Many infants in Israel do not receive sufficient nutrition. These babies are forced to settle for diluted milk, formula substitutes that do not meet their needs, and sometimes at inadequate frequencies. The Ish Tzadik Haya association was established out of a desire to provide a solution for these infants and offer them initial aid during the critical period of their development.

The association assists families struggling to provide food for their children, driven by the aspiration to grant these infants the basic and existential need for a better start in life.

The association operates in collaboration with municipal welfare authorities across the country, which refer needy families to the organization. To give a donation to the needy is the way to contribute to society and help families emerge from their current distress.

Needy individuals report to the Ish Tzadik Haya association about reducing meal sizes, skipping meals, substituting water for food, using an incorrect formula mixture, and trying to get to a hospital under various pretexts merely so the baby can receive the nourishment they need there.

Hungry children are not just in distant Africa; they could be the neighbor across the hall, the driver next to you at the traffic light, the person standing beside you in line at the supermarket or clinic. Sometimes even a relative may be needy, but due to shame, will never reveal it.

So what can be done?

Open your eyes, open your heart, and help—even just a little. These children are at risk, and a contribution for them is a true act of charity.

We operate hand-in-hand and in full cooperation with welfare authorities in various cities. Since we do not have the tools to verify the eligibility of every applicant, anyone seeking assistance from the association is required to provide confirmation from the welfare authorities or a social worker who has visited the family's home and submitted a detailed report on the need.

Many authorities turn directly to us and present us with lists of families they deem worthy of assistance. These authorities submit the social reports of the families alongside the lists (after they have signed a waiver of confidentiality). These reports are presented to the association's support committee, and the level of assistance for each family is determined based on them.

Nutrition during infancy represents a unique, non-recurring opportunity to lay the foundation for a child's future health and physical function. The rapid growth rate and the quality of developing tissues depend entirely on a steady and comprehensive supply of all nutritional components; therefore, this period is vital for the nutrition of both infants and toddlers.

During this stage, the development of critical systems—such as the brain, central nervous system, immune system, vision, and digestion—is at its peak, progressing faster than at any other time in the child's life. Although a baby is born with nutrient reserves acquired in the womb, they require a continuous and balanced intake of nutrients in the appropriate composition and quantities. This includes macronutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates), vitamins, minerals, and functional components such as prebiotics, nucleotides, and LC-PUFAs (Omega-3 and Omega-6).

Because infant nutrition is so critical, international standards have been established to mandate that formula manufacturers worldwide adhere to precise and reliable compositions. The European Directive, based on recommendations from the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), has defined strict guidelines regarding the composition of infant formula.

In numerous reports and publications, one often encounters the distressing image of the needy foraging through discarded food at markets and commercial chains at the close of the business day. While some may retrieve viable vegetables or a slightly damaged piece of fruit, infant formula is never found haphazardly among the refuse.

Due to commercial considerations, damaged boxes or those nearing their expiration date are rarely offered even at a discount; instead, they are routinely marked for destruction.

Upon securing a formula donation from several companies, we reached out to a family requesting assistance to determine if the blend was suitable for their baby. Their poignant reply was, "When the baby is hungry, he will consume whatever we can provide." For them, the ability to choose a specific formula appropriate for a sensitive infant was tragically regarded as a privilege they simply could not afford.