Yael Eckstein serves as the President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ or The Fellowship), founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. IFCJ is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Israel. The current war poses significant challenges both for the organization and for many of Israel’s citizens. The war and its rising costs impact Israel’s financial stability in terms of salary, employment, and the long-term risks it creates for the younger population.

Yael Eckstein has been lauded for her work in the position since succeeding her late father, Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, who founded the nonprofit in the early 1980s. Now, her charity’s efforts mean everything to the nation of Israel, especially during the current conflict.  Salary and financial challenges are another difficult battle Israelis face right now.

Highlighting the Current Financial Struggles Faced by Israel

In Israel, the issue of child poverty has become a pressing concern, especially among households with young children. According to a recent study conducted by the Taub Center, nearly one-third of children aged four and below live below the poverty line, with an even more alarming statistic revealing that over half of Haredi and Arab children fall into this category.

Breaking down the numbers further, the study exposes a stark contrast between population groups. In 2018, more than half of Arab and Haredi households with young children faced poverty, with rates at 58% and 55%, respectively, in comparison to 8% for non-Haredi Jewish households.

The research sheds light on the economic disparities among various population groups. Notably, 87% of households without any wage earners and 57% of those with only one wage earner experience poverty. Even among households with two working parents, approximately one-tenth remain below the poverty line.

Additionally, this research also addresses home ownership and spending patterns among impoverished households. Surprisingly, most Haredi and Arab households below the poverty line own their homes, accounting for 72% and 82%, respectively, compared to 40% for non-Haredi Jewish households. Despite these home ownership rates, the study reveals lower per capita spending in various categories, including education and early childhood care, raising concerns about the accessibility and quality of care for young children in impoverished households.

Religious Dilemmas For Haredi Financial Wellbeing

Unique Haredi household dynamics also play a role in these disparities. Many Haredi men choose religious studies over employment and rely on their wives, who are often more educated in secular subjects, to shoulder the financial responsibilities.

Limited working hours and a lower prevalence of academic education shared by parents within their households also contribute to these cases of poverty. The increased cases of poverty among Haredim are also largely a result of families having a significant amount of children. Non-Haredi Jews comprise 65% of all households with children aged four and younger and roughly 22% of the households with young children below the poverty line.

Potential Solutions For These Financial Disparities

The study suggests several policy directions to reduce child poverty in light of these findings. These include targeted assistance for vulnerable populations, continued encouragement of labor force participation, and a comprehensive assessment of income support mechanisms.

Government assistance plays a role in alleviating poverty, reducing its incidence by about 11% among children up to four. However, studies reveal significant variations across different population groups. While transfers lift 27% of non-Haredi Jewish children out of poverty, only 12% of Haredi children benefit, and, concerningly, transfer payments appear to increase the poverty rate by 2% among Arab children.

Identifying and prioritizing the most vulnerable populations is a crucial first step. This includes families where the head of the household is below 30, or both wage earners are self-employed. By conducting a thorough assessment, policymakers can tailor assistance programs to meet the specific needs of these groups.

Continued efforts to encourage labor force participation, increased work hours, and academic education are also essential to a comprehensive strategy.  A critical aspect of poverty reduction involves evaluating the effectiveness of income support and unemployment insurance mechanisms. This includes scrutiny of benefit size, eligibility criteria, application rates, and their impact across different sectors.

Acknowledging the disparity in the impact of government transfers among different population groups, particularly noting that Arabs receive less assistance compared to Haredi and non-Haredi Jews, reflects the need for modifications. Policymakers should consider adjustments to ensure a more equitable distribution of government transfers.

The early childhood education program has added measures to improve the quality and framework of financial benefits to working parents. However, to ensure this assistance reaches vulnerable populations such as imbalanced Haredi households or impoverished Arab families, significant efforts are required to increase overall eligibility. Expanding the incentives for labor force participation and ensuring accessibility for the target populations may accomplish these objectives.

Ways In Which IFCJ Helps Those in Financial Distress

Among the many groups served by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, orphans, children, and families are of utmost priority. IFCJ aids and addresses the critical needs of impoverished children and orphans in Israel by providing food, medicine, and clothes. Further, it addresses long-term needs like housing, family care, and employment opportunities.

The charity also helps provide safe places to live for orphans and essentials like food and medicine for impoverished families and their children. And, of course, donations keep the spirit of charity alive no matter the cause. With the help of long-lasting and passionate donors, IFCJ can contribute funds, goods, and services to these needy families, including young Haredi and Arab children.

In 2022, IFCJ provided immediate aid and relief to displaced families and refugees during the Ukraine Crisis, an act that earned Yael Eckstein international recognition. IFCJ provided $28 million in aid and brought 4,600 Ukrainian refugees home to Israel through aliyah. This involved the evacuation of 1,600 children and staff from Ukrainian children’s homes and orphanages. As the war enters its third year, IFCJ’s aid to these vulnerable populations will continue.