Dear Friends,

On October 7, 2023, the world as we knew it forever changed. The day that Hamas brutally attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people, injuring thousands more, and kidnapping 240 to Gaza, will indefinitely haunt our collective conscience as the worst massacre in Jewish history since the Holocaust.

 

The extent of the horrors inflicted on that dark Shabbat, and the effect it had on Israelis and Jews around the world, created a demand for our work in Israel and across the globe exceeding anything we had experienced before. Though we are heartbroken at the reason our efforts were so necessary, the way we responded, leveraging our existing infrastructure to support victims and their families, affected businesses, and communities in need of rebuilding, is something we are immensely proud of.

 

Thanks to the ongoing investment in our global infrastructure by our supporters and partners over the years, we continue to harness the collective strength of the Jewish people and serve as the first responder for every Jew in need of assistance, anytime and anywhere. We will always work to ensure a thriving and resilient future for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. What sets us apart is our deep commitment to mutual responsibility for one another, collaborating with partners around the world and mobilizing our resources together.

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To that end, while our 2023 Impact Report is divided into our typical three strategic areas of impact – Aliyah, Connecting Jews to Each Other and Israel, and Strengthening Israeli Society – covering our work throughout the year, we have also included an in-depth special section about our work specifically post-October 7. This allowed us to delve more deeply into our activities after the attacks while still highlighting our accomplishments during the rest of 2023. As you’ll see, we have always played a critical role in serving the Jewish people through our many programs globally, touching countless lives each year, but what we have done and continue to do since the war started is on another scale.

 

The Jewish Agency has a Zionist mission to help with Israel's rehabilitation, and we will continue to be involved in the cross-functional national efforts and processes of rebuilding. Carrying out our work would not be possible without the incredible support of our global Jewish family, our dedicated staff and partners like the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, the World Zionist Organization and the Government of Israel, as well as many respected foundations and donors worldwide. In Israel’s darkest hour, the unity, strength and collaboration we witnessed gives us hope as we remain committed to assisting Israel in its long road to recovery.

 

Throughout our history, the Jewish people have faced extraordinary challenges and difficult times. Yet, we have unfailingly come out the other side stronger and more connected to each other than ever.  

 

For nearly 95 years, The Jewish Agency has stood with the Jewish people, in Israel and across the globe, through crises and celebrations and through hostilities and harmony. And no matter what, we will continue to be there for Jews everywhere, supporting them any way we can for as long as they need – Every one of us, together.

 

Am Yisrael Chai.