From war to renewal: The Jewish Agency responds to crisis and builds the future

From the darkest day of Oct. 7 to the antisemitic massacre on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, The Jewish Agency for Israel has found itself confronting an unbroken chain of crisis – one that spans continents and underscores the shared vulnerability and responsibility of the Jewish people.

As 2025 comes to a close, what began as an unprecedented mobilization inside Israel has expanded into a global effort: caring for victims of terror, strengthening Israeli society, and reinforcing Jewish communities worldwide in the face of rising antisemitism.

“The events of the past year made one thing unmistakably clear,” said Mark Wilf, Chair of The Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors. “The Jewish people face shared threats – and we must respond with shared responsibility, across borders and oceans.”

The horrific antisemitic attack in Sydney – where innocent members of the Jewish community were murdered and wounded during a communal gathering – sent shockwaves through world Jewry. Coming amid a surge in antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7, the massacre marked one of the darkest days for the Jewish people in recent years.

“The attack in Australia was not an isolated incident – it was a warning sign,” said Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, Jewish Agency Chairman of the Executive. “Antisemitism today is violent, organized, and global. Our response must be determined and unified.”

In the aftermath of the Sydney massacre, Jewish Agency emissaries on the ground worked alongside local leadership to support bereaved families, assist young people coping with trauma, and help communities regain a sense of security and continuity.

Today, The Jewish Agency maintains nearly 3,000 shlichim (emissaries) across approximately 65 countries, including Australia, forming the largest global network of Jewish emissaries in the organization’s history. These emissaries operate in schools, communities, youth movements, and Jewish institutions, often serving as first responders in moments of crisis.

Alongside this, The Jewish Agency’s Community Resilience Network has intensified its work. Since Oct. 7, through the Security Assistance Fund, tens of millions of shekels have been invested in strengthening physical security at Jewish institutions worldwide, while the JReady initiative – run in partnership with the Diaspora Affairs Ministry – has delivered professional training to dozens of communities to improve emergency preparedness and crisis response.

“There is physical security and infrastructure, and there’s also people’s sense of security,” said Yehuda Setton, Jewish Agency CEO and Director-General. “Our goal is to ensure that Jewish communities know how to respond in emergencies but also that they feel supported and prepared long before a crisis occurs.”

On university campuses, more than 120 Jewish Agency Israel Fellows are working to support Jewish students facing increased hostility and isolation, helping them navigate a challenging academic and social environment while maintaining a strong connection to Israel and Jewish identity.

The Jewish Agency operates in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod.

Inside Israel, The Jewish Agency has continued to accompany those most affected by the war. Through its Fund for Victims of Terror, 29,000 Israeli families – including families of hostages, bereaved families, and the wounded – have received emergency assistance, rehabilitation support, and long-term accompaniment.

A special emphasis has been placed on holistic care, including programs that support extended family members whose lives have also been upended by terror and war.

This support was made possible thanks to the assistance of Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Federations of North America.

“Responsibility means staying for the long journey, not just the first response,” Almog said. “Healing takes time, and our commitment is measured in years, not headlines.”

Recognizing the immense burden placed on reservists and their families, The Jewish Agency partnered this year with philanthropic organizations and financial institutions to support economic resilience. Approximately 28,000 business owners and IDF reservists affected during the war have received assistance from The Jewish Agency and its partners through immediate grants, emergency loans, and business mentoring.

These efforts included a new NIS 60 million fund initiated in partnership with the Class Action Foundation to support businesses owned by the spouses of reservists and a low-interest loan program offered in cooperation with Bank Leumi, with support from the Jewish Federations of North America. These programs helped stabilize livelihoods while business owners and reservists served extended periods in uniform.

This past year, The Jewish Agency also expanded its work with children and youth, particularly in Israel’s North and South. Through the Youth Futures program, families in the social and geographic periphery received holistic educational and emotional support to help them navigate upheaval and uncertainty.

At the same time, thousands of children from affected communities participated in restorative summer and winter camps abroad through the Campers2Gether initiative.

“These encounters remind young Israelis that they are part of something larger,” Setton said. “That sense of belonging is a powerful source of resilience.”

Further, The Jewish Agency is helping lay the foundations for long-term recovery. In partnership with the government and Jewish communities worldwide, it is advancing plans to expand housing in communities near the Gaza border, supporting the renewal of the Tekuma region.

Through the Partnership2Gether network, Israeli communities in the North and South have been paired with partners abroad to ensure sustained accompaniment and shared rebuilding efforts.

“Hope is not theoretical,” Almog emphasized. “It is built in homes, in partnerships, and in the decision to remain and rebuild.”

Despite the two-year war, Israel has welcomed about 57,000 new immigrants from around 100 countries since Oct. 7, many of them young adults. In parallel, Masa Israel Journey programs have brought nearly 20,000 young Jews to Israel to volunteer, work, and contribute during a time of national need.

From Israel to Australia, from campuses to border communities, The Jewish Agency’s work is guided by the principles of unity and mutual responsibility.

“When Jews are attacked anywhere, it affects us everywhere,” Wilf said. “Our answer – now as then – is solidarity, responsibility, and the determination to build a stronger future together.”

This article was written in cooperation with The Jewish Agency for Israel.