Israel’s Financial First Responders: Ogen Launches New Emergency Relief Campaign

As we try to absorb the impact of Iran’s continued missile attacks on Israeli soil, we’re reminded that crises in Israel often come not one at a time – but wave after wave. And once again, it’s the most vulnerable who are hit the hardest.

From displaced families who have lost their homes, to small-business owners struggling to reopen after repeated disruptions, tens of thousands of Israelis are now at risk of long-term financial collapse. The wounds are still fresh from October 7, and yet another emergency has arrived.

This time, the crisis is not only military. It is municipal. Across the country, local authorities are struggling to respond. Mayors are being pulled in every direction. Civil servants are doing double shifts. Basic systems for assistance, coordination, and recovery are being built in real time, often without national government support.

Cities are being forced to become first responders. Some are managing with ingenuity and grit. Others are overwhelmed. Budgets are depleted, staff are stretched thin, and families are lining up with nowhere else to turn. From the north to the south, the question echoing in municipal offices is the same: who is going to help us help our residents?

At Ogen, we believe financial resilience is not a secondary concern. It is the foundation that allows individuals, businesses, and entire communities to begin the process of recovery. That is why we have reactivated our Emergency Relief Campaign, Israel’s Financial First Responders. This is a rapid-response effort designed to meet urgent economic needs and support long-term financial stability at the municipal level and beyond.

A Financial Crisis in the Making

The situation on the ground is stark. Families who have been evacuated or lost their homes have no clear timeline for return. Parents are missing paychecks and do not know how they will cover next month’s rent. Small business owners are watching goods expire and operations stall, unsure if or when they will be able to reopen. Behind it all, local governments are being asked to manage emotional trauma, economic fallout, and collapsing public services all at once.

Government aid is delayed. Banks are unwilling to take risks. The gaps are growing wider, and the pressure is mounting.

Ogen was built for moments like this. Since October 7 we have distributed almost 500 million NIS in emergency loans to families, small businesses, and nonprofits across the country. These were not handouts. They were tools. Each loan was deployed quickly and fairly, with care, expertise, and respect for the dignity of every recipient.

Today, we are adapting our tools to meet the needs on the ground of this emergency. The campaign provides interest-free loans to individuals and families in crisis. It delivers low-interest loans to small businesses hit by disruption. It offers one-on-one financial mentoring to help people assess their situation, make informed decisions, and regain control of their future. Just as important, it brings Ogen’s operational infrastructure directly into municipal systems that are under pressure. We are working hand in hand with city officials to ensure that support reaches those who need it, without delay.

We are not waiting for instructions. We are meeting with mayors, municipal CEOs, and treasurers every day to help them serve their communities. We bring funds, but also systems, personnel, and deep experience.

From Emergency to Recovery

When one of the first Iranian missiles struck Tamra, a city already grappling with systemic economic hardship, the municipality was faced with an impossible task. Within 24 hours, Ogen was on the ground. Khaled Hasan, our Director of Arab Society Economic Development, launched a targeted financial recovery plan. 

An operations room was set up inside the municipality. A team of experts in finance, strategy, and emotional support was mobilized. Together with the local leadership, we built a model for rapid, coordinated economic response. That model is already being replicated in other affected cities, like Haifa, one of Israel’s biggest cities.

This is what it means to be Israel’s financial first responders. It means more than issuing loans. It means showing up, working together, and delivering solutions that are fast, flexible, and tailored to each community’s needs.

Ogen is already in the field. We are already issuing loans. We are already guiding families, business owners, and municipalities through the first steps of recovery. But this effort cannot succeed in isolation. It requires partnership with local leadership, with donors around the world, and with anyone who believes that financial security is essential to national resilience.

—

If you know someone in need, please tell them about Ogen. If you want to turn this emergency into a moment of meaningful impact, now is the time to act. Join us.