The effects of the war and rising inflation have created a perfect storm for food insecurity in Israel.

Sopi — last name removed for anonymity — is a single mom living in Ofakim, just 13 miles from Gaza. On Oct. 7, 2023, her life changed forever. Before the war, she taught pilates to older adults in the kibbutzim surrounding Gaza. Today, she struggles to make a living amid lost work and limited resources.

“It took me a couple of days to process that I had actually been in existential danger,” Sopi shared when discussing Oct. 7. “You realize that entire villages are ruined and people are going to be living elsewhere. Suddenly, I’m left without a job…I just feel so tired. Receiving help feels like a weakness…but sometimes there’s no other choice.”

Sopi is not alone in her struggle. Currently, 28.7% of families in Israel live in poverty. When talking about children that percentage rises to 39%.

With around a quarter of the Israeli population facing food insecurity, Israel’s humanitarian aid organization, Latet, has been working in overdrive to meet the rising need.

“The war exacerbated the situation for many,” explained Gilles Darmon, Latet’s founder and president. “Numerous families have been forced to cope with lost income, evacuations and rising food costs.” 

A grantee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Latet — which means “to give” in Hebrew — is one of Israel's largest nonprofits dedicated to combating poverty and nutritional insecurity. The organization provides immediate, daily help to vulnerable populations and operates Israel's first national food bank. It also runs programs to inspire volunteering among youth and advocate for research and policy change.

“When I founded Latet in 1999, I had arrived in Israel full of love for my new country. I wanted to create a more equitable society and address the issue of poverty,” said Darmon, a French immigrant, known as an oleh in Hebrew. “Jews should be able to prosper and flourish in Israel, not just survive. Latet is at the heart of the Israeli consensus. We can all join forces to fight nutritional insecurity, which can affect any of us, at any time.”

Latet also runs Aid for Life, a program caring for Israel’s remaining Holocaust Survivors like Hannah Libman.

Libman survived the death marches when she was only 6 years old and moved to Israel in 1948 with a sense of hope for the new Jewish state. 

Each month, a Latet volunteer delivers a box of food to her door — a small act of kindness that has become her lifeline. Packed with nonperishable items and fresh produce, the box has become even more essential amid the ongoing war that claimed the life of Libman’s grandson, Noam.

“It hurts, but I don’t show it. Deep inside, it burns. I miss him all the time,” said Libman. “I have a hard time with it. With all of the wars here. I wish…to see Israel flourish once more.”

According to Latet, Libman is among the 25% of Holocaust survivors in Israel living in poverty, without reliable access to food or finances to cover critical needs such as medicine, home repairs and social services. The Aid for Life program includes a dedicated fund to provide Survivors with dental care, eyeglasses, winter supplies, emergency call buttons and more. Survivors also receive a weekly visit from a volunteer to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

To meet increasing needs for food access in Israel and support Holocaust Survivors, the Jewish Federation allocated $150,000 in Fiscal Year 25 to help Latet carry out its mission. 

“The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia has been one of Latet’s closest and most loyal partners, always by our side, through every challenge, every crisis, every moment that matters,” said Darmon. “As one of the first Jewish Federations to support our work, their trust, compassion and unwavering commitment have allowed us to reach thousands of Holocaust Survivors and families struggling with food insecurity, giving them not only the help they need but also the dignity they deserve.”

Supporting agencies like Latet is paramount to the Jewish Federation’s pillar to support Israel and global Jewry.

“Every day here in Israel, I meet people whose lives have been upended by the war. Parents are struggling to put food on the table and Holocaust Survivors feel increasingly isolated,” said the Jewish Federation’s Director of Israel and Global Operations Tali Lidar. “Through our partnership with Latet, we’re able to bring real relief and hope to people who need it most, while sending the message that they are not forgotten.”

Although financial support from agencies like the Jewish Federation has been instrumental, there is still plenty of work to be done. 

In the last two years, Latet has expanded its food assistance from 90,000 families to more than 100,000. In 2025 alone, the organization has supported 3,812 Holocaust Survivors, including 1,600 Survivors who receive monthly food boxes. This growth was made possible through the generosity of Israeli citizens and the American Jewish community.

“When we receive support from the Jewish community in the United States, it illustrates the magnificence of the common destiny of the Jewish people,” Darmon continued. “We see the rise of antisemitism in the United States. And here we are, on the front lines in Israel. This common destiny makes us stronger than ever. It’s proof that we are one — we are in this together.”

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Since 1901, the Jewish Federation has mobilized financial and volunteer resources to address the communities’ most critical priorities: Caring for Those in Need Locally, Supporting Israel and Global Jewry, and Securing a Vibrant Jewish Future. This includes organizations that fight food insecurity for the community-at-large and Holocaust Survivors. 

To learn more about the Jewish Federation’s impact and our grantees, visit jewishphilly.org/impact.