Project Kesher Israel Updates

Project Kesher Israel's Director, Rabbi Olya Weinstein, reports that she and her team have been actively responding to the needs of Ukrainian and Russian immigrants and refugees, offering online programming from early morning until late at night. The programs have been getting thousands of views live and recorded on topics like how to stay safe, stay calm, and understand what is going on. PKI has also developed programs for children in Hebrew, Ukrainian, and Russian and online workouts led by professionals.

With funds raised in the last two weeks, PKI has expanded its distribution of gift cards to individuals to help them obtain necessities like warm clothing and blankets. The women in our network have very limited resources and PKI has been making sure that they have food regardless of their citizenship status. Most do not have cars and cannot rely on public transportation if they are in a part of the country with regular sirens. So, food and first aid deliveries are becoming a large part of PKI's activities. The projected costs would require triple PKI's approved budget for 2023-24.

The immediate PKI community has lost three children in the war. The PKI Team is providing pastoral care and the PK network has been providing support for funerals and travel. One mom had to fly back from the US where she now lives to find her son's body. PKI has also made clinical psychologists and a trauma specialist available to the community members. Staff have been working 24/7 without a day off - stopping only to spend time with their own children in the military when they have a day off. PKI will continue to adapt as the needs of the women in its network change.