Assistance to bereaved families marking the anniversary of the October 7 massacre


Towards the anniversary of the October 7th massacre, the National Insurance will help bereaved families finance memorial expenses and transportation to cemeteries, emotionally and mentally, and more

Towards the first anniversary of the Shabbat of October 7, 2023, and the outbreak of the "iron swords" war, the National Insurance contacted the bereaved families from among the citizens of Israel (the security forces are handled by the Ministry of Defense), in order to help finance the expenses involved in memorials for those who have lost what is most precious to them.

Participation in memorial expenses

Bereaved parents and spouses of a fatal victim will be entitled to a participation in memorial expenses. The National Insurance will automatically transfer the financial aid to the bank accounts during the secular month of death. The amount of assistance will be NIS 1,047. 

  • If the parents of the victim are divorced – each parent will receive the funding separately.
  • In cases where the victim has not left any living parents – the grant will be paid to one of the bereaved siblings and with the consent of the remaining family regarding the person to whom the budget will be transferred.
  • In cases where the victim has left no spouse – the grant will be paid to one of the orphans with the consent of the family.

In addition, the National Insurance will automatically transfer NIS 1,500 to the families for assistance and financing transportation to the cemetery at the request of the family. This year – the amount includes both the assistance for the 11th month and the anniversary of death. This entitlement will be transferred each and every year to the bereaved families.

Mental assistance

In these complex days, during the month of October, the National Insurance will inform the families that Natal's helpline will be available by phone at any time (except Yom Kippur) for support and mental help. Accompaniment can be one-time or as a longer series of treatments.

Memory of victims

In addition, these days the National Insurance continues to update the memorial site 'Laad' with the story of their lives and deaths, and indicates the burial place of the murdered throughout the country. It will be possible to issue through the site a personalized memory label adapted for pasting to a memorial candle with the name of the victim, as well as lighting a memorial candle on the site online, and  sharing it on social networks.

At the State Monument on Mount Herzl for the Fallen of Hostile Actions, the National Insurance is working to engrave the names of all the fallen victims of hostile actions who perished from 7/10 until today.

During this period, the National Insurance will also organize Zoom meetings and home visits of employees of the Rehabilitation Department for families who wish to do so, and they will accompany them during this complex and difficult time.

  • Minister of Labor, Yoav Ben Tzur: "The State of Israel is in the midst of a difficult and painful war and is exacting a price and particularly painful personal and national losses. In preparation for the anniversary of October 7th, we try to do everything we can to help, support and embrace the bereaved families. The National Insurance will continue to accompany and help the families, both financially and mentally, from now on in the hope that we will be able to help, even a little, to cope with the enormous void left by the loss of those most precious of all. "
  • Acting Director General of the National Insurance, Zvika Cohen: "We are approaching huge steps to mark the first anniversary of the October 7th massacre and the beginning of the 'Iron Swords War' while we are still in the midst of fighting and unfortunately continue to pay a personal and national price that is unbearable. National Insurance employees, some of whom also lost their loved ones on the black Shabbat and during the war see their work and accompanying the families as unparalleled public, moral and human mission. We seek to strengthen the hands of the families and to bring to their attention the rights that may help, even a little, in dealing with the hardest of situation."

    As mentioned above, bereaved families are constantly accompanied by employees of the Hostile Actions and Rehabilitation Departments of the National Insurance, and in the coming days a comprehensive binder of rights to which they are entitled in all offices and public service organizations. The binder will be distributed physically and digitally to all bereaved families.