Temple Isaiah/Jewish Federation Matching Fund Partnership:

After-School Enrichment Program for Low-Income Families In Sderot

Sderot has a population of 20,000 and is among the poorest Jewish towns in Israel. It is rated 3 out of 10 on the Socioeconomic Scale of the Central Bureau of Statistics (10 being the wealthiest). New immigrants constitute 42% of the community. Over 6,000 children and youth under the age of 18 live in Sderot - of which 35% are immigrants, and 30% have been categorized as at-risk.

Once a quiet southern development town bordering the Gaza Strip, in the past several years Sderot has been under constant fire from Hamas Kassam rockets. As a result, many families have fled. Parents, afraid to be away from their children when danger lurks, refuse to leave them home alone and unsupervised. Thus, the fear of leaving their homes prevents them from working full-time and bringing in adequate income to support their families.

The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles has provided the needy children of Sderot with a safe after-school enrichment program, which includes daily educational and social stimulation for children whose lives are often stressful and lonely. They participate in a variety of courses that serve as creative outlets - Music, Drama, Dance, Arts, Sports, Nature Appreciation, and more. The Sderot Municipality conducts these enrichment programs in the local community center and additional public buildings with fortified walls, safe from missile attacks.

But because many Sderot families cannot afford the enrichment programs, their children are forced to fend for themselves, or to stay at home with their unemployed parents, in the after-school hours.

The Federation is asking Temple Isaiah to partner with us to provide subsidies for after-school enrichment programs for up to 300 children, at a cost of up to $225 per child. This total funding of up to $67,500 would be shared equally through this partnership due to The Jewish Federation providing matching funds to those raised by Temple Isaiah.

Temple Isaiah's generosity will not only improve the lives of Sderot's children - it will improve the community's economy and collective morale, despite its many ongoing challenges.