Strengthening Communities Across Israel: 7,495 Volunteers Impact Over 122,000 Lives

Pictured: Members of MAKOM communities in Israel are people who participate in mission-driven communities that work to improve society.

Feb 18, 2025

A Jewish National Fund-USA Grassroots Initiative dedicated to strengthening communities across Israel, has released new data showcasing its transformative impact on the country’s northern and southern regions. According to the latest report, its initiative has mobilized 7,495 active community volunteers, who in turn serve over 122,600 beneficiaries through educational, cultural, and social welfare programs.

These dedicated community members—comprising educators, secular and religious leaders, students, and artists—work together to assess local needs, develop programs, and create sustainable solutions that foster resilience and unity.

Key Impact Highlights:

• Be’er Sheva leads in impact with nearly 1,000 volunteers supporting 42,000 beneficiaries, including students, educators, and members of the Mountain Jewish and religious Zionist communities.

• Kiryat Shmona and Sderot emerge as strongholds of resilience, with 290 and 640 active members, respectively, reaching thousands through social welfare and education programs.

• Diverse community engagement: Jewish National Fund-USA's programs support Druze communities in towns like Beit Jan and Yanuh-Jat, Ba’aley Tshuva (returnees to religious observance) in cities like Katzrin and Ma’alot, and artists and educators throughout Israel’s periphery.

• From youth empowerment to crisis support, Jewish National Fund-USA-supported volunteers run after-school programs, distribute food packages, provide senior care, and offer emergency aid to displaced families, ensuring that no community is left behind.

A Movement of Grassroots Change

"This is more than a network of communities—it’s a movement that brings people together, empowers local leadership, and builds the future of Israel from the ground up," explained one volunteer. "With every program launched and every life touched, our volunteers prove that meaningful change starts at the grassroots level.

With continued support from Jewish National Fund-USA and its generous partners, the program is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact, reinforcing its mission to create vibrant, self-sustaining communities across Israel.

Circle of Impact

The volunteer-driven initiative plays a critical role in Jewish National Fund-USA's Circle of Impact, whereby each initiative helps the organization's strategic aim of attracting 800,000 new residents to Israel's north and south.

"Every program, initiative, and project we undertake directly or indirectly creates employment opportunities, economic growth, and community resilience, which are all essential elements in boosting the population of Israel's frontiers," said Jewish National Fund-USA Chief Israel Officer, Talia Tzour Avner."

For more information, visit: www.jnf.org/makom