Israel poverty

Growing class of 'war poor' Israelis pushed into poverty post-October 7, report warns

The report depicts a deepening social emergency in which hunger and chronic financial stress are spreading from Israel’s weakest populations into the lower middle class.

 ABOUT 41% of Jerusalem families suffer from poverty, compared to about 20% in the rest of the country.
 IFCJ PRESIDENT Yael Eckstein (center) visits a shelter in Kiryat Shmona. ‘I think it’s a very incorrect assumption to feel or think that we, in the rest of Israel, are not connected to what’s happening there.’

NGOs see dramatic increase in financial assistance requests from young people

 Takiat Ibrahim soup kitchen, Hebron, on the West Bank, April 4, 2023.

VAT increase will mean many in Israel go hungry - opinion

 A HOLOCAUST survivor examines foodstuffs she received from a nonprofit aiding impoverished survivors, in Beit Shemesh.

'Poverty, by America': Explaining poverty in Israel and the US - review


Jerusalem nosedives in national socioeconomic ranking

The capital is now rated next to development towns Netivot and Ofakim, and behind Arab village Abu Ghosh.

Homeless person on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem.

Table suspended above Tel Aviv's Rabin Square to highlight food insecurity

The “The Unattainable Meal," exhibit will be visible from September 18 to 24th to symbolize some 200,000 families who are unable to afford meals on a regular basis.

Latet's 'Unattainable Meal' exhibit in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv

‘Equality Fund’ aims to help members of youth movements to pay for activities

While 65 percent more pupils joined youth movements during the last decade, many of those cannot afford the experiences those movements sponsor.

Members of No'ar Oved, the Working and Studying Youth Movement

Pack it up

The IFCJ and local organizations team up to provide children with school knapsacks.

A generous outpouring of support. Donations of used backpacks are so plentiful they filled a warehouse

Forum for Combating Poverty says budget plans fall short

Some 1.65 million Israelis, and about a third of all Israeli children, live in poverty, putting it at the bottom of OECD poverty rankings.

A man in Jerusalem searching through the garbage

UNICEF: Israel’s child poverty rate surpasses Mexico and Chile

With regards to income inequality Israel ranked 37 out of 41 countries - meaning that the household income of a child at the bottom 10th percentile is 64.58% lower than that of the average child.

A man in Jerusalem searching through the garbage

Taub Center: Proposed changes to unemployment law will harm women, families and Arab Israelis

The study found that the proposed change to the law will mean that about 15% of those receiving benefits today will not be entitled to benefits.

A man in Jerusalem searching through the garbage

Yael's corner: The war on poverty

"It’s better to die than to live like this,” a heartbreaking sentiment I have heard far too many times from poor elderly Israelis.

A man in Jerusalem searching through the garbage

A challenging year for Israeli society

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and IFCJ volunteers at the lighting of the eighth candle of Hanukka

Latet: If government doesn’t change policies, South Tel Aviv will become slums

NGO says 31.9% live below poverty line, compared to government figure of 22%.

A homeless person begs for change in Israel