We Stand with Israel and Its People

October 30, 2023

To our valued clients and partners,

On October 7th, we all woke up to news of the devastating Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, a horrific attack words cannot describe. These events have changed the course of our lives and will forever be with us as individuals, as a country and as a nation.  

As we navigate the heavy weight of this reality, we are inspired by the extraordinary response of both our local and global communities. It is now more than ever that we bear witness Israel’s strength and the fortitude of its people.

Israel will prevail but the path to recovery will be long, most significantly for those who were directly affected by the atrocities – the families and children who survived the attacks.  

As we shift our focus from the immediate response we provided over the past few weeks, we are looking to the future and the long path to recovery. With this in mind, we are proud to share that, Discount Group, which we are part of, has launched Keren Or, a foundation dedicated to providing holistic long-term support to children and youth impacted by the attacks.  

Keren Or (Hebrew for “Ray of Light”) will be run by a professional committee with the Heznek Le’Atid Association, and in collaboration with the Israeli Trauma Coalition to bring forward comprehensive support services, which will include but are not limited to mental health, medical, and both special and general education. The foundation will be run by a professional committee, comprised of health and education experts, to ensure that donations and resources go directly to children and families with efficiency, speed and without burdensome bureaucracy for as long as it is needed.

Discount Group has committed an initial amount of approximately $15 million to launch the foundation.

We believe this cause will help our youth and children, who are the future of Israel, recover from what they have been through.

As we work closely with Discount Group to bring forward critical resources through Keren Or, we will have more information about how you can support Keren Or here in the United States.

We are proud to stand with Israel and we are optimistic for the future. I would like to thank you for your continued relationship and your partnership, as we introduce this promising initiative.

Kind regards, 
Ziv Biron
President and CEO of IDB Bank