Yom Tov Assistance Fund

The Yom Tov Assistance Fund is a UK-registered charity established in 1998 and re-registered in 2012, dedicated exclusively to providing direct financial assistance to individuals and families in the Jewish community facing financial hardship, enabling them to afford food and essential items for major Jewish holidays (Yom Tov). Guided by trustees Eli Itzinger (Chair) and David Vogel, its mission embodies Jewish values of compassion, dignity, and communal responsibility, ensuring vulnerable members can celebrate religious observances without undue strain. Renowned for transparent governance, robust safeguarding policies, and full allocation of income to grants—with no reserves or expansion—the fund's distinctive approach prioritises immediate, targeted relief during festive periods when expenses peak.

It funds solely poverty alleviation tied to Yom Tov, offering grants for basic food and essentials to pre-identified UK Jewish individuals and families in straitened circumstances, based on confidential referrals and trustee assessments. There are no programmes for organisations, projects, or broader initiatives; support is hyper-focused on seasonal needs to foster inclusivity and reduce financial burden.

Unsolicited applications from charities or organisations are not accepted—eligibility is restricted to Jewish individuals/families with no geographic sub-limits within the UK, income thresholds, or entity size rules. No open rounds, published guidelines, or deadlines exist for groups; distributions occur trustee-led before key holidays. Typical grant amounts are unpublished but cover essentials, with annual spending fully directed to beneficiaries.

Distinctively, the fund excludes all organisational funding, core costs, capacity building, capital projects, or non-Yom Tov needs, setting it apart as a specialised, individual-only lifeline for holiday hardship in the Jewish community, with no trading, fundraising, or sector engagement.