ARTICLES

Life in Israel can be difficult, especially for vulnerable elderly citizens who struggle just to get through each day. For many, the burden of aging is made even heavier by the reality of not having enough to eat.

Nearly one in four seniors in Israel faces food insecurity. Without access to regular, nutritious meals, many experience a decline in health that leads to additional medical expenses. These added costs only deepen the hardship for those already living on the edge.

Many of these individuals are elderly immigrants or Holocaust survivors, living alone in low-income housing. Some are disabled or isolated, with no family nearby to support them. Their government stipend often barely covers rent and medication. Food becomes one of the first things they are forced to sacrifice.

Thanks to compassionate friends like you, help has arrived. Donor support of CBN Israel allows us to work with trusted local partners to deliver hot, nourishing meals directly to elderly men and women who need them most. Prepared meals are collected from kitchens that would otherwise discard the leftovers. After being safely stored overnight, they are delivered the next day to senior centers and residential facilities across the country.

The generosity of caring donors has made it possible to serve thousands of meals each week, four days a week, throughout the year. These meals provide more than nutrition. They offer comfort, dignity, and the reassurance that someone cares.

Your support can also reach others in crisis across Israel. Jewish families returning to their ancestral homeland, single mothers raising children on their own, and those recovering from the trauma of war and terror are receiving critical help because of your compassion. 

Please join us today in bringing hope to those who need it most.

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Kibbutz Nirim was a peaceful community near Gaza’s border. But that changed when Hamas violently invaded on October 7 two years ago. Adele, a longtime resident, recalled the horror her family faced during the brutal onslaught:

“My three grandchildren were on that bed, and we told them, ‘Hide under the blanket. You’re going to hear a loud noise. Don’t come out from under the blanket, no matter what happens.’” Her son-in-law raised his gun, waiting until he saw the safe room door handle move—then he kicked open the door and shot the terrorist who was standing there.

On that day, she saw homes torched and in ruins. Five kibbutz members were murdered, and five hostages taken, with two killed in Gaza. Since then, residents were displaced, living as refugees in their own land…until now. 

Despite the trauma they experienced, Adele and many of her neighbors are returning to Nirim. They are committed to this once vibrant farming village of around 500 Israelis, including 130 children. But they faced big challenges. Hamas had destroyed so many buildings—including the community center, main kitchen, and the kibbutz store. How could they start over?

Thankfully, friends like you were there. Through CBN Israel, donors built them a new community center, with a dining hall, kitchen, and a grocery store. Life has gone from dark silence to the sounds of children playing, and meals being prepared in the new kitchen.

As more residents come back, having a central hub for fellowship has been a true blessing. Adele says, “Thank you for being such loyal friends!” And Michal, another resident, adds, “None of this could have happened without you believing in us and loving us… Thank you!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can bless war victims with food, safe lodging, trauma therapy, and more—while providing ongoing aid to hurting families and the elderly.

Please join us as we stand with Israel’s people at this crucial time!

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At 84 years old, Golda has endured a lifetime marked by hardship and loss. Born during World War II, she lost her father in the battle for Leningrad and barely survived the chaos that followed. Her mother, sick and destitute, carried two small children through hunger, bombings, and the devastation of war.

“The sadness of war never really left us,” Golda recalls. “My mother was always worried about how to feed us. She lost everything, even the photographs of my father.”

Years later, Golda immigrated to Israel, hoping for a new beginning. Life was difficult, but she found strength in her faith and her new home. “In Ukraine, I was bullied for my name, Golda,” she says softly. “Only in Israel did I finally feel I could be myself.”

Now a widow living alone, Golda’s challenges have only grown with age. Her small apartment was once flooded, leaving her without a working washing machine for years. She washed her clothes by hand, struggling daily with loneliness and physical pain.

When CBN Israel learned of her situation, friends like you made it possible to bring help and hope. Through the support of generous donors, Golda received a new washing machine and essential repairs to her apartment. “I’m so happy,” she says with a smile. “It’s wonderful. Something so simple has made such a difference.”

Today, in a nation still recovering from war, Golda treasures the kindness shown to her. “It is very hard to be alone,” she says. “At my age, attention and kindness mean everything. Thank you for caring.”

Through CBN Israel, you can touch the lives of elderly Holocaust survivors and widows like Golda. Your gift provides food, home repairs, and comfort to those who feel forgotten. Together, we can remind them that they are loved and never alone.

Please stand with the people of Israel today and bring hope to those in need.

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When war struck Israel in October 2023, countless families were suddenly uprooted. They fled their homes, communities, and farms, leaving behind unharvested fields and a nation in shock. As the fighting spread, food prices soared, and what was once a thriving country faced a painful new reality: hunger in the Holy Land.

Today, more than two years later, many Israelis—especially the elderly, single mothers, and displaced families—still struggle to find enough to eat. In this post-war season, the need for daily food and essentials remains urgent.

Through your compassionate support, CBN Israel has been there, working with a trusted local partner to rescue fresh produce and distribute nutritious meals to those who are suffering most. Together, we have helped deliver truckloads of fruit, vegetables, and thousands of hot meals to hungry people across Israel, providing nourishment and hope when it is needed most.

Each day, this partnership helps ensure that children in struggling schools, Holocaust survivors, and vulnerable families receive the food they need to survive. At one vocational school in Jerusalem, many students come from low-income homes and rely on these hot meals to get through the day. As one staff member shared, “For many of our students, this is the only hot meal they receive. It helps them learn, focus, and dream again.”

The impact reaches even further. Meals are also being distributed to soup kitchens, senior centers, and shelters, reminding those in despair that they are not forgotten.

“For most of our students, the lunch they receive is the only hot meal they eat that day,” said Ilanit, the school’s social services coordinator. “Their parents aren’t able to provide for them, and that’s why it’s so important for them to receive it here at school.”

Thanks to the generosity of friends like you, CBN Israel is helping to rebuild lives in a nation still healing from war. But the need continues to grow. Thousands of Israelis are praying for relief from hunger and hardship.

Your gift today will help provide food, care, and hope to those who have lost so much. Together, we can show the love of God in action by feeding the hungry and comforting His people across the Holy Land.

Please consider a special gift today to bless those in need throughout the Holy Land!

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At the age of 101, Giulia has lived through more than a century of incredible challenges and change. Born in Tripoli, Libya, she still remembers the heartbreak of being forced from her home during a time of political upheaval. She immigrated to Israel in the 1970s, where she began a new life. Although she now lives with dementia, those early memories remain vivid.

Giulia eventually settled in the coastal city of Bat Yam, where she lives alone in a top-floor apartment. During the Iranian attacks on Israel in June, Bat Yam was struck multiple times. One missile exploded just 600 yards from her building, damaging her kitchen and shattering her windows. Without a safe room in her apartment and unable to reach the shelter downstairs, she was left feeling vulnerable and afraid.

Because of caring friends like you, CBN Israel was able to step in and meet her urgent needs. Donors helped evacuate Giulia to safety, provided her with nourishing meals and groceries, and repaired the damage to her kitchen and windows. After her evacuation, Giulia reflected, “It was difficult to be outside of my home, but I loved seeing the beach every day. I don’t usually have that joy.”

Then, thanks to the generosity of CBN Israel’s steadfast supporters, she was able to return home with dignity and renewed comfort.

She said, “The destruction in the city is a harsh reminder of the pain the country is going through. I’m so thankful for your help, especially coming from outside the country and from Christians. No matter where the help comes from, it is a blessing. And we send our blessings back to all who helped us.”

Through CBN Israel, you can make a powerful difference in the lives of so many like Giulia by providing food, shelter, and emergency relief to those in need. Your kindness can bring critical aid to elderly widows, Holocaust survivors, terror victims, and displaced families.

Please join us in standing with the people of Israel in their time of need!

GIVE TODAY

For former hostages and their families, the nightmare began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel and abducted dozens of innocent civilians. In the days and weeks that followed, their lives were consumed by fear, anguish, and desperate hope.

Some families received the heartbreaking news that their loved ones had been killed and their remains discovered in Gaza. Others experienced the emotional return of relatives through hostage releases, but even in those moments of joy, the pain and trauma remained.

Today, many of these families continue to face an uphill battle toward emotional recovery. But thanks to friends like you, they are beginning to find comfort, support, and a path forward. Through the generous giving of valued donors, CBN Israel and our trusted local partners are providing therapeutic retreats for former hostages and their loved ones, giving them space to breathe, reflect, and begin healing.

In the quiet beauty of Eilat, surrounded by desert mountains and the Red Sea, these families are welcomed into a safe and nurturing environment. With the help of professional therapists, trauma counselors, and social workers, each retreat offers guidance and care for 25 to 30 participants at a time. Away from the pressure of daily life, they are able to process their experiences and connect with others who understand their pain.

Along with emotional support, these retreats also provide practical assistance, including legal guidance, financial advice, and career support. These vital resources help families navigate the challenges they now face, while working to prevent a widespread mental health crisis across the country.

Because of the compassion of caring friends like you, these survivors and their families are finding light in the darkness. One father, his voice filled with emotion, shared, “This retreat has been so meaningful. I am so grateful to those who helped make it possible.”

Your support of CBN Israel can bring hope, healing, and tangible help to many still recovering from the trauma of that tragic day. Thank you for standing with the people of Israel when they need it most.

Please join us today in bringing healing, help, and hope to those who need it most.

GIVE TODAY

Before the war with Iran and its terror proxies in the region, more than 20 percent of Israelis lived below the poverty line. Since then, that number has more than doubled as families have been pushed into financial crisis.

Today, thousands of citizens remain displaced across Israel. Many have lost jobs or been forced to close their businesses. Some are living in temporary shelters without a way to cook a hot meal, while others struggle daily against rising prices that make survival even harder. Local charities now report a 60 percent increase in families asking for help since October 7.

The need is staggering. According to Israel’s 2024 Alternative Poverty Report, more than 22 percent of families now live in poverty and nearly 40 percent of them are children. Over 10 percent of households face severe food insecurity, not knowing where their next meal will come from. And during holidays, when families should be celebrating around a full table, many experience the pain of empty cupboards and loneliness instead.

In the face of this crisis, CBN Israel and its partners are working every day to bring relief. With the help of generous supporters, monthly food packages, fresh groceries, and hygiene items are being delivered to tens of thousands of families. These efforts reach Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Druze, and Bedouin households alike, ensuring that no one is forgotten.

Supporters are also making possible large-scale food rescue initiatives, where surplus food from manufacturers and retailers is salvaged and redirected from waste into the hands of those in need. Families are receiving shelf-stable and fresh items, poultry, and other proteins that provide balanced nutrition and restore dignity.

One local partner shared heartfelt thanks, saying, “You made us feel we are not alone in a very lonely and scary time.”

The generosity of CBN Israel’s friends is already answering the cry of the hungry. But the need continues to grow, and there is room for you to join in this vital mission. By standing with Israel’s most vulnerable, you can help bring food to empty tables, relief to displaced families, and encouragement to those who feel forgotten during one of the hardest seasons in Israel’s history.

Your gifts to CBN Israel can give hope and aid to so many in need who feel alone. You can offer them hot meals, safe lodging, financial help, and more.

Please consider a special gift to bless others today!

GIVE TODAY

For former hostages and their families, the nightmare began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel and abducted dozens of innocent civilians. In the days and weeks that followed, their lives were consumed by fear, anguish, and desperate hope.

Some families received the heartbreaking news that their loved ones had been killed and their remains discovered in Gaza. Others experienced the emotional return of relatives through hostage releases, but even in those moments of joy, the pain and trauma remained.

Today, many of these families continue to face an uphill battle toward emotional recovery. But thanks to friends like you, they are beginning to find comfort, support, and a path forward. Through the generous giving of valued donors, CBN Israel and our trusted local partners are providing therapeutic retreats for former hostages and their loved ones, giving them space to breathe, reflect, and begin healing.

In the quiet beauty of Eilat, surrounded by desert mountains and the Red Sea, these families are welcomed into a safe and nurturing environment. With the help of professional therapists, trauma counselors, and social workers, each retreat offers guidance and care for 25 to 30 participants at a time. Away from the pressure of daily life, they are able to process their experiences and connect with others who understand their pain.

Along with emotional support, these retreats also provide practical assistance, including legal guidance, financial advice, and career support. These vital resources help families navigate the challenges they now face, while working to prevent a widespread mental health crisis across the country.

Because of the compassion of caring friends like you, these survivors and their families are finding light in the darkness. One father, his voice filled with emotion, shared, “This retreat has been so meaningful. I am so grateful to those who helped make it possible.”

Your support of CBN Israel can bring hope, healing, and tangible help to many still recovering from the trauma of that tragic day. Thank you for standing with the people of Israel when they need it most.

Please join us today in bringing healing, help, and hope to those who need it most.

GIVE TODAY

The world watched nervously as news stories showed Iran’s missile attacks on Israel. But the town of Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, was on the frontlines.

An Iranian rocket hit the area, destroying hundreds of homes. Thankfully, one apartment building with 18 families was spared. However, when they all rushed to the bomb shelter, they discovered that it was in disrepair. There was a foul odor and the staircase was broken, with no railing, making it unusable for the older people to go downstairs into the shelter.

With the danger of missile attacks still looming, these families urgently needed to find safety.

Thanks to the generosity of caring friends like you, CBN Israel was able to partner with Tenufa baKehila, or “Building Hope.” This organization is on a mission to repair shelters across the Holy Land.

Building Hope’s director, Gabi Nachmani, had his team work quickly to fix the damage, including installing a safe railing. He said, “Hopefully, by the end of the day today, it’s all going to be painted and clear. The stench is going to be out, and people can come and stay here.”

Gabi added, “It was so easy to work with CBN. … We have the same biblical mission—to strengthen Israel, and make sure that the Jewish people are thriving.”

And the daughter of an elderly resident said gratefully, “It will be a lot safer for my mother to get to the bomb shelter. She can hold on to the railing. Even getting out of the shelter was hard for her without this railing. Thank you so much for helping!”

Her mother was also thrilled by the new safety features, saying, “This is so touching—thank you! I would kiss your hands for doing this work!”

Your gifts to CBN Israel can do so much, as many still suffer from the effects of war and terror. You can provide nutritious meals, housing, trauma counseling, financial aid, and more.

Please help us make a difference at this crucial time!

GIVE TODAY