Jerusalem, 7 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A volunteer initiative is helping bereaved Israeli families locate and recover money left behind by loved ones killed in the war, amid estimates that hundreds of millions of shekels remain locked in financial accounts.
The “Shahar Project,” established in memory of Maj. Shahar Bozaglo, provides families with free assistance navigating banks, pension funds, provident funds and insurance companies.
Families often struggle to deal with complex bureaucracy while grieving, leaving substantial sums unclaimed. The project maps a fallen person’s financial assets, handles paperwork, and follows the process through until the family receives the funds. It estimates that hundreds of millions of shekels, potentially up to NIS 500 million ($163.7 million), remain inaccessible, although this is not an official figure.
The initiative has already helped return more than NIS 10 million ($3.27 million) to four families and is assisting 21 additional families. The service is provided entirely free of charge.
