Government programs, such as medical coverage, child allowance benefits, and guaranteed income supplements for single parents helped assure that families could meet their minimal needs. Nobody was hungry.

Things have changed...drastically. The economy began crumbling. Hi-tech collapsed. Unemployment skyrocketed. In an attempt to prevent total chaos, the government launched its austerity programs, cutting benefits and assistance to the poorest elements of society. I personally know families whose incomes fell by thousands of shekels per month over a short period of time.

Israel has always been blessed with a large number of privately run charitable organizations...free loan societies, soup kitchens, societies providing free food and many other forms of aid for those in need. Suddenly, demand shot up...far outstripping resources. People who had donated to these charities began seeking their help.

One organization, Ahavas Chesed, has stepped forward, bringing the facts before the broader Jewish public. While actively working inside Israel, the organization has launched a campaign to enlist the aid of concerned people across the world.