The Israel Granting Program is designed to address the critical challenges facing women in Israel today and emphasizes empowerment and leadership programs for women and girls as well as gender equality. Each year NCJW/Essex designates a portion of funds in support of special projects.

In 2015, NCJW/Essex has designated its giving to support a special project of the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education: Training Bedouin Women for the Workforce as Educators in the Pre-School Sector. This unique project empowers Bedouin mothers who wish to work outside the home by training them for paraprofessional work and placement in the early childhood education sector in their communities.