Tel Aviv

In response to unprecedented trauma caused by the October 7 attacks and war with Hamas, more than 30 Israeli mental health organisations gathered in Ofakim to grapple with how to coordinate their efforts.

October 7th happened everywhere in the country, in very different ways, Tali Levanon, CEO at Israel Trauma Coalition told to source. Nothing compares to what happened that day. I haven’t seen a situation like this happening anywhere in the world.

In a collaborative effort to bolster community resilience in the Western Negev region, the Jewish National Fund USA (JNF-USA), the Israel Coalition for Trauma, and the village and medical center for rehabilitation Adi Negev-Nachlat Eran convened a gathering to meet representatives from numerous organisations and communities in the area.

It is our goal to help those residents who are ready to go back to their communities after the evacuation, to make it easier for them, Tali Tzur, chief of staff of Jewish National Fund USA in Israel explained to TPS-IL. It was clear to everyone that resilience is the key element of making people feel safe while living in this area. You have to prepare them for the moment of a siren or a falling rocket not to get thrown back to the attack of October 7th and to fall apart.

Attended by managers and representatives from regional councils and authorities in the Western Negev, along with partners such as the Western Negev Rehabilitation System of the Jewish Agency.