January 27, 2008 / 20 Shevat 5768

The Jewish Agency for Israel will provide lone immigrant soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with a special grant for purchasing necessary electrical appliances. 

The total budget of the project, approximately $1.75 million (7 million shekels), was provided by a special donation made by the United Jewish Communities (UJC) / the Federations of North America.  In the last three years, about 4,850 soldiers received the grant, for a total amount of $1.5 million (6 million shekels). This year, the remaining $250,000 (one million shekels) will be distributed to hundreds of lone immigrant soldiers. 

Today, about 2,500 lone immigrant soldiers from all over the world are serving in the IDF.  Rachelle Schilo, director of the Jewish Agency’s Fund for Lone Immigrant Soldiers and Students says, “Most of the soldiers live in rental apartments, and do not have basic appliances like kettles, refrigerators, televisions, or even space heaters for the cold winter days.”

The grant, which amounts to approximately $315 (1,250 shekels) per soldier, will enable the soldiers to purchase basic appliances at a subsidized price by use of a special card, at one of Israel's largest chain of electronic stores.

The Fund for Lone Immigrant Soldiers and Students was established in 2005 by the Jewish Agency to help young immigrants who have come to Israel without their parents. The Fund assists them with their essential needs by granting scholarships to students, and providing international phone cards to soldiers, thus enabling them to call their parents abroad.

The Fund is supported by Russian American Jews for Israel (RAJI), the American Forum for the World Congress of Russian Jewry (WCRJ), and the NADAV Fund. The grant will be distributed by the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers (Aguda L’Maan Hahayal).