Words Matter

Update: The campaign continues! Thanks to your support we have surpassed our initial goal of 500,000 shekels. The need, however, is far greater than the amount we originally hoped to raise, which is why the campaign remains active. The anonymous matching donation we received has still not been fully used, which means that every contribution made in the coming days will continue to be doubled and will help us support even more survivors. Words MatterFor someone who has experienced sexual assault, there are moments when the world suddenly and unexpectedly falls silent. Flashbacks strike without warning. Loneliness creeps in. The pain can feel truly unbearable. At the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center, the phones ring numerous times a day and on the other end we hear trembling, courageous women and men. As we listen, the distress in their voice is unmistakable – but so is their life force, seeking a path forward. We hear breaths expanding, words being born out of silence, and moments when a new voice emerges – a voice of hope and resilience. Since the October 7 war, the number of calls to our hotline has only increased. More and more survivors reach out, seeking a rare moment of calm, and someone who will care and believe what their are going through.  Yet just as the need for such support grows greater than ever, government funding has been significantly reduced. To make sure every call is answered, we need your help.  By making a donation, you will ensure more survivors are not left alone in their most vulnerable moments. You will help counter the destructive messages they hear every day, and allow them to be met with a different kind of message - with words that carry hope instead of despair, that offer understanding instead of shame, and compassion instead of loneliness. How does this happen? Your contribution directly helps us train new hotline volunteers to keep our hotlines open 24/7, as well as ensure someone is available to accompany survivors to hospitals and police stations day and night, open new support groups, and train more professionals in law enforcement, healthcare, and social services – improving how survivors are treated in critical moments and preventing further trauma. Just as importantly, your support funds educational workshops for thousands of teenagers and young adults every year, helping prevent sexual violence before it happens. Right now, across Jerusalem and its surroundings, more girls, boys, women, and men are being sexually assaulted – even in your own neighborhood, as well as in communities you may never have visited. The need for support keeps growing, and it is up to all of us to ensure that no one is left to face such devastating trauma alone. You have the power to help make this possible.