Since 1991, Hillel - The Right to Choose has helped thousands of Yotzim - those who leave ultra-Orthodox communities to integrate into wider Israeli society. Our clients are men and women aged 18 to 35; 30% are women and 7% are single-mothers.

An insular religious upbringing leaves most lacking basic skills to succeed in Israeli social, educational and employment frameworks. Facing extreme communal censure and lack of understanding, they experience isolation, dire financial stress, homelessness, at-risk behavior and clinical depression as disapproving family and acquaintances cut them off; and they are marginalized by available service networks.

Utilizing a professional staff and trained 340-plus member volunteer force, Hillel services encompass an acute absorption stage meeting basic food, transitional housing, child care, counselling and social networking services at Hillel centers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and transitional apartments in both locations; as well as subsequent development and actualization stages empowering Yotzim to integrate into wider Israeli society by envisioning and realizing long-term education, employment/career, housing and life goals.

All Hillel programs share the long term outcome objective of successful absorption and integration into Israel’s society involving long-term employment, stable housing, engagement in the community and overall self-sufficiency. Hillel is the only organization in Israel providing programming and services to this extremely vulnerable population.

In 2015 Hillel has also implemented an initiative with The Ministry of Social Services for a 24/7 Emergency Shelter for Yotzim. Partially in response to a spate of suicides that rocked the community in 2014, that facility has the capacity to house 6 men and 6 women, and provides the full-range of intake, treatment and referral services necessary for management and support of at-risk clients. The facility opened mid-June 2015.