Israel Can't Go Backward 

The American election has invigorated the progressive Jewish community in the U.S. 

We hope that the Israeli progressive community will feel similarly invigorated, although recent polls suggest otherwise.  Right-wing parties opposed to the peace process and to the right solutions for Israel’s many pressing internal issues are likely to do well in the upcoming February elections.   

Under such circumstances, nongovernmental organizations provide the critical counterpoint to an often corrupt and mistrusted political leadership.  However, they are being buffeted by the global economic crisis, which is threatening Israel’s fragile civil society. The New Israel Fund is the leading organization funding, promoting and achieving social change in Israel.  With your help, the critically important issues of human rights, social justice and religious pluralism will be on the political agenda in the upcoming elections.  And regardless of the outcome, the hundreds of organizations we support will continue to demonstrate that change from the bottom up is still possible in a threatened and polarized society.

We are now initiating emergency programs and grants to ensure that social change organizations can survive the economic downturn and we are providing everything from financial support to management advice to technology assistance. We are committed to ensuring that what NIF built will survive the economic crisis, despite shortfalls in funding from other institutions.

At this challenging time, if you can give or even increase your gift, we ask that you join the New Israel Fund as the change agent for a better Israel.

To learn about Eight Hanukah Miracles, click here

To discover the latest news from the battle for religious pluralism, click here and here

To meet our Israeli activists and their families, click here

For a snapshop of "Israel the village", click here 

To learn more about our 2008 accomplishments, click here 

To view the standard New Israel Fund homepage, click here