The below article was written by RUTH EGLASH of the Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com) it appeared on November 16, 2009 in their online publications.
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Close to half of Israeli's population lives in constant fear that the government's economic policies will force them into a life of extreme poverty, according to a study published Monday to coincide with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
A man searches through the garbage in Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda open-air market.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski via JPost.com
The day was marked worldwide on October 17, but will take place here among non-profit organizations on Tuesday.
Using a sample of some 500 Israeli adults, the survey, which was conducted by the Forum for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, found that 46 percent of the those polled were in a perpetual state of fear that government policy would cause them to fall below the poverty line. Only a quarter of those questioned for the telephone survey said they felt financially secure in their current situation.
"We deal with this kind of fear every day," commented B., a working mother of five who asked that her real name be withheld. "Both my husband and I work full-time, but we have no outside help and no assistance from the government. We are constantly struggling to make ends meet."
B., who lives in Jerusalem and whose husband works in hi-tech, added, "We live a simple life, and we don't waste money. We have no car and no television, but we still spend more than half of our income on rent. The situation is absurd."
The family will be among those presenting their personal stories Tuesday at a special conference for lawmakers in the Knesset, organized by the Forum for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
"The situation will only change if we are able to put a face on poverty," said Jona Rosenfeld, professor emeritus from the School of Social Work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and from the Unit of Learning from His Success and On-going Learning in Human Services at the JDC-Myers Brookdale Institute. "Studies and surveys will not bring change. Most of these people living in poverty or fear of poverty are anonymous; they do not have voices, and there is no discourse."
Several of the key Knesset committees will focus on poverty during their sessions on Tuesday.
In addition to the financial fears faced by most of the population, the survey found that roughly a quarter (24%) of those questioned admitted they'd had to make serious cutbacks to their budget this year and prioritize food and medicine in their expenses.
While recognizing that this fear derived from the present global economic crisis some 77% of those questioned said they believed that the fall into poverty was not solely the fault of the individuals, and only 19% said it was the individuals' responsibility to get themselves out of financial difficulties.
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Issues of poverty and an onslaught of helplessness continue to plague the most vulnerable in Israel. While many fear the changes that they'll face if the economic crisis worsens there are those that are hurting now. The Physical and Spiritual crises in Israel is not too big for what God has planned for this great country. Let us pray that all of Israel would come to know their true Provider, the One who will never let them down or let their needs go without being fulfilled.
If you would like to know how you can get involved please visit http://www.thehopeforisrael.org and to donate today please visit http://www.thehopeforisrael.org/donate.html
Blessings and Shalom,
The Hope For Israel Relief Fund
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