Winter has truly arrived in Israel, with freezing temperatures in our northern and mountainous regions and heavy rains throughout the rest of the country. This winter, Israel faced 15 consecutive days of rain – the first time since 1992. Paired with buildings made of materials designed to remain cool for the bulk of the year’s unrelenting heat, homes in Israel can be even colder indoors than out. 

In these months of cold rain and cloudy skies, Israelis in need suffer: they are significantly more prone to illnesses, especially young children and senior citizens. To alleviate the bitter cold, Meir Panim provides winter essentials to our patrons including scarves, blankets, space heaters, and coats.

This year in particular, we’ve faced an unprecedented crisis: 200,000 Israelis displaced from their homes during the war and living in temporary housing, who left abruptly in early October wearing only the summer clothes on their backs; as well as 360,000 reserve troops fighting on the front lines and also in need of warm clothing. 

Meir Panim has expanded this annual mission and, as we are always open to all, our locations serve as a safety net for anyone in need of a helping hand. This winter, that means providing all that we can to ensure a safer, healthier, more comfortable season despite the challenges surrounding us.