Refrigerator for the Frankel family

The Frankel family is going through very rough times. Hodaya, 40, and David, 52, are raising five children. Their family history is complicated and heartbreaking. They need our help.18 years ago, Hodaya got married and had two children, now aged 16 and 17. After three years of marriage, the couple divorced when Hodaya discovered her husband was a gambling addict.

Six year later, Hodaya married David. Together, they had three children (ages 6-11). The family was well known to social services as they grappled with financial hardships, unstable employment, family instability and housing problems. Five years ago, they were granted government subsidized housing and were able to set down roots.
Their troubles were far from over though. A year after their move, Hodaya’s 17-year-old revealed that she had been sexually assaulted at home. Both she and her brother were removed from the family home and sent to boarding schools. This sent shock waves through the family and the dynamics deteriorated. Eventually, the family began intensive therapy through social services. Hodaya’s daughter was allowed to move back home and slowly the family began to rebuild their home life.

Hodaya and David are doing all they can to nourish their family, both emotionally and physically. Their financial situation, however, is dire. Hodaya suffers from anxiety, depression and PTSD. She is under intensive psychological care and takes regular medication. Hodaya cannot work outside the home and is awaiting an answer with regard to claiming emotional disability status. David works for the Israel railway company but was put on unpaid leave during the Corona closures. He is now back at work part time, but the family has fallen into deep debt. Besides their day-to-day expenses, they are trying to repay their debts and cover their children’s special needs, which range from psychological/emotional care and epilepsy to severe learning disabilities.

To make matters worse, the family’s refrigerator, which is ten years old, recently broke. Hodaya and David are clearly not in the position to replace it but desperately need a new one in order to feed their children.