The Knesset Economy Committee, headed by MK David Bitan, convened today (Monday) for a joint meeting with the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Committee, headed by MK Oded Forer, to monitor the distribution of donations of Diaspora Jewry to businesses and victims of the Iron Sword War. At the meeting, it became clear that so far donations totaling about $750 million have been raised.
Yoni Asher, whose wife and daughters were abducted to the Gaza Strip, chanting the Shema in the European Parliament hall
In the previous discussion held by the committees on the matter, it was reported that the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) raised about $554 million in an emergency campaign after the Hamas attack. Today, as mentioned, it turned out that the amount has risen to more than $750 million.
Jewish Agency Secretary General Josh Schwartz presented data on the agency's activities, saying that the agency has raised about $104 million so far, with some of the money coming from the Jewish Federations and Keren Hayesod. He noted that the aid does not replace government money, and detailed the agency's investment routes, including in local authorities in the north. "We understood that those who need money are mayors, who know what their residents need," he said.
Bitten and Forer. From the discussion in the Economy Committee and the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Committee, photo: Danny Shem Tov, Knesset Spokesperson's Office
Schwartz also noted that the agency identified a need to help small businesses in the south, and distributed NIS 9.5 million in grants to 1059,6 businesses. In addition, some 400,7 grants were distributed to victims of the October 200 Shabbat, and another <> grants to the families of the abductees.
Schwartz also said that the Jewish communities were also recruited to adopt an evacuated community – Chicago adopted Nir Oz and Kiryat Gat, Cleveland adopted Dune and Kissufim, Mexico adopted Eshkol and more.
The Director of Government Relations of the Jewish Federations of North America, Danny Wosner, noted the activities of the federations and said that since the previous session, the largest Jewish rally ever was organized, held in Washington together with members of Congress from both parties in the United States.
Photo: Security Kedumim // Magen David Adom teams treating the wounded,
Toys found at Kibbutz Be'eri, photo: Ziv Koren
The ruins in Bari. The kibbutz suffered a severe blow, photo: Oren Ben-Hakon
Regarding the fundraising, he said that so far the federations have raised about $660 million, of which about $190 million has been distributed and more and more funds are being distributed every week. According to him, a quarter of the funds were transferred to the agency, and additional funds to the JDC, hospitals, MDA, ZAKA, the Israel Trauma Coalition, NATAL, Leket, Latet, per diem and more.
Only a percentage of donations go to women's nonprofits
Inbal Gilboa Amir, a representative of Bonot Alternative, noted that the home front is held by women, and said that women have other needs but only one percent of philanthropy reaches them. Against this background, Gilboa Amir also sought to take into account women's associations in distributing donations.
Lobby 99 Executive Director Linor Deutsch noted that on October 18, the government approved a procedure that allows government ministries to raise money directly from corporations. According to her, this is problematic, because "tomorrow morning, Idan Ofer can contribute directly to the Ministry of Finance, while the Ministry is discussing extending the ICL franchise, or Harel Wiesel will donate to the Ministry of Economy while the Ministry is discussing whether to cancel the VAT exemption on purchases from abroad for less than $75."
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