Why Philanthropy Can’t Be Just Crisis-Driven
Jews in America and other parts of the world have a wonderful history of stepping up to help every time Israel faces a crisis. After every war, present one included, Jews from all countries rally and raise the financial battle cry, sending millions of dollars to the small Jewish State fighting for its existence.
The outpouring of giving is beautiful, and frankly, crucial.
There are about 20,000 active non-profit organizations in Israel, one of the highest numbers per capita. Many of the larger non-profits have annual operating budgets of $20 million and higher, including welfare organizations such as Yad Eliezer and Latet, medical emergency and support services like United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom, and private and government-sponsored tech incubators around the country.
With projects on so many fronts, Israel accepts international donations with open and grateful arms.
But I’d like to look at the long-term. I believe that just as Israel has emerged from every national crisis, it will emerge from this one as well, broken and battered, but alive.
Then what? What happens once the immediate threat is averted, and life goes on?
It’s at these moments that international philanthropy is more crucial than ever.
Crisis Projects vs. Nation-Building
On a regular day, but even more so after this terribly long war, Israel needs to:
• Repair buildings and infrastructure (regular upkeep and damage from missiles)
• Provide counseling for the trauma endured by soldiers, their families, and society at large
• Stabilize its government, which involves multiple parties with different interests
• Invest in its education system
• Strengthen its hi-tech ecosystem
• Support a slew of non-profits that offer help in any number of areas: Lending medical equipment, supporting single mothers, mentoring minorities, assisting lone soldiers, and more.
These are not crisis projects. These are nation-building projects. And they often struggle to stay afloat, because they’re not “urgent” enough to grab global attention. And practically, they are de-prioritized when the country is fighting to stay alive. Once the dust settles, many of these projects and goals come back to the forefront, slowly. Others die because the damage caused by war has been too great to resurrect activity.
Global Jewry’s Responsibility to Israel
A strong Israel benefits global Jewry in many ways, which makes it our responsibility to support the Jewish homeland in times of war AND peace.
If you’re not sure how to get started, here is a basic 5-step process I’ve found to be effective:
Awareness: Understand the challenges facing Israel during times of turmoil and quiet, and its fundamental need for support.
Connection: What about Israeli society speaks to you? Its thousands of non-profits? Government initiatives? Education, infrastructure, hi-tech, bridge-building…there are endless areas in which Israel operates, but no one can give to everything. Pick one area that you connect to deeply and focus on that.
Contribute: I’ve written before about how philanthropy doesn’t necessarily mean donating money. If you can, great. If you can’t, there are many other ways to contribute positively to Israeli society: Mentoring, hasbara, hiring Israeli companies, visiting, and more.
Reflect: Are you seeing your contributions make a difference? If so, wonderful, keep going! If not, where can you adjust? Is there a way to increase the efficiency or reach of your good deeds?
Repeat: If you see positive results from your contributions, it’s not the time to become complacent and say, “I’ve done enough.” The opposite is true — it means you should continue giving, maybe not in the exact same form or area, but somewhere. Israel’s need is constant.
Israel’s Need is Constant
To clarify, emergency projects versus nation-building don’t need to contradict each other. There’s a time and place for both. The mistake is donating only during times of crisis and then stopping once things seem to quiet down.
Frankly, things are never quiet in Israel. Even if there’s no active war, Israeli defense needs to be on constant alert as the only democracy in the Middle East, as people around the world join the chant, “From the River to the Sea.” So even if there’s no active war, Israel’s defense forces are constantly operating.
The bottom line is: During times of war and peace, Israel needs the help of Jews from around the world. To stop giving after every crisis seems to have abated misses the fundamental point of Israel as the core of Jewish identity, as the core of the Jewish people.
