Speaking at the Jerusalem Post Miami Conference, CEO Moink Konfino outlined a vision in which caring for people with disabilities is inseparable from building resilient local communities across Israel. “The Shalem Foundation was established 30 years ago by the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel,” Konfino said, describing what makes the organization unique. “We are a public foundation, working in close partnership with the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs and local authorities.”
According to Konfino, Shalem is the only public foundation in Israel and worldwide that directly connects government policy, municipal leadership, and the real, daily needs of people with disabilities. That structure matters, she emphasized, because local authorities are closest to the people they serve. “The local authorities know their residents and their unique needs,” she said. “Shalem bridges between the Israeli government and local authorities, turning vision into real action.”
The scale of the challenge is significant.
“One in five people in Israel lives with a disability,” Konfino noted, adding that 11 percent are children. In times of economic strain, she warned, vulnerable populations are often the first to suffer. “When resources are limited, investing in local services for people with disabilities is more important than ever,” she said. Konfino argued that such investment is not only moral but strategic.
“Local investment is a smart investment,” she explained. “It enables faster, more accurate support, prevents crises, and saves resources in the long run.” She pointed to Shalem’s rapid response during wartime, when the foundation was the first to release emergency funds enabling municipalities to provide stress-relief kits for residents with disabilities under rocket fire. “When we invest in people with disabilities,” she said, “we invest in the entire community.”
Looking ahead, Konfino described an ambitious agenda. In 2025 alone, the Shalem Foundation will fund more than 500 projects, totaling approximately NIS 68 million, including kindergartens, employment centers, daycare facilities, and cultural initiatives. Innovation, she stressed, is central to that work. “Social welfare innovation is a necessity.” “Our goal is to create strong local communities,” Konfino concluded, “where people with disabilities are equal residents, with adjustments, not separation.”
Written in collaboration with The Shalem Foundation.