Yael Eckstein: Addressing Salary and Financial Challenges Amid Israel’s Ongoing War

Yael Eckstein, the President and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), faces new challenges as the ongoing war in Israel impacts both her organization and the country’s financial stability. IFCJ, founded by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Israel. The war has led to rising costs, affecting Yael Eckstein salary, employment, and long-term financial risks, particularly for the younger population.

Yael Eckstein has been praised for her leadership since succeeding her late father, who established IFCJ in the early 1980s. Her charity’s efforts are vital to Israel, especially during this conflict, as Israelis confront not only the physical battles of war but also significant financial hardships.

Highlighting Israel’s Current Financial Struggles

Israel is currently grappling with severe financial challenges, with child poverty emerging as a critical issue, particularly in households with young children. A recent Taub Center study reveals that nearly one-third of children under four live below the poverty line. The situation is even more dire among Haredi and Arab children, where over half fall into this category.

The study highlights stark economic disparities across different population groups. In 2018, over half of Arab and Haredi households with young children faced poverty, with rates at 58% and 55%, respectively, compared to just 8% for non-Haredi Jewish households.

The research also emphasizes the poverty experienced by households with limited wage earners. For instance, 87% of households without any wage earners and 57% of those with only one wage earner live in poverty. Even in households with two working parents, about one-tenth remain below the poverty line.

Moreover, the study explores home ownership and spending patterns among impoverished households. Surprisingly, most Haredi and Arab households below the poverty line own their homes—72% and 82%, respectively—compared to 40% of non-Haredi Jewish households. However, these households exhibit lower per capita spending on education and early childhood care, raising concerns about access to quality care for young children in poverty-stricken homes.

Religious and Financial Dilemmas for Haredi Communities

Unique dynamics within Haredi households contribute to these financial disparities. Many Haredi men prioritize religious studies over employment, relying on their wives, who often have more secular education, to support the family financially.

The limited working hours and lower levels of academic education among Haredi parents also contribute to the high poverty rates in this community. Additionally, large family sizes among Haredim exacerbate the financial strain. Non-Haredi Jews make up 65% of all households with children under four but only account for about 22% of households with young children living in poverty.

Potential Solutions to Address Financial Disparities

The study suggests several policy measures to reduce child poverty. These include targeted assistance for vulnerable populations, promoting labor force participation, and evaluating income support mechanisms.

Government assistance plays a crucial role in alleviating poverty, reducing its incidence by about 11% among children up to four years old. However, the impact of these transfers varies significantly across population groups. While 27% of non-Haredi Jewish children are lifted out of poverty through government transfers, only 12% of Haredi children benefit, and the poverty rate among Arab children increases by 2% due to these payments.

Identifying and prioritizing the most vulnerable populations, such as families where the head of the household is under 30 or both wage earners are self-employed, is essential. Tailored assistance programs can better meet the specific needs of these groups.

Efforts to encourage labor force participation, increase working hours, and improve academic education are also vital to reducing poverty. Additionally, a critical aspect of poverty reduction involves assessing the effectiveness of income support and unemployment insurance mechanisms, including benefit size, eligibility criteria, and application rates across different sectors.

Given the disparity in the impact of government transfers among different population groups, particularly the lower assistance received by Arabs compared to Haredi and non-Haredi Jews, policymakers should consider adjustments to ensure a more equitable distribution of these transfers.

Programs aimed at improving early childhood education and financial support for working parents are also crucial. To reach vulnerable populations such as Haredi households or impoverished Arab families, significant efforts are needed to expand eligibility and increase incentives for labor force participation.

IFCJ’s Efforts to Support Those in Financial Distress

The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) prioritizes serving orphans, children, and families in need. IFCJ addresses the critical needs of impoverished children and orphans in Israel by providing essentials like food, medicine, and clothing, as well as long-term support such as housing, family care, and employment opportunities.

The charity also ensures safe living conditions for orphans and supplies essentials like food and medicine to impoverished families and their children. Donations play a vital role in sustaining these efforts, enabling IFCJ to provide much-needed funds, goods, and services to needy families, including young Haredi and Arab children.

In 2022, IFCJ gained international recognition for providing immediate aid to displaced families and refugees during the Ukraine crisis. IFCJ delivered $28 million in aid and facilitated the aliyah of 4,600 Ukrainian refugees to Israel, including the evacuation of 1,600 children and staff from Ukrainian children’s homes and orphanages. As the war continues, IFCJ remains committed to supporting these vulnerable populations.