Israel’s greatest strength is its people. Investing in them is investing in its future

Israel’s strength has always been measured by its ability to defend itself. Its soldiers, its military innovation, and its determination to survive against extraordinary odds have become defining symbols of the Jewish state. Yet some of the most powerful examples of Israeli resilience are unfolding far from the battlefield, inside small businesses, family-owned shops, farms, and workplaces where ordinary people are fighting to rebuild their lives.Their stories deserve to be told, because Israel’s future depends on more than its ability to survive. It depends on its people’s ability to thrive.Jeff Schoenfeld, vice chairman of the Jewish Federations of North America, traveled to Israel roughly three weeks after Oct. 7, 2023. During our conversation, he described the economic consequences he witnessed and the urgent need to help Israeli businesses survive and rebuild. One example was a small business in central Tel Aviv with 12 employees. Ten had been called into reserve duty. Almost overnight, a functioning business had lost nearly its entire workforce.Imagine spending years building a company, hiring employees, serving customers, and creating a livelihood for your family, only to watch everything come to a halt because your country needs you.That is the reality thousands of Israelis confronted.What happened next reveals something extraordinary about the relationship between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.Through its Israel Emergency Campaign, which raised more than $900 million, Jewish Federations of North America established the Israel Small Business Loan Fund. The initiative was designed to help Israeli entrepreneurs survive the economic consequences of war and eventually rebuild.Rather than offering temporary relief alone, the program provides access to affordable financing through established nonprofit lending organizations, allowing businesses to purchase equipment, cover expenses, retain employees, and begin growing again.Schoenfeld explained that the challenge extends beyond helping businesses survive the immediate crisis. Many entrepreneurs also need the resources to rebuild when they are finally able to return to work.The numbers tell a remarkable story. Approximately $92 million in philanthropic capital has helped unlock $240 million in loans to over 4,100 Israeli businesses, supporting an estimated 28,000 jobs.Think about what that represents. Thousands of businesses given a chance to remain open or rebuild, employees whose livelihoods depend on those doors remaining open, and families offered a path forward.And because these are loans rather than one-time grants, the impact can extend well beyond the initial recipients. As borrowers repay their loans, the money becomes available to help additional businesses. One family’s recovery creates an opportunity for another.Yet even with that extraordinary reach, the need remains significant. Schoenfeld explained that demand continues to exceed available financing. Jewish Federations is seeking an additional $25 million in philanthropic capital to help generate another $100 million in lending.That is not simply a fundraising goal. It represents the possibility of helping thousands more Israelis rebuild their livelihoods.The human stories behind these figures are even more powerful.Consider Hadas Cohen, who operates a jewelry business in Ramat Gan. When her husband and business partner was called into reserve duty, she was left to manage the business alone. A loan helped her pay suppliers and maintain the cash flow needed to keep the company operating.Or Atar Levy, whose landscaping business was disrupted by evacuation and military service. When he was finally able to return to work, financing allowed him to purchase a tractor, trailer, and professional tools.There is also Shirin Khatib, who founded a language college in the Arab Israeli city of Shfaram. After surviving the pandemic, she faced another enormous challenge when the war interrupted her plans to expand. Financing and professional mentoring helped her stabilize the business and move forward.Three entrepreneurs from different backgrounds, each fighting to hold on to something they had spent years building. Behind every business is a family counting on its survival, employees hoping to return to work, and a dream that deserves the chance to continue.These are not stories about people asking for handouts. They are stories about people asking for the opportunity to stand on their own feet again.That is a side of the Jewish state too often missing from international conversations.At a ceremony honoring the initiative at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, Israeli President Isaac Herzog captured its significance.“In the reality forced upon Israel since Oct. 7, many small and medium-sized businesses have faced tremendous obstacles, not because of poor business decisions or a lack of demand, but because of the harsh realities of war,” Herzog said.He went on to describe the fund as “an expression of mutual responsibility, shared commitment, and the common destiny of the Jewish people,” calling it a vote of confidence in Israeli entrepreneurs and the future of the State of Israel.Herzog’s words capture the significance of the initiative Schoenfeld described: helping Israeli entrepreneurs regain their independence, preserve their livelihoods, and rebuild their communities.For generations, the relationship between American Jews and Israel has been defined by shared history, identity, responsibility, and an extraordinary willingness to stand together during difficult moments.Today, as antisemitism continues to challenge Jewish communities around the world, that connection carries renewed significance.Supporting Israel cannot be limited to defending it in political arguments or responding when tragedy strikes. It must also mean helping Israelis build the lives they are determined to live.There is a broader national significance to that responsibility. A country cannot measure its strength solely by its ability to defend its borders. Its future also depends on the economic independence of its citizens, the stability of its communities, and the opportunities available to the next generation.A farmer returning to his fields, a reservist reopening a business, or a mother keeping her family company alive represents something profoundly important. Each is an expression of confidence that Israel’s future is worth investing in.Schoenfeld emphasized that economic recovery does not necessarily begin when the fighting stops.For many business owners, the need for financing becomes most urgent when they are finally ready to reopen, replant, replace equipment, or hire employees again.That means the responsibility to help rebuild Israel does not end when the headlines move on.There is something deeply Jewish about the philosophy behind this initiative.The highest expression of generosity is not simply helping someone through a difficult moment. It is giving that person the means to regain independence, dignity, and the ability to provide for others.And perhaps that is the most meaningful lesson of this initiative.Israel’s enemies have repeatedly attempted to make ordinary life impossible. Yet across the country, people continue opening businesses, cultivating land, educating children, creating jobs, and building communities.Their determination is not separate from Israel’s national strength. It is at the very heart of it.The world often sees Israel through the images of war. There is another image worth remembering: a business owner unlocking the door to a shop that might otherwise have remained closed.Behind that door is a family, a livelihood, a community, and a future.Israel’s resilience has never belonged exclusively to those who defend its borders. It also belongs to those who wake up every morning determined to build something within them.WHAT A MUSLIM BAKER AND A JEWISH RECIPE CAN TEACH US ABOUT COEXISTENCEThat is why investing in Israeli businesses is far more than an act of generosity. It is an investment in the strength, independence, and future of the Jewish state.Standing with Israel should never be measured solely by what we say when it is under attack. It should also be measured by what we help its people build when the world stops watching.Ariella Noveck is a journalist and Washington Examiner opinion contributor specializing in antisemitism, Israel, and Middle East affairs, with extensive experience covering Jewish communities worldwide. Her work includes on-the-ground reporting, interviews with world leaders, and analysis of major geopolitical events. She can be followed on X and Instagram @AriellaNoveck.