About.
What is aha(tik)va?
aha(tik)va, inc. is a nonprofit corporation formed in the District of Columbia whose mission is to provide comfort to Israeli children and families during times of conflict and to connect American families with Israeli families to provide them with emotional, spiritual/religious, and other forms of social support
Initially, aha(tik)va is dedicating its efforts to sending backpacks filled with toys and comforting items to children in Israel, with each backpack to be donated by a family in the U.S.
These special backpacks are a portable and interactive way of helping Israeli children through difficult situations they may experience in the present while creating an avenue for personal connection between backpack donors and recipients that extends into the future.
aha(tik)va is in the process of applying for, but has not yet received, a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service in respect of an application for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. If we receive (as anticipated) tax-exempt status retroactive to the date of our formation, we will furnish evidence of such status upon request as well as post a notice on aha(tik)va’s website and anticipate that donations to aha(tik)va after 12/1/2023 would be considered tax deductible (to the extent permitted under applicable law).
How did aha(tik)va get started?
After witnessing the aftermath of the Hamas massacre, Rachel, aha(tik)va’s Director and President, sent three “grab and go” backpacks filled with toys and comforting items to the children of Israeli friends fleeting to bomb shelters to help distract from the fear of the moment.
Inspired by the thank you videos the family sent her showing the children’s pure joy from receiving the backpacks, she decided to form a nonprofit with the mission of providing similar comfort to Israeli children and families during times of conflict and to connect American families with Israeli families to provide them with a show of support.
How does aha(tik)va hope to help families in Israel and the U.S.?
In addition to bringing comfort to children fleeing to shelters, aha(tik)va was formed to address two additional needs:
Israeli families are watching with horror the flood of antisemitic rhetoric in America, which has led to a painful perception that there is diminished support for Israel and the Jewish people in the U.S. This nonprofit hopes to create people-to-people connections that help dispel these myths and form connections that bring people from different backgrounds and parts of the world closer together.
Some American families of all religious backgrounds are looking for opportunities to support Israel in a personal way (vs. contributing to a cause without a way to connect with the recipient) and may lack avenues to do so. This non-profit is designed to facilitate such connections.
Why backpacks?
Think of the backpack filled with comforting items and age-appropriate toys as merely a vehicle - to bring joy in the moment to children, but also to establish people-to-people connections that sustain and grow, increase support for Israel, combat antisemitism, and encourage future visits to Israel for these American and Israeli families to meet each other in person.
Will American and Israeli families have the chance to connect through this initiative?
Potentially yes. American donors will have the opportunity to provide a message and their contact information to the recipient family to be sent along with a backpack, with the hope that the Israeli family would reach out to the American donor upon receipt and form a connection that will grow. Israeli families will decide whether to reach out upon receipt of a backpack and a message containing the donor’s contact information.
What will my donation support?
Your donation will fund the purchase and shipping costs of backpacks filled with comforting items and toys for children in Israel, such as arts and crafts, games, kosher candy, fuzzy socks, noise blocking headphones (to lessen the fear from air raid sirens), and soft blankets.
NOTE: The contents of the backpack may change over time and photos are a representative sample of items that may be included.
Leadership and Volunteers
Rachel Welford, Director and President
Lisa Erwin, Director and Secretary
Gary Erwin, Director and Treasurer
Lisa Lanham, Director
Dafna Koren Cohen, Director
Pro Bono Counsel – Cozen O’Connor
Jordan Chisolm
Josh Weinberger
David Sunshine
Jackie Promislo
Rachel Welford
Michael Deutsch
Rob Rubenstein
Volunteers
Stephen Loggins Parker
Elana Roth Parker
Contact
If you have any questions or comments, please email info@ahatikva.org
Get Involved
We are looking for volunteers to support aha(tik)va’s efforts, including to help pack and ship backpacks. Please email volunteer@ahatikva.org to learn more about how you can get involved.
