Yael had grown accustomed to dealing with tough, emotional situations, but in the summer of 2018, she encountered one family that affected her more than usual. She walked up to the Buchris household in Sderot in southern Israel where Aharon, a chef and army veteran, lived with his wife and two daughters.

The home had been hit severely by rocket assaults from Gaza the day before, resulting in alarming damage. The windows were blown out, the remnants of an exploded aquarium covered the floor, and little was left of the living room except for a demolished TV and the smell of burning smoke.

Within 48 hours of a terror attack, an FVOT representative, like Yael, visits victims to provide emergency monetary aid, and later provides services and grants for recuperation efforts, such as mental health care or job skills retraining.

I visit families hours after a tragedy, saying that I’m a messenger of Jews from around the world. In that moment of solidarity, the faces of these victims light up, knowing they are part of a larger Jewish community.

Seeing all four family members wounded, Yael knew they would need a great deal of assistance to return to any sense of normalcy. Aharon was in particularly bad shape with multiple injuries, including a broken jaw. He would need to be hospitalized and ultimately undergo surgery. Beyond his physical injuries, he was also suffering from severe PTSD, preventing him from working.

The Buchris family was able to begin rebuilding their lives with an emergency grant as well as long-term grants for professional rehabilitation and educational assistance. Additionally, the Fund provided educational assistance to Aharon’s two daughters who still struggle with panic attacks and anxiety.

While disheartened by the abundant need for FVOT’s services, Yael is proud of her ability to serve the Jewish people during difficult times. Her interactions have instilled in her a profound appreciation for the power of our work and its impact on the people of Israel.