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Why we opened this campaign
Hello, my name is Daria.
I have been living in Israel for ten years and I am a single mother. To be honest, this is the first time in my life that I am asking for help publicly. Despite the fact that being a solo mother is not easy at all, until today I managed on my own, worked, took side jobs, saved money and stayed within the reality of my budget. It is not easy for me to write this text, so I ask you to treat me with understanding and not judge strictly.
A few years ago I was still a very new olah hadasha going through a difficult divorce. At some moment I understood that I needed to urgently leave the apartment where we lived with my husband. I left quickly, without preparation, because the most important thing was to preserve safety and end a painful story. I was not ready for bureaucracy, I did not understand all the rules and I did not notify the municipality about my departure. At that time I thought I was saving my life, but years later that decision returned to me as a huge arnona debt.
13 750 shekels.
This is a very significant amount for me, I would say almost impossible to pay at this moment. I found out about the debt only from enforcement officers, so postponing the problem is not an option. A clear and urgent solution is needed. Did I try to fight and reduce or even cancel the debt? Of course. I have all the documents proving that I have not lived in that apartment for a long time. I have a divorce ruling clearly stating that all debts related to that apartment are the responsibility of my ex husband, but the municipality does not accept my explanations and demands money from the person listed first in the system.
The main pain is that any fight with bureaucracy means time, and time is exactly what I do not have. My account may be blocked at any moment and what will Amir Michael and I have for dinner then?
Every expert I consulted agrees that I should pay and then go to court to collect the money from my ex husband (if only I could find him somewhere in our small yet endlessly vast country).
The situation is made worse by the fact that I am being laid off and I am working my last days. I think everyone knows how difficult it is to find a job when you have a child. Initially I planned to spend some time on unemployment benefits, start studying and look for work where I could use my energy and desire to help people. If I had known about the debt earlier, I would have taken a loan and somehow managed, but at this stage the banks are already refusing me. I am not asking for money for living or food, I will manage. Very soon Amir Michael should get a place in a municipal kindergarten, and things will become easier.
At the same time I have a clear plan for the future. It is important for me to get a profession, I dream of studying to become a paramedic to help people who find themselves in critical situations. I want to be someone who can save a life, and I want to build my own life in a way that prevents me from ever falling into such dead ends again.
I am asking for something very specific, help me close the debt to the municipality. This will allow me to keep access to my account, live calmly with my child, search for a job, study and build my future. When my ex husband returns this amount to me by court decision, I promise to donate it through the Yad Itzhak Foundation because I believe it is important to pass kindness forward.
This is the first time in many years that I am asking for help. I really want to get out of this cycle, stand on my feet and live so that my next steps bring benefit not only to my family but also to other people.
Thank you to everyone who was able to read my story and respond.
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