Jerusalem, June 18, 2025 – Marking a swift and significant response to the ongoing Iranian missile attacks on Israel, The Jewish Agency for Israel, in partnership with The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Keren Hayesod, has launched its “Rising Lion Fund” — an emergency fund to provide financial assistance to victims of missile attacks and psychological support to affected families. The Rising Lion Fund aims to show Israelis impacted by the missile attacks that the global Jewish community is by their side in their most challenging moments.

The fund aims to raise over $20MM and will include immediate financial assistance for bereaved families who lost loved ones in the deadly attacks, those moderately or severely injured who were hospitalized for more than 48 hours as a result of direct missile strikes, and families whose homes were destroyed by the attacks and have been deemed uninhabitable by authorities. Each eligible family will receive an emergency grant of 4,000 ILS ($1,139). The Jewish Agency will receive all details from local authorities, the National Insurance Institute, and hospitals, and will transfer the financial assistance directly to eligible recipients’ bank accounts.

The immediate assistance is designed to help victims with initial relief and provide rapid response to urgent needs, and was raised thanks to solidarity and donations from Jewish communities worldwide.

In addition to immediate financial assistance, The Jewish Agency will offer psychological resilience support for missile attack victims, including resilience workshops, group intervention programs, and individual assistance.

Since the outbreak of fighting with Iran, The Jewish Agency has opened an emergency situation room to provide targeted assistance to diverse populations, including thousands of new olim (immigrants) residing in absorption centers, olim on youth programs, lone soldiers, thousands of residents in Amigour senior housing facilities, and thousands of young people from global communities currently in Israel on various programs.

Jewish Agency CEO and Director-General Yehuda Setton and Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog visit the rocket impact site in Bat Yam together with Mayor Tzvika Brot | Photo: Guy Yahieli for The Jewish Agency

Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency, said: “In times of pain and loss, our utmost mission is to leave no one behind. Jewish solidarity is not a slogan — it is action, and it is expressed in mutual concern and our ability to extend a hand to anyone who has been harmed. Therefore, we responded quickly and initiated this fund to assist victims. This is how we build national resilience — through mutual responsibility, by spreading a safety net and with an open heart.”

Yehuda Setton, CEO and Director-General of The Jewish Agency, said: “With the outbreak of fighting, we assembled emergency action guidelines and our teams are working around the clock to ensure that everyone receives immediate, caring, and professional assistance. We will aid all those impacted and will continue to stand alongside victims and assist all those who need us during these difficult days. I thank the Jewish communities around the world who have proved once again that the Jewish people are one big family.”

Additional details: https://www.jafina.org/crisis-in-israel/

Media Contact:
Noa Amouyal, JCubed Communications
Noa@JCubedPR.com

About The Jewish Agency for Israel:

Since 1929, The Jewish Agency for Israel has been working to secure a vibrant Jewish future. Today, The Jewish Agency acts collectively to strengthen Israel and the Jewish people worldwide—by advancing Aliyah as a core value, deepening connections between our global Jewish family, supporting the resilience and security of global Jewish communities, and encouraging every Jewish person to engage with Israel. The Jewish Agency also continues to be the Jewish world’s first responder, prepared to address the Jewish people’s greatest challenges and respond to emergencies in Israel, and to rescue Jews from countries where they are at risk.