Standing With the South

Economic Recovery for Southern Families

Since October 7th, 2023 the residents of southern Israel have been carrying a weight that shows no sign of lifting. Security threats persist. Economic uncertainty deepens. And families who have already lost so much are now facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives – financially, practically, and emotionally.

What they need is real, professional support. Help navigating the maze of rights and authorities. Guidance to manage their finances wisely, avoid costly mistakes, and make sound decisions for the future. And above all,  assistance that is accessible, trustworthy, and completely free from commercial interests.

That is exactly what Paamonim provides. Our comprehensive economic and business support framework meets southern families where they are, with a long-term approach that goes beyond immediate relief to truly address the depth of the crisis. Because rebuilding takes time and these families deserve a partner who will stay the course with them.

The south has been through enough. Now it needs us.

👉 Support the Southern Families Program – and help restore hope where it’s needed most.

My Whole Life Is a Story

As an actress, director, and manager of the Playback Circus Theatre, I'm used to standing on stage and improvising other people's moments. I take the pain, joy, clowning, and dance of the audience and turn them into art. But there was one story I didn't know how to improvise, and that is my own financial story.
For a while, I had been feeling that I needed to get things in order. Behind the exciting performances and laughter on stage, there were bills, a sense of confusion, and management that I couldn't always get on top of. I decided to act and reached out to the Paamonim organization.
And then the war came.
As a resident of the north, the new reality hit all of us hard. Suddenly the stages went quiet, performances were reduced, and the volume of work dropped, making the need for financial clarity even more urgent. That's when I met Naomi Weinrob from the "Economic Emergency Room" program, and that meeting was exactly what I needed in the middle of the storm.
I remember Naomi sitting with me, in my northern home, Amirim. Hour after hour, she sat with me with indescribable patience and simply brought order. She mapped every shekel, every bill, every dark corner of my financial management. Her presence was truly moving. Suddenly, that "monster" called financial reports and expenses looked less frightening. It took on a human, embracing face.
From there, the journey continued to Gil Hefer, a business advisor who was simply a wonderful person on a whole other level. We met over Zoom, he gave me tasks (yes, some of them I did, and some of them... well, I'm still working on them 😄), but his genuine care was simply disarming. He did it with such warmth, generosity, and joy, and helped me understand how to move my business forward, even in times of uncertainty.
What truly left me speechless is the fact that all of this goodness happens on a completely volunteer basis. People giving their time and professional expertise, worth thousands of shekels, simply because they care.
When I next step on stage, with my ensemble, I'll feel a little lighter. The order that Naomi created for me and the direction that Gil gave me, allows me to keep creating, singing, and bringing joy, knowing that someone is holding my hand even outside the spotlight.
Thank you, Paamonim team, for giving me the peace of mind to keep creating. You are the beating heart behind the scenes.

My name is Shai. I’m a single mother to a nine year old, Eli.

I moved back to my hometown, Kibbutz Beit Zera, so Eli could grow up with the kind of community and values I had. But over the past two years, life there changed in ways we never expected.
The war reached us in every way. Schools shifted to online learning, the kids were home most of the day, expenses kept rising, and financial support from the kibbutz stopped.
At the time, I was in my second year of studying education and art, working toward building a future for us. But the financial pressure kept building. I hit a breaking point. My credit card was blocked, my credit score dropped, and the stress felt overwhelming.
That’s when I found the “Poalim Tzafona” program by Paamonim, in partnership with Bank Hapoalim.
The program was designed for people like me, families in the north dealing with the impact of the war and the rising cost of living. It gave me structured, personal financial guidance and real support.
Through one on one meetings, I learned how to build a budget, prioritize expenses, and create a plan I could actually stick to. For the first time, I was able to face my finances with clarity instead of fear.
I still remember my first meeting with Hila, my mentor from Ma’ale HaGalil. She helped me take all the chaos and turn it into something organized and manageable. From day one, I had a clear structure I could rely on.
Today, when I stand in front of my students at the school where I teach, I feel different. With the guidance I received and the determination I found in myself, I was able to pay off 30,000 shekels in debt.
There’s still a long road ahead. But today I know that even in an uncertain reality, with the right support and the right tools, it’s possible to build real financial stability and security for my family.