Jerusalem Institute of Justice

Social Justice Projects

According to the National Insurance Institute’s semi-annual poverty report released on 14 February 2008, 1,674,800 people were living under the poverty line in 2007 – 24.7% of the Israeli population. The number of children living in poverty reached 804,000; or 35.9% of all Israeli children. Beyond ongoing advocacy for the most poor and underprivileged sectors of Israeli Society, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice facilitates three national-scale projects each year. The distribution of aide through these projects is based solely on the socio-economic status of the recipients, without regard for ethnic or religious affiliation.

All of the aide is distributed through local social/political activists and volunteers throughout Israel. Needless to say, this blessed cooperation is a “win, win, win” situation. Firstly, we are able to fulfill the greatest commandment of loving our neighbors as ourselves by showing compassion to poor and needy families in our nation. Secondly, by doing so, we are able to enhance the public image of the local Judeo-Christian community in Israel by showing our nation that we really care. Thirdly, this is done through cooperation with the leading social/political activists in Israel, which helps us build meaningful relationships that have real value in the pursuit of civil rights, freedom of religion and social justice.

Kimcha D'pischa

Holidays in Israel are traditionally a time of “tzedaka” the Hebrew word for charity. Each Passover, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice together with volunteers and activists from communities and municipalities in Israel, facilitates a project whereby we distribute holiday packages to poor and underprivileged families, containing everything that a family needs to thoroughly enjoy the seven day holiday – matzot, wine, cooking oil, seasonings, cookies, candies etc.

Helping Israel's Children

The National Council for Children in Israel presented annual statistics at the end of 2006, which revealed that more than a third of Israeli children are living under the poverty line. The data showed that in the year 2005, 35 percent of the children living in Israel were considered poor, as opposed to 33 percent in the previous year. The Jerusalem Institute of Justice, together with volunteers and activists from communities and municipalities in Israel, facilitates a project each year whereby we distribute thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands – depending on your donations) of new school bags filled with study supplies to underprivileged elementary school students throughout the nation of Israel.

Helping Israel's Elderly

According to official statistics published this year by the Israeli government, in 2006 there were about 680,000 elderly in Israel. Among these families approximately 25% of them live under the poverty line. Half of the elderly that are dependent upon the government’s welfare system are new immigrants, primarily from the former Soviet Union. Roughly 38% of the elderly in Israel are holocaust survivors.

Although Israel is a Mediterranean country, it tends to have severe winters with an abundance rain and even snow, low temperatures and a high wind chill factor. Furthermore, most homes are made from concrete and stone, which stay cool in the summer but provide weak insulation from the cold of winter. Unfortunately, every year some elderly actually perish in Israel from sickness caused by lack of proper heating apparatus. The Jerusalem Institute of Justice, together with volunteers and activists from communities and municipalities in Israel, facilitates a project each year whereby we distribute thousands (and sometimes tens of thousands – depending on your donations) of brand-new down blankets to needy elderly and holocaust survivors in Israel to help them get through the winter comfortably.