Emunah Israel marks milestone anniversary

Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the World Emunah Women’s Leadership in Israel Conference celebrated 90 years since the establishment of Emunah Israel.

“World Emunah has two mandates: to improve the lives of the Jewish people in Israel, together with our supporters from around the world, and to represent religious Zionist women on the world stage,” Tema Klausner, president of World Emunah, told JNS. “We are independent members of the World Zionist Organization, Keren Kayemet LeIsrael, the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Hayesod.”

The celebratory event was held at the Nefesh B’Nefesh Jerusalem Aliyah Campus on March 6.

Emunah Israel, a leading social service agency with more than 100 chapters across the country, was founded in 1935 “to deal with the challenges of contemporary society.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s grandmother was among the founders of Emunah nine decades ago.

“As a founding mother of Emunah, she deeply believed in the importance of social welfare and community support,” Herzog said. “The organization grew and flourished, achieving remarkable success. As her grandson and as the 11th president of the State of Israel, I take great pride in Emunah’s ongoing contributions in Israel and throughout the Jewish world.”

The founders’ focus “was on saving children,” Klausner explained. “Children came here from Europe and Arab countries as orphans, or their parents couldn’t come with them, and Emunah saved their lives.

“It was life and death. They established children’s homes, provided food and shelter, and tried to create some kind of home life for these children to relieve some of their trauma.”

Aside from the 12 counseling and therapy centers across the country, World Emunah projects today include daycares, residential children’s homes, high schools, colleges, adult education, crisis centers and women’s shelters, among other initiatives.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, World Emunah has faced extraordinary challenges due to the nationwide trauma and the war effort. “World Emunah has always had a large focus on therapy,” Klausner said.

“I don’t know how they did it, but they did such a good job that the city of Sderot,” which has experienced huge trauma not only since October 7, but also for many years prior, “had them teach their own therapists at the welfare centers about how to be better therapists, having undergone their own trauma, she continued.

Klausner made aliyah in 2009 from Passaic, NJ.

“To me, the most impactful — the project I love most — is the Neve Landy Children’s Village, a residential home for boys in Even Shmuel in southern Israel,” she said. “Many of them had been hospitalized in psychiatric institutions, and they would be lost if they weren’t with us. We’re like their last hope. It’s a unique place.”

“Some of these boys have a home to go back to, but it isn’t necessarily a home they could function in. There are boys who had no hope left for themselves. But everyone who leaves there has become the maximum that he could be, whatever that may be. Many of them go on to be soldiers in the IDF — not necessarily combat, but they enlist, and they’re very proud to enlist.”

“It’s a very high male staff population, and on Oct. 8, they were almost without staff. Everyone was called up. So, what happened was that anyone who had been affiliated in a way that could be helpful came to help. We had volunteers filling in until they could figure out what to do. It was just incredible.”

Stephanie Strauss, executive director of Yeshiva University in Israel and a participant at the anniversary event, said that “the core pillars of Emunah resonate deeply with me on a personal level and with many of our YU alumni in Israel.”

Naomi Maryles, managing director of the global law firm DLA Piper, explained what inspired her to participate.

“I believe that women’s leadership is crucial for fostering diverse perspectives and driving innovation,” she said. “By sharing my experiences and insights, I hope to empower other women to pursue leadership roles, especially in the Jewish olim community, which is obviously close to my heart.”

All funds raised by World Emunah in the Diaspora are spent inside Israel.

“We don’t have any projects outside of Israel, but we do impact outside of Israel,” Klausner said. “We have strong connections with our member organizations. We impact them by helping them be a part of Emunah, and especially now, with all the new challenges facing those communities since October 7. Also, we represent them on the world stage.”

Asked if she had a special message for readers, Klausner said: “My mother was a great role model for volunteering. I would say the most important thing is to just do it. You don’t have to be wealthy, and you don’t have to be brilliant.

“All you need is a pure desire to help the Jewish nation and you’ll be successful at whatever you do. If you can’t do X plus Y, it’s OK to just do X or Y. It doesn’t have to be big, but every little thing makes an impact. Just get involved; Just do it!”