The Edward Cohen z"l fund

Anyone who knew Edward also knew that for him, the existence of the State of Israel was a miracle he was privileged to witness and give thanks for during his life. Making aliyah was, for him, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Throughout his life, Edward was dedicated to social causes, continuously advocating for disadvantaged communities and actively involved in the establishment and management of numerous social organizations and nonprofits. Doing good was his way of life. Following the events of October 7, Edward sought ways to assist and contribute, but unfortunately, he did not live to see it through as he passed away suddenly in the midst of the war. As we mark a year since his passing, we have decided to honor his memory by establishing a fund to support the recovery of those affected by the war. This fund reflects his values and aims to bring some light during this difficult time. The fund will provide support to military reservists and their families, as well as residents displaced by the war, by offering interest-free loans and financial empowerment tools to help them rebuild. We chose to establish this fund in partnership with Ogen (formerly known as the Israel Free Loan Association), an organization Edward co-founded and served as Chair of its Board. Ogen’s unique lending model enables donations to be used repeatedly, creating a broader ripple effect with every contribution. The Cohen family has committed a donation of 350,000 NIS to launch this fund. We invite you to join us in supporting the fund’s goals with a contribution in Edward’s memory. Ogen is a nonprofit financial institution with a mission to promote fairness and equal opportunity in Israeli society through economic tools. Ogen achieves this by providing fair credit, focusing on marginalized and underserved populations, offering financial education to foster economic independence, and operating mentoring programs to enhance the management skills of small business owners and social enterprise CEOs. Ogen’s impact creates life-changing opportunities for families, individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits—many of whom face structural challenges within the financial market that limit their access to credit and economic knowledge. Ogen’s loan model is cyclical, with all loan repayments reinvested to support more borrowers, thereby amplifying the impact of every donation.