Social Justice Department

Activities to promote social justice and human rights in Israel

Our Work

“Speak up, judge righteously, champion the poor and the needy.” (Proverbs 31:9)

Since 2003, we have been working to promote the right to live with dignity, combining policy change, rights realization, community work, and education. Our journey began with the struggle of Vicki Knafo and single mothers and intensified during the “Wisconsin Plan,” whose cancellation we helped to lead. We fight against poverty and advocate for the rights of those living in poverty, inspired by the global Fourth World Movement.

We engage with policymakers in Israel while working alongside people living in poverty and exclusion, ensuring that marginalized groups can claim their human rights. Our vision is to build a just society, rooted in state responsibility and social solidarity.

Our work draws deeply from Jewish tradition and universal human rights values, guided by a commitment to tikkun olam and the conviction that achieving justice—not charity—requires legislative and policy change at every level.

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Rights Center

For 12 years, we have operated a Rights Center serving residents of Hadera, Wadi Ara, and the surrounding region. The center provides thousands of citizens with information, guidance, and assistance in realizing their social rights.

We have also launched additional rights-access projects, such as a multilingual hotline during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a program to secure food vouchers, which included service points in East Jerusalem and unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev.

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Working with Evacuees

With the support of the Heks Foundation, we assist residents displaced during the “Iron Swords” war and now returning home. The project focuses on rights realization for residents of Kiryat Shmona and the Arab village of Arab al-Aramshe.

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Forum of Judaism

We are a leading partner in the Forum on Judaism and Social Justice. Member organizations draw inspiration from Jewish tradition to shape a Zionist vision in which the pursuit of social justice is a central mission of the state. Civil society, in turn, bears responsibility to encourage and support state institutions in ensuring a life of dignity for all residents.

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Policy Change

To achieve systemic, nationwide change, we advocate for government policies that impact people living in poverty and exclusion. We are a leading partner in the Forum for the Struggle Against Poverty, working to eliminate poverty and advance the right to live with dignity for all.

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Community Work

It is the responsibility of the community, society, and state to care for their most vulnerable. This duty is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and based on the principle of collective responsibility for meeting the basic needs of all. We fight for the right to live with dignity and without deprivation, grounded in the belief that this obligation belongs not only to individuals, but to society as a whole.

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Educational Resources

We offer a wide range of educational materials for all ages, exploring the intersection of Judaism and social justice—from children and youth to adults.

We also provide training and professional development for educators and social activists, focusing on identifying policy issues, developing practical tools, and advancing social change.

Resources for Your Use