Growth and Recovery Through Social Innovation

When people think of Israeli innovation, they typically imagine high tech, security, or agriculture. But the country's social sector also boasts innovation — and it's needed now more than ever.

With millions of Israelis plunged into vulnerability due to the war, Israeli society and the State of Israel face complex and difficult challenges to help them recover and build a better future. The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (also known as The Joint or JDC), noted for aiding the most vulnerable in the land of Israel since 1914, is leading many of these essential efforts, with innovation as a keystone.

JDC brings decades of expertise lifting people and communities out of crisis through the development and implementation of social service solutions on the local and national levels, working in partnership with the public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Accomplishments include establishing well-baby clinics, community centers, elderly day centers, employment centers for ultra-Orthodox and Arab populations, the School of Social Work at Hebrew University, and many more innovations that have become staples of Israeli society and were benefiting more than one million people each week prior to the war.

Helping wounded soldiers return to daily life
An injury on the battlefield is not just a physical event — it's a dramatic turning point that changes the course of a person's life. On December 23, 2023, Adi, an IDF soldier, was severely wounded in Gaza when an explosive device detonated as his unit entered a building. His leg had to be amputated, and the 28-year-old was fitted with a prosthetic — and then his long rehabilitation journey began.

When it was time for Adi to return to everyday life after eight months of hospitalization and intensive rehab, he faced a whole new set of challenges. Simple daily activities, such as cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry, required significant physical effort, diminishing his motivation and recovery.

The solution came from the Tech for Heroes program, which brings technological options for wounded soldiers to manage daily tasks. Program staff assessed Adi's needs and developed customized solutions: a chair adapted for amputees that makes household tasks much easier and a "smart" electrical system controlled by voice activation to operate lights and air conditioning.

These tailored resources not only eased Adi's physical struggles but also restored his sense of independence and confidence — essential aspects of true rehabilitation.

"Washing dishes suddenly became something simple," Adi describes. "These technologies allow me to save my energy for the things that really matter — my recovery."

Tech for Heroes, a collaboration among JDC, Beit Issie Shapiro, and the RESTART NGO, is currently being piloted for 120 participants with the goal of reaching 180 people by year's end.

Strengthening families returning north
For residents of northern Israel who were evacuated during the war, the process of coming home is marked by ambivalence, especially for young families. War-related disruptions to their lives — prolonged displacement, harsh living conditions, and constant exposure to sirens and explosions — have caused developmental gaps in children, a lack of family routines, and heightened stress for parents, all increasing the risk of family crises.

At the height of the war, JDC identified a creative solution from its emergency interventions for young children and parents in frontline communities and evacuation centers: offer comprehensive resilience-building services for families through existing early childhood centers in the northern region.

The existing early childhood centers, developed by JDC and the 360° National Program for Children and Youth at Risk, are now set to expand into Young Family Hubs that will serve 15,000 children and their parents. The Hubs will focus on the developmental needs of the youngest children and the psychosocial needs of their parents, who are young adults finding their path in life. The Hubs will provide an address where parents can receive therapeutic services, social support, and guidance on issues of concern to them like parenting, vocational choices, and accessing benefits.

"Being evacuated while pregnant is extremely challenging," says Hadar Almakaies, an evacuee from Kiryat Shmona who experienced her first pregnancy far from home. She and her husband lived in a small hotel room in Tiberias, while her husband still had to travel back to Kiryat Shmona for work. "I have to take care of the baby in my belly, and when there are sirens in Kiryat Shmona, you live in a constant state of unease."

"I came to the Mommies and Babies program with extreme anxiety, and the guidance I received gave me tools I don't think I could have gotten anywhere else," Almakaies reflects. This program and many others will operate in the new Young Family Hubs.

The initiative is currently in the development stage, with a plan to establish 10 Young Family Hubs in the North by 2027, serving the families who are the future of this region.

A history of providing innovative solutions
"Our society is facing so many challenges in light of the war, with widespread vulnerability among so many Israelis and pre-existing social needs becoming much more severe," says Dr. Hadas Minka-Brand, Executive Director of JDC-Israel. "JDC has always been a pioneering force of social innovation and solutions in Israel that lift up the most vulnerable."

The organization's decades of expertise addressing socioeconomic issues on a national scale and forming effective, strategic partnerships with local and national government and the business and social sectors uniquely position JDC to tackle the magnitude of current challenges. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis who never needed social assistance before are now relying on JDC to chart a path forward.

"So many Israeli lives depend on JDC's and our partners' unique ability to aid Israelis on a grand scale, strengthening the public systems and local municipalities in the North and South to ensure a strong, resilient society. When the challenges are so great and complex, innovation is a necessity to build back and develop and deploy solutions addressing Israel's severe mental health, employment, early childhood development, and other critical needs," says Minka-Brand.

Building a new future while under fire
Following the outbreak of the war, many small businesses in northern and southern Israel suffered severely. Among the hardest-hit industries were manufacturing, agriculture, construction, commerce, and services. JDC developed emergency initiatives to support these businesses by addressing their individual needs – empowering business owners to shift from reactive responses to proactive, innovative solutions. By injecting new technology, sector-specific training, and business development tools, JDC programs are helping small businesses to recover, upgrade their operations, and remain a vital part of local employment and economic growth. This is especially important in northern Israel, where economic sustainability for workers and businesses is key to rebuilding and to the long-term health of the battered region.

On October 7, 2023, the Kfar Giladi Hotel in northern Israel was full of guests in a festive and relaxed atmosphere. The situation quickly changed when rockets began to fall. Guests hastily departed, and the surrounding community evacuated.

"It was a moment of complete shock and uncertainty. We didn't know what tomorrow would bring," says Dudi Ben Gal, the hotel's CEO.

Ben Gal and the hotel management decided to act quickly, choosing to continue paying salaries to essential workers and managers, understanding that a quality professional team is the key to survival and growth.

Ben Gal viewed the crisis as an opportunity and sent eight of his 15 managers to JDC's Nine 2 Ten training program for middle managers. The program offers advanced professional development in skills such as risk management, task prioritization, and teamwork. The program provides a sense of direction and hope for businesses in the northern and southern regions, and it is specifically aimed at lower-level managers — individuals who typically do not have access to training or dedicated tools. By addressing this need, the program helps both the business and workers access better resources in the current employment market.

"The program gave us knowledge and practical tools that helped formulate and realize the vision to transform the hotel into a leader in technological innovation and advanced management," says Ben Gal.

Ben Gal and his well-trained and committed managers together put their new knowledge to work preparing for the day when the hotel could reopen. As soon as the ceasefire was announced, they started welcoming guests.

Since the outbreak of the war, JDC's emergency response for economic recovery has helped over 3,200 small businesses across the country.

Recovery through social entrepreneurship
Transforming one's trauma into social good is the linchpin for the Growth Through Crisis program, an initiative of Hackaveret (Hebrew for 'The Beehive') — Israel's Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Founded by JDC and the National Insurance Institute, Hackaveret empowers social entrepreneurs to create impactful initiatives for the benefit of Israeli society. In response to the war, it is actively supporting the development of ventures that aim to improve the lives of those most deeply affected by the crisis.

Growth Through Crisis gives people who have experienced war trauma the resources to help create change in the country by launching projects that focus on fostering care, strength, and support. In partnership with Gal Avital and Idan Magidish, the program offers a training program, mentoring, and professional advisors from leading companies.

The first cohort includes 17 ventures, with one led by Iris and Tuval Haim, mother and older brother of hostage Yotam Haim z"l, who was accidentally shot by the IDF while escaping captivity.

"We believe in the power of music, and we believe that music helped Yotam during his captivity. We know that he received drumsticks while he was in captivity," says Iris Haim. "Yotam was a drummer who deeply wanted to become professional, and he also struggled with mental health challenges, which held him back from progressing. After he was killed, his older brother, Tuval, had a dream in which Yotam appeared and asked him for one last drumming lesson. At first, Tuval didn't understand, but then it hit him — this was a way to make an impact on the world and help others like Yotam," Haim explained.

That's the inspiration behind Beit Yotam (Yotam's House) — a home for learning and healing through music. "Tuval and I don't have experience with launching projects of this scale. We realized we needed help — we needed someone to guide us. We joined the program, and it truly feels like the perfect fit, like a glove," says Haim.

Other Growth Through Crisis entrepreneurs include Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter Romi returned from captivity, and Michal Zamora, widow of Arnon Zamora z"l, who was killed while commanding a hostage rescue operation in which four hostages were safely returned.

Additional leading partners that have joined the program include Reichman University, Meta, the Israeli Trauma Coalition, and Good Company — all sponsored by Exchanging Words: Israeli Presidential Initiatives for a Shared Israeli Tomorrow.

Out of crisis, a time of opportunity
"The spiritual strength that we encounter daily in JDC's work throughout Israel compels us not to lose hope. Despite the complexity and difficulties that we face, now is a time of opportunity for Israel and all who support our beloved nation," concludes Dr. Minka-Brand.

"All of our activities are made possible by partners from every sector of society — public, social, business, and philanthropic, including major federations and foundations in Israel and abroad. Rebuilding and restoring broken lives, communities, and systems requires expanding longstanding partnerships and collaborations with all those dedicated to creating meaningful change in Israeli society and building a better future for all."

JDC's work in Israel and 69 other countries around the world is made possible by generous support provided by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and local Jewish Federations, the Claims Conference, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, individuals, families, foundations, and corporations.

For more information, visit www.jdc.org

Partnered with JDC