Ogen, Israel’s largest nonprofit social lender, has unveiled a sweeping emergency aid initiative aimed at supporting families and small businesses impacted by recent Iranian missile attacks, part of what Israeli officials have called Operation Rising Lion.
Announced Tuesday, the program—titled Israel’s Financial First Responders—will initially provide over NIS 100 million ($30 million) in financial relief and services, with plans to double that figure in the coming weeks. The fund is one of the most significant civilian relief efforts to emerge since Iran’s unprecedented direct strike on Israeli territory.
The package includes NIS 85 million in low-interest loans and credit lines for small businesses and NIS 15 million in interest-free loans earmarked for households suffering income loss or property damage since October 7. According to Ogen, the initiative is designed not only to offer immediate financial relief but also to stabilize vulnerable sectors of Israeli society in the face of growing economic strain.
“We view this as just the beginning,” said Sagi Balasha, CEO of Ogen. “The economic fallout from Operation Rising Lion comes after nearly two years of financial hardship for families and small business owners—many of whom are also army reservists. This program is designed to help them survive this critical period and continue contributing to Israel’s economy.”
In partnership with local municipalities, Ogen is also deploying “municipal recovery kits” in the hardest-hit areas, including Tamra and Haifa. These kits function as localized recovery centers offering residents a single point of contact for housing assistance, employment services, emotional and mental health support, financial counseling, and help navigating government benefits.
Just hours after Iranian missiles struck Tamra, Ogen set up an operations hub to deliver immediate financial support to Arab-Israeli families in the city. The organization emphasized that these community-focused interventions are intended to ensure that “marginalized populations receive immediate, dignified, and effective support.”
