Why we opened this campaign
People like Rivka are often referred to as Israel’s “lost generation.” They arrived in the country during the large wave of immigration in the late 1990s and were unable to adapt, learn the language, or acquire a profession. The heroine of our story, Rivka, has lived in Israel for over 20 years, in Arad—completely alone—and she desperately needs our help.
Rivka made aliyah together with her mother, grandmother, and underage daughter. The family had no means to study Hebrew, so instead of attending ulpan, Rivka had to pick up a mop and cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, the physically demanding work that was supposed to be temporary became her permanent occupation—not everyone can pick up a new language “on the street,” and without Hebrew, a Russian-speaking immigrant woman has very limited job options, mainly caring for the elderly or cleaning. Years of constant physical labor took a toll on her health: her legs began to fail, she suffered from spinal problems, and developed several neurological issues. By that time, her daughter had grown up and moved to another city, barely staying in touch; her mother and grandmother passed away. Rivka was left alone with her illnesses, poverty, and lack of stability. Then, as if that weren’t enough, she began experiencing severe epileptic seizures requiring ongoing medication. At present, her income consists of a small disability allowance and a small housing assistance payment. It’s impossible to survive on that amount and still pay rent.
A few years ago, Rivka already turned to our fund for help. We assisted her then in buying essential clothing, stocking up on food for a significant period, and settling overdue bills. At that time, however, we did not have our “Smart Chesed” project. Now, we can help her in a much more substantial way.
We are launching this fundraiser to address her most urgent needs: food, covering overdue bills again, and purchasing essential household appliances for basic living. In parallel, our in-house social worker will look into social housing options, verify that Rivka is receiving all possible state benefits, and reassess her disability status. We will do everything we can to ensure Rivka can live independently, even if modestly.
Rivka is very anxious; it’s incredibly difficult for her to ask for help. But if not us, then who? This is the kind of situation where every shekel counts. Let’s help Rivka so that she does not have to suffer anymore.
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