As families across Israel prepare for Hanukkah, philanthropists Debbie and Michael Flacks have announced a $3 million matching campaign for Colel Chabad – the oldest continuously operating charity network in Israel. Every donation made through Hanukkah will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Flacks Family Foundation, doubling the impact of every gift during the Festival of Lights.
“We view Tzedakah (charity) as a ‘team sport’ or a group effort,” said Debbie Flacks. “Our gift is a matching contribution because we want to encourage others to give during this crucial time for those in need across Israel.”
In continuous operation since 1788, Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously operating charity network in Israel. Since its inception, it has provided aid for those suffering from poverty, illness, or disaster-related destruction. Post October 7, the organization has been a critical lifeline for those displaced by the war, as well as widows, orphans, and others who lost loved ones due to war and terrorism.
“At this fraught time for Israel and the Jewish people, rather than simply returning to pre-war operations, Colel Chabad is committed to expanding our services going forward,” said Rabbi Zalman Duchman, development director of Colel Chabad. “We are not going back to baseline, and we are ramping up our capacity to help people in need.”
This forward momentum is exemplified by the Flacks Chesed Tower, a 44,000-square-foot, 10-story center in the heart of Jerusalem, also sponsored by the Flacks family. Located just steps from the vibrant Machane Yehuda market along Jaffa Street, Chesed Tower is currently under construction and will house a variety of charity programs, including an art studio for individuals with severe physical disabilities, a soup kitchen and day center for the elderly, a synagogue, a lone soldiers center, affordable housing, and much more.
While Colel Chabad serves communities throughout the year, their Hanukkah programs include Gifts for Orphaned Children, which provide toys to children who have lost a parent; a Hanukkah Widows and Orphans Retreat, offering meals, activities, and community connection for widows and their children; Gifts for Hospitalized Children, which brings light to brave children facing illness with toys, treats, and holiday cheer; and Holiday Food Security, which ensures that families have the means to celebrate through soup kitchens, household groceries, meals-on-wheels, and special holiday provisions.
“Hanukkah is a story of the victory of light over darkness, and celebrates the resilience of the Jewish people,” noted Rabbi Sholom Duchman, executive director of Colel Chabad. “In the spirit of Hanukkah, we invite everyone to increase their acts of goodness and kindness and spread light to those who need it.”
Donations to Colel Chabad made through Hanukkah 2025 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Flacks Family Foundation, up to $3 million. To donate, visit www.colelchabad.org.
Written in collaboration with Colel Chabad