ARTICLES

Larisa’s life had a hard beginning. She was born to a Jewish family in Ukraine during World War II, and her father was drafted into the Soviet Army. Her mother, who was pregnant when the war started, made her way out of the city to find her relatives. It was only a few years later, Larisa recalled, that the family heard that her father had died—an event she said “was very hard on everyone.”

After the war, Larisa lived a quiet life in Ukraine for many years. Then in 2022, war broke out again when Russia invaded her homeland—something she will never forget. “It was a nightmare. There was combat all around us.”

Bravely, this elderly widow immigrated to Israel—with only a suitcase. She moved into a home for seniors but lacked the household necessities to get by. Where could she turn?

Fortunately, compassionate friends like you were there for her when she first arrived and continue to provide her with support today. Neighbors told Larisa to call CBN Israel for assistance, and she did. “I reached out, and they came and asked me how they could help.” Caring donors provided her with nutritious food, a stove, and a couch. She added, “I want to express my deep appreciation for the warm welcome. The support I received made a significant difference. I feel blessed!”

Your gift can be a lifesaver to many Holocaust survivors and new immigrants like Larisa. Often fleeing war or poverty, they need our help getting established in a new land. You can also helping single mothers, terror victims, and many others.

And during these colder months, your continued support is crucial in bringing aid to those struggling to survive in the Holy Land. Your generous gifts to CBN Israel can offer these grateful people groceries, shelter, appliances, financial help—and encouragement.

Please join us in giving help and hope to those in need throughout Israel.

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Imagine living in a country whose very existence—and yours— is constantly threatened. For generations, Israel’s people have faced persecution, tragedy, and danger. In fact, a staggering one third of all Israelis live with some form of anxiety or trauma-related distress.

The horrors of the October 7^th attack by Hamas only intensified the trauma—followed by the ballistic missile attacks from Iran. How can any nation recover from so much terrorism?

Thankfully, friends like you were there through CBN Israel. Because they understand the escalating mental health needs on the ground, CBN Israel launched the Community Support and Resilience Center. Using innovative strategies, the center is designed to help residents not only cope, but to truly heal and rebuild their lives.

And it marks a significant milestone for the ministry’s work in the Holy Land. The center serves as a crucial network for counseling professionals, as well as individuals seeking help. Through workshops, seminars, and public events, it will facilitate training on essential self-care strategies, stress reduction, coping skills, and processing devastating events.

As the demand for professional counseling has overwhelmed government and healthcare systems, you are providing assistance at the community level to those who are still waiting. For those who are grappling with dark memories and loss, caring donors are giving them, as the ancient promise in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “a future and a hope.”

And your gifts to CBN Israel can offer a lifeline of hope in even more ways. You can bring groceries, financial aid, safe housing, and more to those in crisis.

Please join us as we reach out and care for others!

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Victim of Terrorism: Sonya’s Story

Sonya has known hardship her entire life. Born in Romania, she and her family were forced to flee on foot to escape violent pogroms. They crossed dangerous borders and endured many trials before finally reaching safety in Israel in 1948, where relatives who had immigrated earlier welcomed them.

Now 87 years old, Sonya lives in Bat Yam with her only daughter, who helps care for her due to ongoing health challenges. Years ago, Sonya fell and broke her hip, leaving her with limited mobility. That injury now affects nearly every part of her daily life.

Her apartment had long needed repairs, but she did not know where to turn for help. Then, during the recent war with Iran, her city was under direct threat. “It was very scary,” she recalled. “The only thing we could do was pray for God’s protection. We could hear the explosions nearby.”

Because of her condition, Sonya was unable to evacuate to a safer location. “CBN offered to evacuate us, and we wanted to, but it was hard, since I cannot move around easily,” she explained. In the face of fear and isolation, Sonya and her daughter were left to wait and hope.

However, they are very thankful that friends like you were there for them. Through the loving support of CBN Israel donors, Sonya and her daughter received nourishing meals and groceries to sustain them during the crisis and in the months that followed.

Caring partners also helped repair their home, restoring safety and security to their living space. Sonya said with deep gratitude, “This apartment has had problems for years, but we never knew who to turn to for help. You came and made it easier for us.”

Your generous gifts to CBN Israel can make a real difference in the lives of people like Sonya. Elderly widows, Holocaust survivors, and victims of war and terror can receive the help they desperately need.

Please join us in showing compassion and bringing hope to some of Israel’s most vulnerable in their time of greatest need.

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In a time of war and uncertainty, Israel’s most vulnerable are facing extraordinary challenges. Among them are members of the Deaf and hard of hearing community, who often live without the tools they need to stay safe, especially during emergencies.

When rocket sirens sound across the country, most Israelis hear the warning and run for shelter. But for those who cannot hear, the signal is invisible. Some rely on smartwatches or mobile apps, but even these alerts can arrive with critical delays. The risk is real, and for many, it is frightening.

At the same time, the community is working to preserve its history and identity. Many Deaf Israelis are Holocaust survivors or descendants of those who came to the land long before the founding of the state. Their stories are often overlooked. Now, thanks to friends like you, their voices are finally being heard.

Through the generous support of caring donors, CBN Israel and our local partners are helping document the stories of Israel’s Deaf community. These powerful testimonies are recorded in sign language and shared with younger generations and the wider public. The result is a living archive of memory, culture, and courage that strengthens the community from within.

Gifts from friends like you are also supporting practical solutions. Life-saving technologies are being explored and implemented to improve emergency communication. These tools help ensure that no one is left behind in a crisis. From wearable alerts to early warning systems, support from CBN Israel donors is helping save lives and restore peace of mind.

One community leader said, “We, the Deaf community, know what we need most. You believed in us and filled a space that had been empty for a very long time.”

Because of your compassion, those who once felt unseen can now feel valued, protected, and supported. Your gifts to CBN Israel also offer relief to Holocaust survivors, elderly widows, terror victims, single mothers, and many others.

Please join us in providing help and hope to the most vulnerable communities in Israel.

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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!

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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.

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