Israeli Community

The Foundation works to strengthen Israeli communities, with an emphasis on meaningful volunteering and community cohesion. We believe that volunteering strengthens a sense of belonging and responsibility, opens up new experiences, and fosters connections with people and communities. This work takes shape in several ways:

Promoting community capability to identify needs and develop tailored responses.

Actions that enable communities to navigate change and challenges, while strengthening cohesion, belonging, and trust - among community members and across communities.

Expanding and deepening Good Deeds Day activities across diverse communities in Israel.

Projects, Programs & Activities

Good Deeds Day

Good Deeds Day, organized by Ruach Tova - the Arison Group's nonprofit volunteer center - was founded in Israel by businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison in 2007 and has grown into a global movement uniting 115 countries in action for people and the planet. Millions of people and thousands of organizations worldwide take part, creating positive change in their communities. Good Deeds Day - a peak day for doing good all year round.

Good Deeds Day marks a continuous commitment to doing good throughout the year - promoting community connection, strengthening mutual responsibility, and expanding the circles of volunteering and goodness. The central idea: this is not just a single day, but an example of how our world can look every day. People who join Good Deeds Day tend to continue volunteering and doing good all year round.

Good Deeds Day launched in 2007 with 7,000 participants in Israel. In 2026, millions of people across 115 countries took part.

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Ruach Tova

Ruach Tova, part of the Arison Group, is Israel's leading volunteering organization, matching volunteers with organizations throughout Israel. Through a unique search engine, volunteers can find personalized opportunities based on location and target population. Ruach Tova works across all sectors through dedicated departments: for individuals and groups; for businesses - applying an innovative corporate volunteering model that measures impact on both community and employees; for local authorities - through professional support, peer learning, and regional and national initiatives; and for Arab society - through tailored community initiatives that strengthen engagement and social resilience.

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The Social Cohesion Leaders Program

The Social Cohesion Leaders Program was launched by the Ted Arison Family Foundation in partnership with the Merchavim Institute and Ruach Tova, and operated from 2019 to 2025. It brought together leading organizations from the public, business, and social sectors.

Participants - managers in key roles - gained knowledge and tools to promote and embed a culture of social cohesion within their organizations, through the design and delivery of targeted programs.

250 program graduates continue to act as social cohesion ambassadors within their organizations and across society.

Shahaf Foundation

The Foundation was a partner in the Shahaf Foundation, established in 2010 as a philanthropic partnership between donors in Israel and abroad, with the goal of advancing a movement of mission-driven youth communities. The Shahaf Foundation operated a unique model of philanthropic partnership, bringing together 20 funds, organizations, and private donors from Israel and worldwide.