Young Negev Filmmaker Learns Art of Giving Back

The south of Israel can be a tough place to live. Besides the oppressive heat, there’s the constant threat of rockets from Gaza. But amid the sand and the sirens, there is an oasis where 19-year-old Itay could grow up and flourish free of fear.

At 15, Itay moved with his family from Israe…

Healing Sderot Through Art

For many, the city of Sderot doesn’t  evoke aesthetics. It’s not a wealthy place. There’s the constant threat of rocket attacks from neighboring Gaza. And tensions run high between longtime residents and newer students and young professionals.

Though Limor Max and Sharon Ken-Dor are …

After the Fire, the Gift of Family

Just a few months ago, Odelia and Ohad Brat celebrated one of the happiest occasions of their lives: their son’s bar mitzvah. They’ll never forget when he received his brand-new tefillin—special leather boxes worn during prayer—from his beloved grandparents. Everyone was so filled wi…

Finding Heart Amid Tragedy

Oshra Levy was relieved. Her husband’s open heart surgery had gone well. After four weeks in the hospital, he was starting to regain his strength at their quiet home in Beit Meir, in the hills just west of Jerusalem.

Their peace didn’t last long. In the middle of the night, Oshra woke u…

Starting Over, Then Paying it Forward

Lana Alman escaped the U.S.S.R. with her family as a small girl with assistance from Federation-supported agencies. The generosity she was shown inspired her to pay it forward to help other immigrants professionally and through volunteering with Federation partner the American Jewish Joint D…