A delegation of Detroiters spends time with a wounded IDF reservist at the Sheba Medical Center.
Since the October 7 attacks, many of us feel more connected to Israel than ever before. From our vantage point in Detroit, we may find ourselves asking, “Am I truly making a difference for the people there?”
The answer is—yes, you are.
Through your support of our Annual Campaign and our Israel Emergency Fund, you’re helping Federation and our partner agencies make a meaningful impact on thousands of Israelis still in crisis. One critical way is through the Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT).
What is the FVOT?
Established during the Second Intifada (2000-2005), the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for Victims of Terror (FVOT) provides crucial financial assistance to individuals and families who have endured the horrors of terrorism as they navigate their new reality. Made possible in large part by support from the Jewish Federations of North America, FVOT is often the first responder for those impacted by terror—distributing emergency grants within 24–48 hours of a direct attack, supporting short-term needs, and assisting with long-term rehabilitation and trauma care.
With so many Israelis killed and injured during the October 7 attacks and ensuing war, and countless homes and buildings damaged throughout communities near Gaza and in the North, the fund has ramped up operations on an unprecedented scale.
FVOT by the Numbers
Since October 7, the fund has provided terror victims with 85.5 million ILS ($24.1 million) in aid. Over the past year alone, FVOT has:
- Disbursed 11,797 emergency and rehabilitation grants.
- Provided educational support to approximately 2,000 children.
- Supported around 4,500 participants in therapeutic group intervention programs, including survivors of the Nova music festival.
Other key FVOT achievements in 2024 include:
- 3,369 families received rehabilitation grants to cover medical treatments, rehabilitation expenses, sports activities, enrichment programs, and leisure activities.
- 1,976 children and adolescents participated in 276 days of camp, designed to provide respite and strengthen their mental resilience. Over 100 of these campers were brought to Michigan and Tamarack Camps through our Serling Israel Camper Program.
- 4,497 victims and their families took part in 142 group intervention programs, helping them cope with trauma and build personal and community resilience.
Direct Allocations from the Detroit Israel Emergency Campaign
Through direct allocations from our Israel Emergency Fund, the Jewish Federation of Detroit has supported victims in our Partnership2Gether region and beyond, including:
- Dror Israel: Operating 50 evacuee centers, serving over 25,000 evacuees.
- HaGal Sheli: Establishing 10 groups in the “Waves of Hope” Emergency Trauma Intervention program for people with PTSD.
- Hostages and Missing Families Forum: A volunteer-based organization dedicated to bringing the captives home and providing holistic support to their families.
- Friends of Be’eri: Providing financial assistance to members of Kibbutz Be’eri, rebuilding public buildings, and restoring landscaping.
- “Rays of Light”: A project by Israeli TV personality and activist Dana Dvorin, featuring survivor testimonies from women impacted by the attacks, created by a volunteer team of actors, writers, and artists.
- Citizen Impact: A digital platform helping survivors understand their rights and access financial aid.
- Larger Than Life: Providing medical, emotional, and humanitarian aid to 68 children from the Gaza border who are battling cancer.
- ORT: Establishing safe houses at Kfar Silver Youth Village.
- Yazmot Atid: Supporting women-owned businesses from Israel’s northern and southern border regions, as well as families of IDF reservists.
- SAHI (Special Grace Unit): Expanding its food collection and distribution efforts in northern Israel.
Learn more about what the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Federation of Detroit are funding in Israel here.
To donate to our 2025 Annual Campaign, please click here.
