TL;DR: Among those Israelis suffering greatly right now are the people who make up her small business sector. They are in crisis and, with half of them still struggling after October 7, now is the time to expand our support beyond philanthropy. ESEK helps individuals and organizations channel their operational spending—on gifts, merchandise, and more—toward small Israeli businesses, offering support through economic opportunity.
For 20 months, Jewish communities around the world have responded to Israel’s crises with incredible generosity. We’ve sent money, supplies, and solidarity. But the economic toll on the home front—especially for Israel’s 700,000 small businesses—is growing more dire.
These are not headlines. They are real people: artists, shopkeepers, makers, and dreamers who represent 99.5% of Israel’s businesses and over 60% of its private-sector jobs. Many are still recovering from evacuation, war-related losses, and declining tourism. Charity helps but, more often than not, it doesn’t pay rent or keep a supplier in business.
What they need most is customers — and that opens the door for our Global Jewry partners to come together in a bold new way, turning shared values into meaningful action and creating a win-win scenario that makes a real and immediate impact.
New global trade shifts have opened a rare window of opportunity: with tariffs on Chinese goods rising and Israeli imports now at a global minimum, Israeli-made products are suddenly more competitive—and appealing—for international buyers.
And that’s where ESEK comes in. Our new B2B Concierge Service helps Jewish organizations, federations, synagogues, and Stateside businesses source what they already buy—branded gifts, retail items, event goods, and even basic operational products—directly from Israeli small businesses. We handle the logistics, sourcing, and export. You get unique, high-quality products and measurable impact.
In just our first year, ESEK has delivered over $1 million in direct value to Israeli entrepreneurs—many running micro-enterprises with one to three employees. A shift in how we spend—not just how we give—has the power to sustain entire communities.
Supporting Israel isn’t only about allocating dollars to nonprofits. It’s also about recognizing that every dollar spent is a choice. Let’s choose to mobilize the Global Jewry network and work together to spend it in Israel.
Shabbat shalom, wishing for the safety of all Israel and may this be the week the hostages return home,
Andrew Keene
Founder, ESEK
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