By Nativia Bühler

You most likely know the phrase: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” That saying captures the heart of what follows.

When the war broke out, life in Israel’s north stopped overnight. Families were evacuated, entire towns emptied, and businesses that had taken years to build were shuttered, with no time to prepare. For many, the challenges escalated when tens of thousands of men and women were called up for military reserve duty, leaving their families to manage households alone.

Across the country, about 130,000 reservists were serving this summer, according to the Israel Defense Forces, with more than 60,000 newly called up and another 20,000 extended in their service. For families in the north, already uprooted by evacuation, the effect was devastating. Households suddenly operated as single-parent homes, often with mothers juggling traumatised children and the uncertain future of their businesses.

Today, an ICEJ-sponsored support program walks alongside these business owners in the hard-hit northern towns of Shlomi and Ma’ale Yosef. ICEJ first supported 62 small businesses. This seed funding helped launch a program that now reaches 460 businesses across Israel’s north and south. Each receives a tailored plan to meet their unique needs, ranging from business coaching and marketing support to help with branding, accessing government benefits, and sometimes direct grants. The program’s goal is not survival, but long-term recovery: restoring income, building resilience, and supporting the renewal of local communities.

The impact is evident in the border town of Shlomi, near Lebanon. Yochai, a respected martial arts coach, once ran a thriving studio for 170 children and teenagers. His gym was a second home where kids learned discipline, strength, and respect. But evacuation scattered his students, the doors closed, and while serving in the reserves, he suffered a serious injury.

Now, months later, Yochai has returned, but to a different reality. Only 30 students have returned, while rent debts of 60,000 Shekels weigh heavily on him. “I don’t want to give up,” he said, and explained his efforts to rebuild with the help of a business mentor and digital advertising grants. “The kids need a place like this. And I need to make it work.” ICEJ support has provided him with mentoring and grants, helping Yochai rebuild his school and keep his students engaged. By spring, he hopes to have 100 students back on the mats.

Not far away, Orly, a caterer, refused to let the evacuation stop her. From her hotel room in Jerusalem, where she was evacuated with her children while her husband was on reserve duty, she continued cooking meals for fellow evacuees. Her small home-based business once brought in about 100,000 Shekels annually, supplementing her regular job. Today, she is back in Shlomi, trying to rebuild her customer base even as she works part-time to keep her family afloat. Through ICEJ’s support, Orly received digital promotion training, is reconnecting with customers and regaining momentum for her business.

Einav, a mother of a child on the autism spectrum, had found stability by combining two business ideas: a rustic guesthouse for couples and a balloon-decorating business for events. The war impacted both, leaving her with debts and the burden of running her home alone while her husband served the country. With ICEJ sponsoring consulting and marketing support, Einav is gradually restoring her businesses and ensuring a steady income for her family.

For business owners like Yochai, Orly and Einav, rebuilding is a journey. Through this program’s targeted support and their determination, these entrepreneurs are not simply returning to the past, but creating stronger, renewed businesses that contribute to the future of northern Israel.

Municipal leaders emphasise that these are just the first steps. By supporting business owners to restart and renew, the program seeks not only to provide for families but to restore the vital economic and social heartbeat of northern Israel.

Thank you for standing with Israel during this challenging time. Please consider donating to help families and small businesses rebuild through our Israel in Crisis fund: help.icej.org/crisis.