Poverty Among Israeli Children
By Erica Whate
CBN News Guest Writer
July 12, 2007
CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Poverty in Israel. It's not what you think.
In a country that boasts an international airport larger than any in Europe, is a forerunner in high tech and is known for its massive military strength, one would not expect to find the shocking statistics reported by the National Insurance Institute. They reveal great distress below the surface of Israeli culture.
Twenty-five percent of Israel's population is living below the poverty line. What is more alarming is the rate of accelerating poverty among children.
Government statistics show that a year and a half ago Israel moved into first place for the highest rate of poverty among children in the Western world at 30.3 percent. Next in line was Mexico at 27.7 percent.
Eight months ago Israel's percentage jumped to 34.2 percent, and it currently stands at 35.1 percent.
Here is a country that necessarily displays the muscle of a strong military, but also has a stiff upper lip and wounds that it is more reluctant to allow the world to see.
At this rate of deterioration, Israel is faced with a crisis that will have generational impact.
Why does Israel find herself in this place today? Many factors contribute.
Abraham Israel, founder of Hazon Yeshaya Humanitarian Network, suggests several. He observes that the second intifada was the first punch from which Israel never fully recovered. During this time, Binyamin Netanyahu was forced to severely cut tax benefits to the poor.
And last summer's war in Lebanon left more businesses shut down and more jobs lost.
Whatever the causes may be, what is a greater area of concern is the lack of solutions being brought to the table.
Prime Minister Olmert took over one year to appoint a new minister of welfare, and with 15.5 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on both charitable items purchased in Israel and on items sent from overseas, charities struggle to get food and goods to the mouths and homes of the poor.
The Good Ole' Days
A taxi driver once told me about the good ole' days of the 50s. He explained how nothing was easy then, but in some ways, things were better. He lived under a metal sheet held up by four posts. People lived on meal tickets, but somehow there was never a shortage of food. If one family didn't have enough, another family would give their bread away.
Likewise, today, hope is found in those who are still willing to help.
Some of Israel's citizens are still willing to make the personal sacrifices necessary to care for the less fortunate.
Ten out of Eleven
Eleven years ago Abraham Israel became a citizen of Israel, and for the past 10 he has been caring for, and feeding, those in need through an organization called Hazon Yeshaya Humanitarian Network.
What began as the rental of a small storefront property feeding 17 people on a regular basis has now become the largest food distributor to the needy in Israel.
Initially, Israel was moved to action upon meeting a young woman with MS (multiple sclerosis) named Ronit. She walked with canes and had difficulty crossing a street. Israel walked her to, what he described as, her "far below living condition" apartment.
Abraham Israel himself depended on soup kitchens for assistance when he was a child, and after meeting Ronit, he could not turn a blind eye to the suffering in his new country.
Ten years later, Hazon Yeshaya is still providing hot meals to Ronit's home.
A Firsthand Look
When I toured the Hazon Yeshaya facility in the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem, I spoke with many of the volunteers working in the kitchen. Here were little old ladies, an 18 year old girl and a few men peeling hundreds of potatoes getting ready for the lunchtime rush.
I was surprised to find that everyone I spoke with called themselves Christians. They were from Switzerland, Holland, America -- and were in Israel specifically to spend time helping the work of Hazon Yeshaya.
'Why Israel?' I asked one grandma from Switzerland. "They've been through a lot of hard times," she said in a thick accent. "They gave us the Bible. And the Bible says that the Jews are special to God. I will try to come back one more time this year."
Abraham Israel says he is touched by the generosity of Jewish and Christian volunteers. There are so many that Hazon Yeshaya is rarely shorthanded.
"What we are lacking," he said, "is money."
The organization itself operates with only 3 percent overhead costs and keeps just seven people on staff for the entire country.
Israel is concerned about the future.
During our conversation, he presented a letter signed by German government officials stating that the annual aid given to Hazon Yeshaya was being reduced and would cease after 2008.
Still, the charity moves forward with another distribution center opening in Ashkelon this week, bringing their national total of hot meals served per day to 12,000.
A Vulnerable Israel
While the government is doing little to lift the burden, we do remember that Israel is barely 60 years old and continues to be forced to take defensive measures on a daily basis simply to exist.
A new finance minister was appointed this week and is making more cuts to all 12 ministries to beef up defense and education.
Until the government is able to relieve some of the burden, Hazon Yeshaya Humanitarian Network is at the mercy of compassionate contributions from home and abroad.
Their work is bringing awareness to the fact that poverty in Israel is not what we thought.
For more information: www.hazonyeshaya.org
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
