Over Half of Needy Israeli Children Miss Out on School Meal Programs

Approximately 60% of Israeli children facing food insecurity are not covered by the Ministry of Education's school meal program, according to a September 2 report by Calcalist. This figure emerges from a comparison of data on children in need and program participants. While around 500,000 children received meals in kindergartens and schools during the 2023/24 academic year, with numbers remaining similar for the upcoming year, the National Insurance Institute reports that 1.034 million children, or 31.7% of minors in Israel, suffer from inadequate nutrition. A severe level of food insecurity affects 354,000 children, roughly one in ten.

The state program currently only extends to kindergartens and elementary schools, excluding middle and high school students. Furthermore, even within eligible institutions, program utilization has declined from 95% four years ago to 60% for the 2024/25 academic year. Out of a potential budget of 1.6 billion shekels, only 960 million were utilized, as indicated by the Ministry of Education's response to a query from "Mazon - Jewish Response to Hunger." Calcalist estimates the value of the unreceived aid at approximately 640-665 million shekels.

A primary reason for this shortfall is that hot meals are provided as part of extended day programs, which require co-funding from local authorities. Less affluent municipalities often cannot afford these costs, leading them to opt out of the program. The Ministry of Education stated that the difference between budgeted and actual spending reflects the actual program implementation by local authorities, not unused funds.

"As a result, it is precisely the children who need nutrition the most who are left without it," stated attorney Becky Cohen-Keshet from the Poverty Alleviation Forum. The organization advocates for extending the law to older students and decoupling meal access from municipal finances.

Non-profit organizations are attempting to bridge the gap. "Nveta" distributes 20,000 to 25,000 sandwiches daily to students arriving at school without a second meal. Research commissioned by "Nveta" indicates that school meals positively impact children's well-being and academic performance. School staff reported improved concentration, more regular school attendance, and reduced violence among program participants, with grades increasing by an average of 10 points for those receiving meals.

"Nveta" is urging Knesset members and potential education ministers to include a national project for providing breakfasts to middle and high school students in the next government's agenda. The Ministry of Education maintains that expanding the program to older students would require significant additional funding that is not currently allocated.