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About HaOgen For Reservist Families
HaOgen for Reservist Families is a volunteer initiative from within the community that assists families in which one of the parents has been drafted into reserve duty.
In a reality where tens of thousands of families are dealing with the absence of a spouse in the reserves, we are an anchor of support and assistance. HaOgen was founded on October 7, 2023, with the deep understanding that when a soldier goes out to defend the country, this cannot be a challenge only for his/her nuclear family. We have a responsibility as a community and state to be there for the soldier's family.
Today we support about 30,000 reservists' families, in 800 communities across the country. We work together, a network of about 20,000 volunteers. And we do a lot of good together.
Our Goal:
To assist reservist families with daily challenges - in managing their household and taking care of their children - and to show these families that we see them, and greatly appreciate their efforts. To do this, we have created a national community support network for these families and connect them to volunteers.
How We Work:
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Matching system between volunteers and families
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Professional volunteer training
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Dedicated and individualized support for families and volunteers
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Available 24/7 for emergencies
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Collaborations with businesses, organizations, other volunteer groups, and local authorities
On October 7, Rachel Azaria initiated the "HaOgen - The Anchor for Reservist Families" based on a similar volunteer project she had established and led in Jerusalem during Operation Protective Edge while she served as deputy mayor of Jerusalem.
However, during the Iron Swords War, the scale of the event dictated the establishment of a national network. On the eve of Simchat Torah, the foundations of the project were laid when Rachel published her first post on social media, opened the first WhatsApp group, and invited diverse groups to join the national mission.
That night, Azaria reached out to a number of women who had been active in the project during Protective Edge, including Yael Yehieli, Rachel Shorti, and Tamar Brodi. Yael Yehieli and Rachel Shorti joined forces and each established a division of the organization:
Rachel Shorti established the technological network that enables the national activity on a large scale and over time.
Yael Yehieli established the training network for local government administrators.
Later, Tamar Brody established the organization's financial mechanism, Tali Segal the organizational structure, Maya Sarig the method for working with volunteers, and thus a group of leading women volunteers in their fields began to take shape, who contributed their skills and time to establish the first phase of the thriving organization that has been operating for over a year and a half.
After a few weeks, some of the group of women who established the first phase ceased their activity in the organization, but their influence and contributions continue to accompany us.
HaOgen for Reservist Families has developed into one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country, a stable and influential organization that operates successfully thanks to the time, talent, and dedication of tens of thousands of volunteers, working together for the benefit of reservist families throughout the country.
This amazing activity reflects the solidarity in Israeli society, and expresses how the strength of a community lies in the action of many who are committed to doing good together.