LIBI Fund

The LIBI Fund (Hebrew: קרן לב"י, an acronym for 'For the Security of Israel') was an Israeli civilian non-profit association founded in 1980 and formally registered as an association in July 1982. Its stated purpose was to collect donations for the benefit of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and for the development of weaponry and defense capabilities in Israel. The fund's chairman was appointed by the Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of Defense, and served on a voluntary basis; its activists were civilian volunteers supported by a small team of soldiers and officers. In its first three years the fund raised approximately 45 million dollars, but revenues declined over the years, and a 1989 State Comptroller report on the Ministry of Defense even questioned whether the fund had a right to exist. In 2003 the IDF issued a General Staff order directing that all donations to IDF units be channeled through the fund in order to regularize the receipt of donations by various units. Beyond fundraising, LIBI operated educational, medical, and Jewish-heritage projects. These included the 'Bagrut LaLochamim' (matriculation for combat soldiers) program, the 'Edim BeMadim' (witnesses in uniform) Holocaust-education program that sent about 24 delegations to Poland each year with roughly 3,700 participants, the 'Havat HaShomer' project for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, the 'Anachnu BaLev' program for lone soldiers and new immigrants, and the 'Amir' course for members of the Ethiopian community. In the medical field, the fund helped purchase ambulances and intensive-care vehicles, mobile dental clinics, physiotherapy clinics, and simulation systems. In the Jewish-heritage field, it funded Torah scrolls, synagogues, and religious-awareness activities. In 2015 the two organizations — the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers and the LIBI Fund — united into a single organization dedicated to IDF soldiers, and in 2016 it was decided to merge the fund with the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers and to call the new body 'Yachad LeMa'an HaChayal' (Together for the Soldier). The merged organization is headed by Major General (res.) Yoram Yair ('Ya-Ya'), who serves voluntarily, and operates through three main arms: the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers fundraising arm, the Association's implementation and vacation-village arm, and the 'Kivunim' (formerly 'HaShakem') retail network. The LIBI Fund as a separate entity ceased operations in 2017.

The LIBI Fund (Hebrew: קרן לב"י, an acronym for 'For the Security of Israel') was established in 1980 as a civilian non-profit association, though it was formally registered as an association only in July 1982. Its mission was to collect donations for the benefit of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and for the development of weaponry and defense capabilities in Israel. The chairman of the fund was appointed by the Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of Defense, and served on a voluntary basis. The fund's activists were civilian volunteers and a small team of soldiers and officers. In its first three years, the fund managed to raise approximately 45 million dollars. However, over the years its revenues declined, and in a 1989 State Comptroller report on the Ministry of Defense, the question was raised whether the fund had a right to exist. In 2003, the IDF issued a General Staff order directing that all donations to IDF units be channeled through the fund in order to regularize the receipt of donations by various units. The fund operated several educational projects. The 'Bagrut LaLochamim' (matriculation for combat soldiers) project helped combat soldiers and combat supporters complete their matriculation exams. According to LIBI reports, about 94% of soldiers passed the matriculation exams successfully in each cycle, with 85% of them averaging above 85. The fund financed the project until 2011 at a cost of over 14 million shekels. The 'Edim BeMadim' (witnesses in uniform) project supported Holocaust remembrance education for IDF soldiers; about 24 delegations of soldiers traveled to Poland each year, with approximately 3,700 permanent and reserve personnel participating. The 'Havat HaShomer' project, part of the IDF's special populations promotion array (formerly known as 'Na'arei Rafol'), treated young people who had dropped out of the education system, giving them another chance to enlist in the IDF and integrate into Israeli society. The project dealt with soldiers lacking basic life skills, with tendencies toward aggressive behavior, low socio-economic background, adjustment difficulties, criminal background, and low education. In the 'Anachnu BaLev' project, LIBI assisted lone soldiers and new immigrants in Israel by supporting Hebrew courses conducted by the IDF Education Corps. LIBI also supported the 'Amir' course, intended exclusively for members of the Ethiopian community, to ease their integration into military professions and quality roles. In the medical field, under the 'Bri'ut MeKol HaLev' project, the LIBI Fund helped purchase ambulances and intensive-care vehicles for the IDF. The fund also helped acquire mobile dental clinics installed on trucks that reach places without permanent dental clinics. LIBI helped establish physiotherapy clinics in select units. The fund also donated simulation systems and dolls that allow combat soldiers and medical teams to simulate treatment situations and thus improve the teams' proficiency. Until 2011, LIBI transferred about 39 million shekels in donations to the IDF's medical field. In the field of Judaism, in 2009 millions of shekels in donations were transferred through the LIBI Fund to Jewish-themed projects, including: bringing six ornate Torah scrolls to IDF bases at a value of over 800,000 shekels, building a synagogue in the shape of the burning bush at Bahad 1 at a cost of about five million shekels, thousands of Psalms books for combat soldiers during Operation Cast Lead, a mobile consciousness vehicle to spread religious awareness among combat units in the field, and renovation of synagogues. In 2015, the two organizations — the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers and the LIBI Fund — united into one strong, goal-oriented organization operating 100% for IDF soldiers. In 2016, it was decided to merge the fund with the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers and to call the new body 'Yachad LeMa'an HaChayal' (Together for the Soldier). The merged organization is headed by Major General (res.) Yoram Yair ('Ya-Ya'), who performs his role on a voluntary basis, and operates through three main arms: the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers fundraising arm, headed by Colonel (res.) Sheri Carmel; the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers implementation and vacation village arm, headed by Brigadier General (res.) Eyal Alok; and the 'Kivunim' network (formerly 'HaShakem'), headed by Colonel (res.) Alon Baruch. The LIBI Fund as a separate entity ceased operations in 2017.

• 2017

  LIBI Fund ceases operations as a separate entity

• 2016

  Decision to merge into 'Yachad LeMa'an HaChayal'

• 2015

  Association for the Wellbeing of Israel's Soldiers and LIBI Fund unite

• 2011

  Fund ceases financing the Bagrut LaLochamim project after over 14 million shekels

• 2003

  IDF General Staff order channels all unit donations through the fund

• 1989

  State Comptroller report questions the fund's right to exist

• 1982

  Formally registered as an association in July

• 1980

  LIBI Fund established

Non-profit fundraising and welfare organization for IDF soldiers

1. 1דף הבית - האגודה למען החיילufis.org.il
2. 2מי אנחנו? - האגודה למען החיילufis.org.il
3. 3LIBI fund - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4קרן לב"י - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org