Strengthening Community Resilience in Lachish and Shafir
JDC
FY26 allocation: $233,000
First Year | Location: Lachish and Shafir
// About the Organization
The Joint (The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) is the largest Jewish humanitarian organization in the world.
Since 1914, the Joint has operated in 70 countries, providing a safety net for Jews in distress, strengthening and building Jewish communities, and supplying relief and rescue services in times of crisis and disaster.
In Israel, the Joint operates as a center for social research and development (R&D) in strategic cooperation with the national government, municipalities and local authorities, the non-profit and business sectors, and other partners, to shape the socioeconomic future of Israel together.
Since its inception, the organization has invested more than NIS 10 billion ($3 billion) to help meet the social and humanitarian needs of Israeli society. Joint Israel reflects the commitment of Diaspora Jewry to participate in the efforts of the people of Israel in building a strong society.
The Joint is developing dozens of programs, social services, and initiatives that aim to change the face of Israeli society. Our goals are to see children and youth at risk growing up with a more promising future, older people aging with dignity, people with disabilities living independently in the community, the unemployed integrating and progressing in the workforce, and social systems working efficiently and effectively.
// Project Description
JDC's new, multi-year "Community Resilience" initiative builds on JDC's successful Thriving Communities program, adapting it to a rural context. "Community Resilience" aims to strengthen Chicago's partnership region of Lachish and Shafir, building communal resilience, and positioning the region to better serve residents' social and informal education needs.
// Project Goals
The goal of the "Community Resilience" program is to enhance the communal spirit, support, and bonds that strengthen communities and drive long-term growth.
To reach this goal, JDC defined specific outcomes for both the individual communities and the regional councils. JDC will work with the local community and regional council leaders to create benchmarks for each outcome, which can be measured at the start and end of the three-year process. While these general outcomes will inform program design, they may change or be adapted following the mapping process and discussion with the individual communities
// Target Population
The proposed program will work with communities in Chicago's partnership region of Lachish and Shafir. While the specific focus communities will be determined following a mapping, in Lachish work will likely center around communities in the western part of the council, while in Shafir work will likely center around communities in the south.
A group of JDC-trained community activists – exact number to be determined following the mapping – will lead the process in their home communities. They will join local and regional community meetings and bring residents' voices to the table.
The work of these direct participants will in turn benefit their entire community – from birth to old age.