbringing. He immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe as a child. His parents were divorced, and his mother remained behind. Once in Israel with his father, Leon floated between boarding schools. It wasn’t an easy childhood....

Nomi’s story is sad. At 65, Nomi is divorced and living with her 35-year-old son, Benny, in a government-subsidized apartment. Benny has psychological issues that prevent him from working, and Nomi supports him financially. She herself suffers from various physical ailments thereby limiting her ability to work as well. Her...

For the past two years, nine-year-old Dekel has been dealing with his parents/ difficult divorce. He has experienced a deterioration in his concentration at school and anxiety regarding social interactions. As a result, he has been displaying physical violence towards those in his immediate surroundings. Dekel is being seen by...

Sivan, 35, is raising three young children (ages 3-8) on her own. All three have been diagnosed with developmental delays and are in special needs programs. Sivan herself had a difficult childhood. She regularly witnessed violence between her parents and was eventually sent to boarding school. Both of her parents...

Sarit, 45, and Leon, 51, are going through a very rough time. Leon worked steadily as a truck driver for many years. A former drug addict, Leon eventually lost his license and, therefore, his job as well. During his years of unemployment, the family fell deeply into debt. Sarit worked...

Gila and Barak, both 43, are trying their best to make ends meet but are having a very rough time. Gila works as a customer service representative; Barak works as a prison guard. Unfortunately, despite their double income, they are still struggling. Both Gila and Barak have children from their...

Leah, 25, had a rough start in life, but she is determined to move forward and build herself a brighter future. Leah was born into an ultra-Orthodox household. At the age of 17, her parents divorced and she went to live with her father. At the same time, she abandoned...

Efrat, 33, is raising three young children (ages 7-12) on her own. All three of her kids have special needs, including one who has been diagnosed with autism. Efrat is an incredibly devoted mother who tries to meet all of her children’s physical and emotional needs. Efrat’s ex-husband, and father...

Yochi, 27, is going through a very difficult time. She and her husband, Rafi, got married three years ago. They had two children, now ages 1.5 and 6 months. Both Yochi and Rafi worked outside of the home. Last year, Rafi was arrested and had to serve prison time. When...

Yael’s story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Yael’s family moved to Israel from America when she was six years old. Yael completed 12 years of schooling and graduated as an honor’s student. In 12th grade, Yael volunteered her time tutoring weaker students. One evening when she was teaching, three students...

Avi, 28, is a very impressive young man with a complicated past. The youngest of 11 siblings, Avi grew up in an ultra-Orthodox home. Avi never felt connected to his parents’ religious lifestyle and struggled in the educational system. He moved schools numerous times until, at the age of 16,...

Tali, 33, and Amnon, 39, and their three young children are going through a very rough period. Tali is currently in a three-month, in-patient rehab program for alcohol addiction. Amnon, who works in a factory, is currently the family’s sole breadwinner. He is also the only one caring for the...

Chaim, 48, had a very difficult and unstable childhood. He moved from boarding school to boarding school and was exposed to drugs at a very young age. Eventually, Chaim became a drug addict and spent a sum total of 25 years in prison. He would use drugs, get arrested, do...

Leo, 61, immigrated to Israel from Europe ten years ago. Almost two years ago, he lost his wife. The costs involved in his wife’s care when she was ill left him in heavy debt. Leo himself suffers from CP and supports himself solely on his disability stipend. Leo does not...

Leah, 47, is raising four young children (ages 7-16) on her own. Leah is currently unemployed and supports her family on monthly government stipends. Leah’s oldest daughter is visually impaired and needs regular treatment. This puts on extra strain on the family’s financial situation. Leah and her children live in...

Tamar, 46, needs help getting back on her feet. Tamar grew up in an abusive household. When she got married, the abuse continued. Her husband physically, emotionally and verbally abused her, until she finally left him a few months ago. While initiating divorce proceedings, Tamar and her ten-year-old daughter, Sivan,...

Alon, 41, is struggling to make ends meet. Alon and his ex-wife have two children. Since the divorce, both of the kids have lived with their mother. Recently, however, Liran, 13, moved in with Alon. It hasn’t been a simple adjustment. Ten years ago, Alon’s independent food business shut down....

Shimon, 28, and his six children, ages 4 months-9 years, are going through a very traumatic time. Four months ago, Irit, their wife and mother, passed away after a short but virulent battle with cancer. Irit hadn’t worked in five years, as she was home caring for her young children....

Sigalit had a turbulent upbringing and was labelled an at-risk youth. During her army service, she became pregnant and was discharged. As she struggled to raise her son, Sigalit agreed to put him in foster care at her mother’s home. Next month, he is meant to return home. Sigalit had...

Rotem, 50, is a single mother to Hadas, aged 7. Rotem owns a small neighborhood hair salon. For years, she brought in enough money to support herself and Hadas and never had to ask for outside help. A few years ago, Rotem’s physical condition began to deteriorate; she suffers from...

Limor, a devoted mother to two young children, needs a helping hand this summer. Limor had a traumatic upbringing and as a result, she was raised by foster families. Today, Limor is divorced and has two children – Osnat, 8, and Guy, 9. She is an incredibly devoted mother who...

Marina, 42, is raising three teenaged children on her own. Marina does her best to make ends meet; she works part-time as an aide to the disabled. Because of her role as a single mother and because of various physical ailments, Marina cannot work more hours. She supports herself and...

Lena, 34, is a single mother to a 10-year-old daughter, Tali. Lena was involved in an abusive relationship and is now, through social services, receiving therapy. She works part-time as an office cleaner and is doing all she can to support herself and her daughter. In addition to her salary,...

Chen, 46, is divorced and has three children, one of whom still lives at home. Last year, during the Corona crisis, Chen was unemployed and survived on her monthly government stipend. This year, she opened a travel agency which is still struggling in its early stages due to the ramifications...

Rinat, 47, is doing her very best to raise four young children (ages 10-15) on her own. Rinat’s ex-husband, whom she divorced years ago, is a drug addict. He doesn’t pay child support and has cut off all contact with his family. Over the years, Rinat has worked odd jobs,...

Aida, 48, is raising six children, ages 6-19, on her own. Aida supports her family on her disability payments and a monthly government stipend. Her apartment is small, crowded and sparsely furnished. At the moment, Aida’s two youngest children, ages six and ten, are sleeping on mattresses on the floor...

Revital, 45, and Efraim, 50, are struggling to raise their eight children (ages 1-16) with dignity. After Revital did two years of National Service and Efraim did three years of army service, they both adopted an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle. Efraim worked as an electrician until an accident left him with a...

Noa, 56, does the best she can to meet the needs of her ten-year-old daughter, Gali. Noa had a complicated upbringing, losing her father at a very young age. 18 years ago, her brother was killed. Noa is left with just her elderly mother who can’t provide financial or emotional...

Sonia, 40, and Leo, 41, need our help to make it through the long, hot summer. Sonia and Leo are raising their two young children, Maor, 9, and Elian, 7, as well as Sonia’s 16-year-old daughter, Sara, from a previous relationship. Sonia works as a supermarket cashier. Leo used to...

Anat, 35, is going through a very rough time. Divorced, Anat is raising two young children (ages 8 and 9) on her own. Anat has been diagnosed with PTSD and suffers from psychological difficulties, including depression and anxiety. She is being treated as an out-patient at a psychiatric center. Anat...

Benny’s story is heartbreaking. In his 28 short years, he has experienced a lifetime of pain. Benny grew up in an ultra-Orthodox home, one of 12 siblings. He suffered extensive physical abuse at the hands of his father who threw Benny out of the house at the age of 11. Benny was...

Sharon, 38, works full-time as a social worker. She is divorced and raising three children, ages 12-17, on her own. Sharon’s youngest child, Erez, underwent psychological trauma as a result of his parents’ divorce six years ago. He is now in riding therapy. Sharon works very hard to meet her...

Leora, 43, is raising seven children (ages 9-16) on her own. Five years ago, Leora and her husband divorced. At first, he visited with his children once a week. Today, he has cut off all contact with his family and pays no child support. Leora is truly on her own....

Samuel, 47, and Naomi, 43, have always done their very best to raise their five children (ages 2-23) with dignity. Samuel works long hours as a taxi driver; until two years ago, Naomi worked full-time as well. Unfortunately, Naomi suffers from a multitude of medical issues and has had to...

Navah, 37, and Gilad, 38, have always done their best to raise their eight young children with dignity. Navah works as a sports instructor at a girls’ high school and as a personal fitness coach. Until two months ago, Gilad worked full time as well. Though their combined salaries barely...

Stav, 43, is a single mother to two special needs children. David, 6, is autistic and Lior, 4.5, is developmentally delayed and emotionally troubled. Stav is an incredibly devoted mom who stayed at home for a number of years in order to care for the boys. A few months ago,...

Sigal, 48, is going through a very rough time. Divorced for the past four years, she is raising four young children (ages 8-14) on her own. Sigal was in a very unstable marriage and was abused by her husband. She and her children spent a month in a battered women’s...

Keren, 60, is struggling to make ends meet and needs our help. Keren has been divorced since the age of 28. She raised four children on her own, with no help from her ex-husband and no family support. Keren suffers from fibromyalgia. She has chronic joint pain and overall weakness....

Avia, 20, is doing her best to raise her 18-month-old son, Bar, on her own. Avia herself had a very difficult childhood; she had a volatile relationship with her parents and was socially ostracized in school. As the years went by, Avia displayed at-risk behavior, which included hanging with a...

Layla, 22, is doing all she can to build herself a stable and independent future. The oldest of five children, Layla always worked in order to help her parents cover the family’s needs. Her father is disabled, suffering from visual impairment and mobility issues. He receives a monthly disability stipend....

Vered, 60, needs our help. Divorced, Vered has two grown children. Her 23-year-old son is currently living with her. Vered suffers from emotional issues for which she is being treated with medication. She also has severe back and pelvic issues which prevent her from working and make day-to-day functioning very...

Ziva, 39, and Aharon, 37, are raising eight young children, ages 2-15. Aharon is currently unemployed, and the family is surviving on a monthly government stipend and Ziva’s disability payments. Ziva has been diagnosed with PTSD which was brought on by things she experienced while completing her army service. In...

Shira, 36, and Binyamin, 43, are truly struggling. Their four-year-old daughter, Atara, was severely injured when boiling water was thrown on her. As a result of her injuries, Atara is physically handicapped and developmentally delayed. Before Atara’s incident, Shira worked and functioned normally. Since her daughter’s injury, however, she has...

Talya, 22, and Adam, 27, are certainly doing their best to stand on their own two feet. Both Talya and Adam come from complicated homes and have no family support. Adam is currently taking a course in automotive electronics through social services. He currently has no income but hopes to...

Miriam, 42, is going through a very rough time. Eight years ago, Miriam took her two children and ran to a battered women’s shelter. For 15 years, she suffered physical abuse at the hands of her husband and finally took action. Miriam has always been gainfully employed. She had her...

At the age of 21, Sagi moved to Israel from Eastern Europe along with his grandmother, mother and sister. Since then, both his grandmother and mother passed away; Sagi never married and has no children. Except for his sister, he is alone in the world. Sagi struggles with physical and...

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...

Noga, 24, is a very impressive young woman. Her parents are divorced, and she has nine siblings. Noga’s father is a drug addict; as a result of her complicated home life, Noga was sent to boarding school from the ages of 5-18. She views those years in a very positive...

Shira, 23, is a remarkable young woman. Shira grew up in an ultra-Orthodox home. During her high school years, Shira began rebelling against her parents’ lifestyle and displaying at-risk behavior. At age 17, she was sent to a home for at-risk youth from ultra-Orthodox families; there, she continued her delinquent...

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...

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...

Ron, 19, is an impressive young man. Ron’s father, Gidon, is a factory worker who suffers from various physical ailments. His mother, Noa, underwent a severe traumatic incident six years ago and has since been dealing with both physical and emotional difficulties. Ron’s older brother left home a number of...

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...

Lital, 30, is struggling terribly as she raises four young children (ages 1.5-7) on her own. Now divorced, Lital was an abused wife. Her ex-husband refuses to pay child support, and Lital is afraid to sue him because of his violent nature. Because she has four young children at home,...

Rotem, 42, is divorced and raising three teenagers, ages 13 -18. Two of the kids are in high school, and one is about to enlist in the IDF. Rotem works full-time as a counselor to special needs children. She is a strong, capable woman who has never allowed herself to...

Nomi, 88, is a Holocaust survivor who, like many others, does not like to talk about her past. She is a widow who currently lives in a rental apartment, along with her daughter and son-in-law. Nomi lived in Belarus with her pregnant mother when the war broke out. They were...

Chaim, 33, is divorced and raising his 13-year-old son, Tal, on his own. Chaim’s ex-wife is an alcoholic and cannot be involved in Tal’s care. Unfortunately, Chaim and Tal’s relationship is a volatile one. Tal was sent to a number of boarding schools over the years, but now lives at...

Maya, 28, is a happy, social young woman. After completing two years of National Service, Maya moved into a rental apartment with her brother and sister. Maya is cognitively impaired but functions well in the world. She works in a factory where she is well-loved and does her job diligently....

Alona, 25, has had a very difficult start in life. She suffers from a variety of physical ailments, severe learning disabilities and psychological issues, including an anxiety disorder, which can be attributed to a rocket attack 12 years ago in which her father was killed at work. When she was...

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....

Bina’s situation is a sad one. 42-years-old and cognitively impaired, Bina spent many years floating between friends homes. Bina’s mother suffers from emotional and psychological issues and lives in a nursing home; his father is also cognitively impaired. Bina has four siblings but isn’t in regular contact with any of...

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...

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...

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...

Yafit, 37, is doing her very best to raise two young children, ages 11 and 13, on her own. Four years ago, Yafit divorced her husband after suffering years of physical abuse. The divorce proceedings were ugly, and the couple battled over custody and child support. Today, relations are much...

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...

For a young man of just 26, Ben has been through a lot. When he was only eight years old, Ben’s parents divorced; he has had no contact with his father since then. Ben and his two sisters were raised by their mother. After graduating high school, Ben enlisted in...

Adva, 30, is raising her five-year-old daughter, Neta, on her own. Adva herself grew up in an unstable, low socio-economic household. She finished ten years of schooling and served in the IDF. Over the years, her family was helped by social services, and Adva remains under the care of a...

Neta, 34, and Aryeh, 37, are doing their very best to support their family. Each of them works outside of the home – Neta as an emotional therapist and Aryeh as an aide at a rehabilitation center for children. Despite their hard work, they struggle to meet the daily needs...

Anna and Gabriel’s story is tragic. Both in their 60’s, Anna and Gabriel lived in their family home with their 25-year-old son, Meir, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome. Their married daughter and son-in-law and their seven children lived with them as well. Anna and Gabriel’s other three children no longer...

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,...

Anna, 28, has had a rough beginning in life but is determined to move forward. Anna immigrated to Israel from Eastern Europe at the age of 8, along with her mother and two siblings. Once they left, the family had no contact with their husband/father. Anna’s mother is an alcoholic...

Rina, 19, has made great strides in life, but she isn’t content to stop here. The youngest of 12 siblings, Rina was brought up in an ultra-Orthodox household. Her mother worked as a cook in a school until the Corona crisis hit; she is now unemployed. Rina’s father passed away...

Tovit, 20, is an impressive young woman who deserves our help. One of 12 siblings, Tovit’s home life is chaotic. Her father is unemployed, and her mother works as a teacher. A few of Tovit’s siblings suffer from various physical and psychological issues, and there never seems to be enough...

Genet, who came to Israel from Ethiopia at the age of 11, is raising seven children (ages 4-21) on her own. Two of her sons are currently serving in combat units in the IDF. Genet, divorced, is a factory worker who does her best to support herself and her children....

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....

Carni, 28, would like to restart her life. Carni is divorced and raising two young children, ages 3 and 1, on her own. Carni graduated high school and completed her National Service. She got married and had two babies. Her husband was physically unwell and refused to take care of...

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...

Anat, 35, has had a very rough life but is now motivated to get back on her feet. Anat is a single mother to five young children, ages 2-13. She is no longer in touch with their fathers. Over the years, Anat struggled with alcoholism. For the past two years,...

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...

Every growing child deserves a sturdy bed to sleep on. Unfortunately, Michal and Efraim’s five young children don’t have that privilege. Michal, 34, worked in a factory until the Corona crisis hit. Six months ago, she gave birth to her fifth child and hasn’t gone back to work. Efraim, who...

Mika is a single mom of one child. Mika was abused as a child and as a teenager, was sent to an educational facility for adolescents at risk. As a young woman, she was in an unstable and abusive relationship for nine years with the father of her son. Mika...

Tohar, 44, and Yariv, 45, have never wanted to ask for help, but now they have no choice. The couple has three children, ages 7-16. Two of them have psychological issues and are very challenging. Tohar used to work outside of the house, but now has to be home in...

Some stories are so tragic that they’re impossible to ignore. Anna, 51, is divorced and raising her 11-year-old son, David, on her own. Anna moved to Israel ten years ago and is in a deteriorating state of health. She has breast cancer that has spread to her liver and bones,...

Dena and Chaim, both 22, are a struggling young couple who are trying to build themselves a brighter future. Dena and Chaim got married less than a year ago. Tragically, Dena’s father died suddenly on their wedding day. Since then, Dena has been under psychological treatment due to this trauma,...

In 1995, Julia moved to Israel as a young child along with her mother, grandmother and brother; her father remained in Ukraine. Ten years later, her mother fell ill. In order to care for her, Julia and her brother often had to miss school. To add to the family’s woes,...

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...

Shira, 42, and Eli, 47, are trying their hardest to make ends meet and raise their six children with dignity. Shira works as an assistant in a special ed classroom. She can only work part time since her younger children are home in the afternoons. Eli, who completed his full...

Ezra, 45, is going through a very rough time. Divorced, he is the father of four children, ages 4-24. Ever since his divorce, Ezra has basically been homeless. He floated between family and friends until social services helped him find an apartment and assisted him with two months’ rent. After...

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...

Anat, 34, is divorced and raising two young children, ages 3 and 6, on her own. Anat, whose own parents divorced when she was 8 years old, completed 12 years of schooling and her full army service, doing an additional year as an officer. Seven years ago, she married Eli,...

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...

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...

Rinat’s life has been tragic. Her father died when she was only four years old, and she was raised in an abusive home. At the age of 12, she was sent to boarding school and floated between educational institutions for the next few years. When she was 15, Rinat met...

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...

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...

Osnat, 43, and Samuel, 43, are an inspiring couple. Both immigrants from Ethiopia, the couple are raising five children (ages 3-18). Both Osnat and Samuel have full-time jobs; Osnat, as a kindergarten assistant and Samuel, working in the bookkeeping department at an accounting firm. Raising five children isn’t simple, and...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Sofi, 20, moved to Israel from Russia five years ago, along with her mother and grandmother. She has no contact whatsoever with her father. Sofí is currently in her second year of studies towards a degree in Visual Communication. It’s an intense degree, and Sofi has applied herself 110%. Sofi’s...

Avi, 25, is an impressive young man. Avi grew up with nine siblings in an ultra-Orthodox home. The family’s financial situation is rather dire; his father learns in a yeshiva and his mother is a substitute kindergarten teacher. From a very young age, Avi didn’t connect to his parents religious...

Shira, 51, and Meir, 55, are going through a very rough time. The couple has nine children (ages 11-27), five of whom live at home. For many years, Meir worked as a translator and made a steady, respectable income. He never had to ask for outside help. Five years ago,...

Penina, 37, and Yoel, 38, are raising five young children (ages 8-16). Penina suffered post-partum depression after the birth of her youngest child and was treated with medication. As a result, she has not been working outside of the home. Yoel was working as a bookkeeper at a religious school...

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...

Avital, 35, and Binyamin, 41, are raising eight young children (ages 2-16). Binyamin works odd jobs, mostly in construction, and Avital works minimal hours as a telephone service representative. Avital has severe anemia which limits her ability to work long hours. Needless to say, the couple struggles to make ends...

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...

Rachel, 54, and Moshe, 57, have eight children; four are married and four are still living at home. Moshe learns full-time in a yeshiva and receives a small monthly government stipend; Rachel works as an aide to the elderly. Despite their best efforts, the couple barely covers their cost-of-living. When...

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...

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....

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...

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...

Aida, 47, is divorced and mother to three children, ages 15-21. Aida receives no child support from her ex-husband and survives on her income as a translator. Aida loves her work and though it doesn’t provide her with enough money to cover her expenses, she is hesitant to change careers....

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...

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...

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,...

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...