HELP FOR WIDOWS & ORPHANS

Yad Ezra V’Shulamit provides relief to hundreds of widows and orphans in Israel. In addition to weekly food baskets, we distribute monthly food vouchers to make their lives more bearable. But we do not stop there, we highly subsidize our 2 wedding halls in Jerusalem for orphans, giving them the wedding of their dreams, including pampering on their wedding day and appliances to start their life off on the right foot. On Purim, we have a huge holiday meal with entertainment, gifts and store vouchers and our children’s centers often care for these orphans after school and at our summer camp, receiving a hot lunch, new backpacks and school supplies, new winter coats and so much more.

We want to ensure struggling widows or orphans are not left behind. More than that, we believe they shouldn’t have to fend for themselves. Many grieve long after the loss of their loved one. At the very least, having enough food for themselves and their children should never be a worry for them.

We want to ensure orphans get enough food to give them a chance to succeed in their studies and in their lives. By helping put food on these families’ table, we help these bereaved women and their children to live in dignity and not sink into despair. Below are just some of the people we help. Names have been changed for privacy.

Shira’s story

Shira, 48, is a widow with 8 children whose husband passed away 4 years ago when the van he was driving got hit by a drunk driver. Shira’s husband was killed in the accident. The 6 children in the van watched helplessly as their father died even before the ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. They saw their beloved father in a shocking condition and have severe traumas that affect their lives to this day. Shira was at home with the two youngest children when the accident occurred, yet she will never forget the day her dear husband was killed.

Shira has suffered a medical crisis and is now ill trying to recover. There is no supportive family to rally around her or to be by her side; even on her late husband's side there is no family. Shira has medical debts that are very distressing to her and the worry prevents her from healing to live her life untroubled and in peace.

Rachel’s story

Rachel’s husband suffered from various medical illnesses like heart disease, kidney problems, and diabetes, and finally died of coronary heart disease. As Rachel suffers herself from many medical problems, she is unable to work and needs many injections to keep her health in check. She has 8 children. Unable to work, living on an annuity only and having incurred huge debts after the death of her husband, Rachel is struggling to scrape by and does not have enough to cover the basic necessities for herself and her children.

Sarah’s story

Sarah was pregnant when she lost her husband in the Meron tragedy in 2021. She is now raising her 6 children alone and her meager salary is barely enough to cover her family’s current expenses. With very little help from the government, Sarah is left in a state of complete helplessness. She turned to Yad Ezra V’Shulamit for support to help her raise her children in dignity.