Tzedakah (Charity) in Israel

20th
JUN

Myopia

Posted by admin under Disposable Income, Perspective, Poverty in Israel, Social Justice

A friend was visiting the city of Beitar Eilit. He stayed for Shabbat and had a wonderful time. Stayed with friends who live in what are called the “vilot”, basically semidetached or detached homes. (A semi-detached home is Israel is pretty much for the rich). When he came back he told me all about his stay there. All the wonderful neighbors, the car per family, the spacious living and dining room and of course the second floor bedrooms. All a big deal in Israel.

When it was my turn to speak I asked him if he could tell that there was poverty, better yet, rampant poverty in Beitar. He thought I was nuts. How could it be after all he saw? I must be uber-exaggerating when I say that over 40% of Beitar Eilit lives in poverty.

It then became clear that he did not wander off very far from the “vilot” and thus did not see the much higher density areas where it is not uncommon that kids sleep inthe living room for lack of space, or for kids to go to shul (synagogue) with dirty, unkempt and un-ironed clothes et-al.

The problem is, his myopia is not his alone. There are many many who do not realize how widespread poverty is in Israel.