Frequently Asked Questions

The "Yad Yitzchok" charitable fund is an Israeli non-profit organization that helps Russian-speaking new immigrants in need to solve various social problems by raising financial resources and other support.

The founder of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund is Aharon Tzvi Bachnarel, who began helping those in need long before the fund was established in 2014. He went through the hardships of immigration himself and knows how difficult it is to live without the resources you need. Today the fund develops under his leadership and helps people, especially immigrants in their first years of absorption who have lived in Israel for less than 10 years.

The board of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund includes spiritual leaders and public figures who join their efforts to help people in need. One of the board members is Rabbi Moshe Gekraiter, who has taken an active part in the fund's work since its founding in 2014.

The "Yad Yitzchok" fund helps citizens of Israel who are going through difficult life situations, including low-income large families, single mothers and fathers raising children on their own, newlyweds organizing a wedding, people with disabilities, pensioners, immigrants and refugees. The fund provides help in various forms, including material assistance. The fund has established criteria for assistance, which are shown on the website in the "I need help" section. According to the rules set by the fund's board, assistance is provided to halachic Jews — Jews by their mother's line or converts (gerim), including families where both spouses are halachic Jews and/or converts.

The "Yad Yitzchok" fund is proud to run many projects aimed at helping new immigrants and vulnerable groups of the population. Among these projects are the following areas:

• Education.

The "Conscious Education" project and targeted assistance are two of the most significant and promising areas of activity of the "Yad Yitzchok" charitable fund. We sincerely believe that education is the key to success and well-being, and we are ready to support those who strive to gain new knowledge and improve their lives, especially later in life.

• Help for women.

The "Fund to Help Women" project is one of the most serious and significant areas of activity of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund. We deeply understand the difficulties and challenges that women face in today's world, especially those who find themselves in difficult life situations. That is why we aim to provide comprehensive support and assistance to those in our care across a wide range of areas, from matters of health and safety to legal and financial issues. We are deeply convinced that every woman deserves attention and care, and our team is always ready to listen and provide the help that is needed. We strive to provide those in our care with the greatest possible support and understanding, so that they can overcome any difficulties and achieve success in their endeavors.

• Emergency aid.

The "Emergency Financial Aid" project is one of the most responsible and fast-responding areas of activity of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund. We fully understand how critically important it is to receive financial help immediately and without delay, and that is exactly why we created this project. By providing targeted financial help in this area, we not only give hope but also help those in our care cope with unforeseen difficulties as quickly as possible. This is especially true in cases involving saving a life, an urgent operation, a funeral, or preventing someone from falling into a debt trap. Our team is proud to be able to help those who need our assistance, and we do everything possible to come to the rescue in difficult moments.

• Hachnasat Kallah.

The "Hachnasat Kallah" project is one of the most touching and inspiring areas of activity of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund. Our team pays special attention to helping orphan brides, brides from poor families, and other low-income brides who have faced financial difficulties. We know that before and after the wedding, two pressing problems arise that these young women cannot solve on their own. That is why we try to help them, to make their wedding day truly special and unforgettable. Helping a bride is considered an important mitzvah and is a blessing for good events in the life of the one who helps.

• Holidays.

The "Holidays" project is one of the brightest and most joyful areas of activity of the "Yad Yitzchok" fund. We are convinced that every person deserves to feel happy and joyful, especially during the holidays. That is why we try to do everything possible so that large families, widows, single mothers, and people with disabilities can celebrate the holidays with dignity.

• Financial literacy.

The goal of the "Learn to Count Anew" project is to give new immigrants a full range of knowledge and effective skills needed for a successful life in Israel. Our project is based on the desire to help raise a generation of financially educated, independent, and self-sufficient Israelis. We deeply believe in the importance of this project, in its ability to change lives and shape a happier, more fulfilled, and healthier population of our country.

You can make a donation on our website in the "Provide targeted assistance" section using various payment methods. We accept donations through the PayPal and Bit payment systems (on the fundraising page), Google Pay and Apple Pay, as well as credit cards. Simply go to the case you are interested in and choose the payment method that is convenient for you.   In addition, we also offer the option to donate by postal transfer or bank transfer.  

You can send a check to the following address:

 

Israel	USA
יוצאי רוסיההרב משה בן טוב 6/16 י-ם 9744631 ליד יצחק	1510 Ocean pkwy Apt E12 Brooklyn NY 11230

 

Bank transfer details:

 

Within Israel	Outside Israel
בנק: לאומי (10) סניף: 905 (רמת אשכול) מס׳ חשבון: 67230054 שם: יד יצחק יוצאי רוסיה	Registration number: 580599934 Beneficiar: Yad Yitzchok iocei Rusia Address: Harav Moshe Ben Tov 6, Jerusalem, Israel 9744631 Bank name: Bank Leumi B.M. Branch number: 905 SWIFT: LUMIILITXXX IBAN: IL310109050000067230054

We will accept your generosity with gratitude! Your donation will be an important contribution to our work and will help us support and assist those in need. Thank you for your help and kindness!

You can help the "Yad Yitzchok" fund through volunteer work, taking part in charity events, spreading information about the fund on social media, and donating goods or services. You can read more about this in the "Help the fund" section.

For now, only U.S. citizens can receive a tax deduction for a donation to the "Yad Yitzchok" charitable fund, in accordance with U.S. law.

If you want to make sure that your donation will be used for charitable purposes, there are several ways to get detailed information about the fund's activities. First, you can subscribe to our Telegram channel @yadyitzchok, where we regularly publish reports and video testimonials from those in our care, including their first and last names. Second, you can subscribe to our newsletter, where we regularly send reports about our activities and financial reports. And finally, you can always contact the fund's office by email at [email protected] or by phone at +972(58)5692600 and get detailed information about how donations, including yours, are used. The "Yad Yitzchok" fund strives for transparency and openness in its activities, and we are always happy to answer your questions and provide the necessary information.

You can study the information in the "Provide targeted assistance" section on the "Yad Yitzchok" fund's website about current programs and projects, and also contact the fund's representatives for more detailed information.

Yes, you can become a volunteer at the "Yad Yitzchok" charitable fund by helping new immigrants adapt to life in Israel, organizing events, and providing other forms of assistance.

In the targeted assistance section of the fund's website, real names are often not stated, because we respect the right to privacy and the modesty of those in our care. Many people do not wish to publicize their name or are embarrassed to ask for help, so we change names in order to protect their privacy. However, we always report on what the collected funds were spent on and what assistance was provided. We strive for maximum transparency and accountability in our activities and are always ready to provide detailed information about our projects and the use of the funds donated by our donors.

Yes, the stories presented in the "Targeted Assistance" section of our "Yad Yitzchok" fund are genuine. We respect the privacy and confidentiality of those in our care, which is why we change their names and photographs. However, the situations and stories described remain truthful and reflect the real challenges faced by people in need of help. We strive to provide transparent information about those in our care, so that the community can better understand their needs and support those who find themselves in a difficult situation.

Every person has a unique life story. Some stories may be full of events resembling a thrilling roller coaster, and it is precisely such stories that catch attention and stir people's hearts. At the same time, other stories may be calmer and more even-keeled. It is these that give a sense of similarity, or the impression that a similar request has been made before. This happens for several reasons. First, there are certain common themes and problems that people face in their lives. For example, financial difficulties, medical problems, or social challenges. This can lead to similarities in some aspects of the stories and requests for help. Second, some situations and problems may be widespread within a certain group of people or community. For example, people experiencing economic difficulties or facing certain medical diagnoses may turn to us for help with similar requests. However, behind each seemingly similar case there is a unique story with its own individual nuances.

Trust is the foundation of charity, which is why we work openly. We are ready to answer any questions about our fundraisers and provide supporting documents. Write to us in the chat or at [email protected].

We verify every situation before publishing. We collect documents about the financial situation, including bank statements for the past six months. We confirm the information from independent sources — social workers, community leaders, and people familiar with the situation. Every application undergoes an independent expert review. On average, the process takes about two weeks. Of every ten requests, only two make it onto the website.

We understand your doubts — especially if you know the family personally. But assessing need is difficult work, and we take it upon ourselves. A family may not reveal everything about their situation to acquaintances, out of pride or embarrassment. And they cannot always clearly describe the scale of the problem themselves. We do this every day and know how to assess a situation with good reason. For more details, see the answer to "How can I be sure that the families really are in need?".

The fund pools the contributions of many donors — this is how an amount sufficient for real support is gathered. We verify every request: the truthfulness of the situation and the reasonableness of the amount requested, and in disputed cases we bring in independent experts. And we have something a private individual usually does not: experience, verification, and constant contact with the family. Loved ones often want to help but do not always have the knowledge and the objective outside perspective to do so. Through the fund, help becomes more reliable and better targeted.

Yes — but only with the family's consent. We maintain confidentiality and do not disclose the personal data of those in our care without their explicit consent. If a family asks for anonymity, we use a photo by which they cannot be identified, or a stock image. Questions about a specific fundraiser — in the chat or at [email protected].

We have a "School of Financial Literacy" program for the most vulnerable families. It helps them master the basics of budget planning, debt management, and saving. The goal is for immigrants to become financially self-sufficient in Israel.

It is important for us to draw your attention to the fact that we strive to minimize the fund's expenses and use your donations efficiently. On average, about 4% of the total donation amount goes to payment systems and accounting. If expenses arise for advertising or other means of promotion, they are deducted from the total amount raised, provided that the fund's treasury does not have separate resources for these needs. Most of the fund's administrative expenses are covered by private sponsors, which allows us to direct donations toward targeted assistance as much as possible. After updating our website, an option was added to add a percentage, at the donor's discretion, for administrative expenses on top of the main donation. By default, a donation of 12.5% of the main donation amount is suggested, which can be changed at the donor's wish. We do everything possible to ensure that every donation is used to provide targeted assistance to those who need it. Your trust and support allow us to continue our noble work.

In our practice, we try to maintain the confidentiality and protection of the personal data of those in our care. This helps to avoid possible unwanted situations and inappropriate consequences. But we are always ready to answer the questions you have about our fundraisers, as well as to provide supporting documentation. To do so, you can contact us in the chat or by email at [email protected]. We hope for your understanding and respect for this policy. If you want to help with goods, we are always ready to discuss it and, if the person in our care agrees, to arrange the handover. In any case, every form of help is valuable, and we are always glad to have those who are ready to support those in our care. We guarantee transparency in the use of funds and regularly share reports on the work done on our Telegram channel @yadyitzchok.

First of all, we apologize for the inconvenience caused. We understand your concern and make every effort to eliminate such problems in the operation of our website. Nevertheless, unforeseen situations can occasionally arise, including double charges caused, for example, by network connection interruptions or temporary failures of the payment system or server. Rest assured that we are ready to resolve this problem as quickly as possible. To do so, you need to contact us by email at [email protected], providing a screenshot with the donation details. If you are unable to attach a screenshot, simply let us know the date and approximate time of the donation, the email address used for the transaction, the donation method, as well as the full name and contact phone number provided during the donation. Your request will be handled as a priority, and our specialists will contact you to confirm and further resolve the matter. Based on the review, we will be sure to process a refund if the double donation is confirmed. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to continued cooperation!

First of all, we want to inform you that there is a personal account on our website, created for the convenience and comfort of our users. To access it, you simply need to complete a quick registration procedure. In your personal account, you can track your donations and view all the corresponding receipts. If you are not registered on our website, please be careful with each donation and make sure that the email address you entered is correct. The receipt is usually generated automatically; however, please note that this process may take some time. If you did not receive a receipt, check your "Spam" folder. If the receipt is missing, do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected], providing a screenshot with information about the donation made. If you have difficulty attaching a screenshot, simply indicate the date and approximate time of the donation, the email address used for the transaction, the donation method, as well as your full name and contact phone number provided during the donation. We will review your request within three business days.

This is because we often encounter complex situations that require resolution in several stages. Initially, we set a total fundraising goal based on the family's initial needs. However, if the response from donors exceeds our expectations, we may increase the fundraising goal in order to provide more help and address the family's more far-reaching problems.