The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia was there for Israel on Oct. 7, because we were there on Oct. 6. By building longstanding relationships with our Israeli partners, the Jewish Federation quickly and effectively allocates dollars to where the needs are greatest.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia was there for Israel on Oct. 7, because we were there on Oct. 6. By building longstanding relationships with our Israeli partners, the Jewish Federation quickly and effectively allocates dollars to where the needs are greatest.
Over 25 Years of Partnership in Netivot and Sdot Negev
For over a quarter of a century, we’ve formed and nurtured a strong bond with our Partnership2Gether (P2G) communities of Netivot and Sdot Negev, which are located in southern Israel and border Gaza. When exploring these regions, you will feel the heart of not only Israel but also Philadelphia: they even have a liberty bell. That camaraderie is due to our donor’s generosity has enabled us to connect so deeply with the people and institutions there and learn about their unique geographical and socioeconomic realities compared to the rest of the country and world. Through longstanding conversations, relationships and trust, the Jewish Federation has been able to identify and address various issues that have and continue to help these regions flourish and be actively prepared for emergencies, such as the Oct. 7 massacre. As a result of our year-round allocations through our Annual Campaign, residents have received support to strengthen their resilience, and the areas have been supplied with lifesaving resources – such as security cameras that saved countless lives during Hamas attacks.
Netivot and Sdot Negev are located in the Southern District of Israel, less than 10 miles from the Gaza border – which has been at the epicenter of the current war. These regions are diverse with a rich cultural tablet of various backgrounds and traditions. Being on the socio-economic periphery, the Jewish Federation’s P2G initiative focuses on reducing food insecurity while also promoting opportunities for quality education, job training, and employment that may not be available otherwise to those in both of these regions.
Netivot: Established by immigrants from Morocco and Tunisia in the 1950s, the Netivot region saw an influx of Russian and Ethiopian immigrants in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was declared a city in the year 2000. With the help of government funding and Jewish Federation’s P2G initiative, Netivot rapidly grew to today’s population of 42,000+.
Sdot Negev: Sdot Negev is home to more than 11,000+ residents and is made up of 16 communities: 2 kibbutzim, 12 moshavim and 2 community settlements. Similarly to Netivot, Sdot Negev’s desert topography is dry with seldom rain – underscoring the ingenuity of the area’s farming and agricultural work which supplies much of the country with their produce and food.
The Jewish Federation’s home office and its team in Israel work all year round to understand, vet and facilitate assistance for the unique needs in these communities. Through the establishment of these robust relationships, our Israeli team, led by Talia Lidar, effectively channels our local community’s investment to maximize significant and long lasting impact. These relationships play a huge role in the everyday life of our partnership regions as well as how those regions are able to quickly respond and recover from crises, such as the ongoing war with Hamas.
Over the span of the partnership, the Jewish Federation has invested more than $15 million from its Annual Campaign and restricted funds into the Netivot and Sdot Negev regions. After returning from the May 2023 Israel 75 Mission with the Jewish Federation, Board of Directors member Sherrie Savett was struck by the stark contrast of growth and innovation of the Sdot Negev region from her first trip, more than 20 years ago.
As part of the Jewish Federation’s initiative to help develop resilience to economic insecurity in our P2G regions, we have built a strong relationship with the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), which provides psychosocial services to individuals, families and communities. In addition to daily services, the agency trains staff and volunteers to recognize trauma signs and to provide emotional first aid during crises. Workshops for the unemployed provide helpful skills, knowledge and tips about how people can be more resilient for future employment and during crises. In addition to our year-round support, ITC received emergency funding from the Jewish Federation to expand their services for increased needs after the Oct. 7 attacks.
Join the Jewish Federation on a four-day Solidarity Mission to Israel to bear witness and see how your dollars are making a difference. During this four-day experience, you will have exclusive access to high level speakers and government officials, visit our partner organizations making a direct impact on the ground, and spend intimate time with those who survived the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
This mission is for donors who contribute $25,000+ to the Jewish Federation.
