The Jewish Agency on Wednesday announced the creation of an emergency relief program to assist Israelis affected by Iranian missile attacks, offering financial aid and emotional support to victims and their families.
The initiative, called the Roaring Lion Fund, will provide immediate grants and resilience services to people harmed during the attacks that accompanied Israel’s military campaign against Iran, known in Israel as Operation Roaring Lion.
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Jewish Agency CEO Yehuda Setton and Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog
(Photo: Guy Yechieli/The Jewish Agency)
The fund was established with support from The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod and the World Zionist Organization, along with additional donors. The Jewish Agency said the program is already operating in coordination with Israeli government authorities and local municipalities.
Under the initiative, families who lost relatives in the missile strikes, people who were seriously or moderately wounded and hospitalized, and families whose homes were destroyed or deemed uninhabitable will receive emergency grants of 4,000 shekels (about $1,300). The payments will be transferred directly to recipients’ bank accounts after verification through government channels.
Affected individuals will not need to apply for the grants. The Jewish Agency said it will receive eligibility information directly from official authorities and distribute funds automatically to those who qualify.
In addition to financial aid, the organization said it will offer emotional resilience services for those affected, including individual counseling, workshops and group therapy designed to support long-term recovery. Local municipalities will help identify eligible participants and connect them with the programs.
The Jewish Agency said it also opened an emergency operations center shortly after the launch of Operation Roaring Lion to assist populations it supports across Israel.
These include thousands of new immigrants living in absorption centers, young immigrants participating in leadership and service programs, lone soldiers serving in the Israeli military without immediate family in the country, residents of Amigour senior housing facilities and young Jews visiting Israel through programs such as Masa Israel Journey.
At the same time, hundreds of Israeli emissaries working for the organization in Jewish communities abroad have continued outreach efforts, sharing information about the situation in Israel and supporting communities facing rising security threats and antisemitism, the agency said.
“The Jewish Agency’s Roaring Lion Fund embodies our community's deepest commitment to mutual responsibility,” said Mark Wilf, chairman of the organization’s Board of Governors. “In moments of profound crisis such as the current war, we show up for one another without hesitation.”
Jewish Agency Chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog said the initiative was intended to provide immediate help to those affected. “In these challenging days, the heart of the Jewish people is here in Israel — with the families who have lost their loved ones, with the wounded and with those whose homes were destroyed in an instant,” Almog said.
Yehuda Setton, the agency’s chief executive, said the organization activated its emergency response center shortly after the war began. “Our ability to respond in real time is based on years of experience and our partnership with Jewish Federations of North America and partners around the world,” Setton said. “We are able to provide rapid assistance to families affected by the missile attacks while continuing to support new immigrants, young Jews visiting Israel on programs, lone soldiers and at-risk youth.”
First published: 18:58, 03.05.26