Rosh Hashanah Resolve: Fighting Poverty with Education at Amal

Food insecurity continues to affect 2 million citizens in Israel, especially in the geographic and social periphery, as highlighted in reports predicting another challenging year for families grappling with poverty. Experts warn that the interplay of ongoing national crises—including war, economic disruption, and rising living costs—exacerbates hardship and increases inequality, making it even more urgent to find long-term solutions.

Recent data reveals that 20.7% of Israelis were below the poverty line in 2023, with food insecurity affecting families from every sector of society. Experts warn that the longer families remain outside the workforce, the harder it is to recover from vulnerability, potentially trapping entire communities into the cycle of poverty. War, economic downturns, and government resource allocation struggles have left hundreds of thousands, especially in Israel’s north and south, with diminished prospects and growing hardship.

The Amal Educational Network stands at the crossroads of this national emergency, providing not only education but also frontline support for its most vulnerable students. For many years, Amal has offered daily meals in its schools—particularly in its “second chance” vocational institutions in disadvantaged regions—so that students can remain in school, focus on their studies, and break free from the cycle of poverty. This vital support keeps at-risk youth engaged, but Amal’s approach doesn’t stop with food security.

To combat poverty more holistically, Amal invests in diverse pedagogical programs, from project-based learning to advanced digital literacy and civic engagement, all designed to enhance opportunity and social mobility. The network actively involves the broader community—local businesses, philanthropists, and civil society organizations—making schools vibrant hubs of support and growth that reflect the needs and strengths of their surroundings.

Karen Tal, Director General of Amal, emphasizes that education is the most powerful and immediate tool to address poverty, one that cannot wait until the crisis has passed or emergencies have been resolved. For Amal, the fight against deprivation and inequality begins not after the trauma or the war ends, but today, every day, in classrooms across Israel.