Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and the war began, Jewish Agency Director General & CEO Amira Ahronoviz’s days have been extra busy.
Recently, she started her morning off by visiting the Hadassah Neurim Youth Village, where 70 Na’ale students (youth who come to Israel without their parents to complete high school) were evacuated from the Kfar Silver Youth Village near Ashkelon. The students had been evacuated on the Saturday when the terrorists attacked and were forced to leave quickly without taking any belongings. Amira met with the young students, teenagers who came mostly from Russian-speaking countries, some even due to the war in Ukraine. They shared with Amira how when they arrived at the Youth Village, the staff and counselors took care of all their needs and provided everything they lacked.
From there, Amira continued to the offices of The Jewish Agency’s Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT). The Fund, often the first responder for families and individuals impacted by terror, distributes immediate grants within 24-48 hours of a direct attack, offering support for short-term needs and helping with long-term rehabilitation and post-trauma care. Amira met with the Fund’s employees and volunteers who have been working tirelessly to reach each and every family that has been affected since the war began, and to provide them with immediate initial aid, which will then become long-term support.
She also met the staff of the Ra’anana Absorption Center (where the FVOT’s offices are located) and heard from them about the sensitivity in treating new immigrants, many of whom are experiencing rocket fire for the first time.
Amira ended the day at the Beilinson Hospital of the Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, where she visited some of those wounded in the terrorist attacks, including Maayan. Maayan was at the nature dance party in the desert along with three friends from the town of Even Yehuda when Hamas terrorists invaded, killing 260 attendees and kidnapping many others. Maayan was wounded in the massacre but survived, as did one of his friends; the other two were killed by Hamas. Amira spoke with him, heard his story, and shared moving messages of strength from world Jewry. Maayan, and the thousands of others affected by terror, are currently receiving support from the FVOT.
Along with Amira, the other employees of The Jewish Agency and the many volunteers who joined the organization’s activities, are working to help the citizens of Israel day by day and will continue to do so as the war goes on.
The Fund for Victims of Terror is made possible by the generosity of the Jewish Federations of North America / United Israel Appeal, Keren Hayesod, foundations and donors worldwide and people like you. Our aid is critical for victims’ immediate well-being and long-term recovery and we are currently operating and supporting more victims on a wider scale than ever before. To support the Fund, donate here.
