Since its founding in 1948, Israel has balanced its ancient past with its inspiring future as a hub of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. A dynamic intersection of Jewish culture, history, and traditions, Israel is a beacon of hope for Jews around the world.
JDC has aided the country’s most vulnerable populations since its founding in 1914, when it supported Jews living under Ottoman rule.. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, JDC joined forces with the Government of Israel for what was called Malben, a partnership for the care of elderly, ill, or disabled immigrants arriving in Israel. Between 1949 and 1968, JDC set up the country’s main social-service infrastructure and leading NGOs — and cared for more than 250,000 immigrants, helping them to integrate and flourish in their adopted country.
Today, JDC’s mission is more urgent than it’s ever been: Many of the communities most directly impacted by the Oct. 7 massacres and the ongoing war are also home to Israel’s most vulnerable people. In the decades leading up to this conflict, we worked with our partners — the Government of Israel, municipal leaders, businesses, and NGOs — to develop cutting-edge social programs that benefit all Israelis.
Before the war, more than one million Israelis benefitted each week from JDC-developed initiatives. And in these turbulent times, we’re adapting these existing programs and launching new responses to meet the urgent needs of those living through conflict.
