Yad Ezer L'Haver

Yad Ezer L'Haver (יד עזר לחבר, "Helping Hand to a Friend") is an Israeli nonprofit organization founded in 1995 in Haifa by Shimon Sabag, who serves as its founder and director. It was registered as an amutah (nonprofit) in 2001. The organization was established in response to the severe economic and social plight of Holocaust survivors in Israel. It operates a "Kiryat Chesed" (Village of Kindness) in Haifa, spanning three streets, where numerous Holocaust survivors who previously lived below the poverty line now reside. Residents receive comfortable housing, three meals a day, physiotherapy treatments, and a variety of daily social activities at a social club within the organization's compound in the Hadar neighborhood of Haifa. In addition, the organization distributes hundreds of hot meals daily to Holocaust survivors through its soup kitchen, which was established over three decades ago. It also runs a "Children's Home" for at-risk children and youth, assists the elderly, and extends help to the disabled, the helpless, and low-income families. Yad Ezer L'Haver serves as an anchor of security and compassion for many of Israel's senior and non-senior citizens, especially during times of crisis and war, but also in routine days throughout the year. In early October 2025, the organization inaugurated the "October 7" Museum, born out of deep pain and a sense of mission to preserve the memory of the victims murdered on that painful day by Hamas terrorists at the Nova festival and in the Gaza envelope communities, as well as many security forces, including IDF soldiers and Israeli police officers who fell in the fierce battles of the "Iron Swords" war. The organization is not funded by the state or municipalities; all its activities are financed solely by private donations and good people along the way. It maintains proper management according to the Registrar of Nonprofits and has Section 46 tax status. Yad Ezer L'Haver mobilizes for the war effort, extending a hand and embracing the residents of the north, Holocaust survivors, the elderly, the disabled, the helpless, and low-income families.

Yad Ezer L'Haver was founded in 1995 in Haifa by Shimon Sabag, who continues to serve as its director. The organization was established against the backdrop of the difficult economic and social situation of Holocaust survivors in Israel. In 2001, it became a registered nonprofit (amutah) with the Israeli Registrar of Nonprofits. Since its founding, the organization has operated through public donations and volunteers across Israel, without financial support from the state. Over the years, it focused its activities on aiding Holocaust survivors living in poor economic conditions, suffering from loneliness and hunger. It operates a "Kiryat Chesed" (Village of Kindness) in Haifa, where over 120 Holocaust survivors who previously lived below the poverty line now reside. The organization provides housing, food, social services, and community life. Additional activities include operating soup kitchens that serve hundreds of hot lunches daily to the needy, distributing food packages twice a year (Passover and Rosh Hashanah), housing the homeless, holding annual tribute ceremonies for female Holocaust survivors (including a beauty queen pageant), organizing bar mitzvah ceremonies for survivors who did not celebrate in their youth, running a social club with three hot meals a day, enrichment classes, medical staff, and 24/7 support, operating a Holocaust museum, awarding the "Yad Ezer L'Haver" – "Shield of Social Justice" prize, and holding a "Miss Holocaust Survivor" competition. In 2018, the organization established the Holocaust Museum in Kiryat Chesed on Kasel Street in Haifa. The museum documents the testimonies of survivors living in the organization's warm home and those who have passed away in recent years, using digital media. It houses memorial and art collections donated by families of Holocaust survivors. A unique feature is that visitors can learn about survivors during the tour and then meet them face-to-face as residents of the home, hear their stories directly, and provide companionship to alleviate their loneliness. The organization holds annual ceremonies on both Israeli Holocaust Remembrance Day and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, with thousands of participants including survivors, students, football teams, ministers, Knesset members, and ambassadors. It has received recognition including the President's Award, the Galilee Peace War Medal, the Minister of Welfare Shield (2007 and 2011), and the title of Yakir Ha'ir Haifa (2018). In early October 2025, the organization inaugurated the "October 7" Museum, dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The organization is not funded by the state or municipalities; all activities are financed solely by private donations. It maintains proper management according to the Registrar of Nonprofits and has Section 46 tax status. Yad Ezer L'Haver mobilizes for the war effort, extending help to residents of the north, Holocaust survivors, the elderly, the disabled, the helpless, and low-income families.

• 2025

  Inaugurated the October 7 Museum in early October.

• 2018

  Established the Holocaust Museum in Kiryat Chesed, Haifa; received the Yakir Ha'ir Haifa (Honored Citizen of Haifa) award.

• 2011

  Received the Minister of Welfare Shield again.

• 2007

  Received the Minister of Welfare Shield.

• 2001

  Registered as a nonprofit (amutah) with the Israeli Registrar of Nonprofits.

• 1995

  Founded in Haifa by Shimon Sabag.

Nonprofit organization providing direct aid to Holocaust survivors and other vulnerable populations in Israel, funded by private donations.

1. 1Official websiteyadezer.org.il
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hebrew Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org