More than 10,000 people live in the Lachish region of Israel. Experts estimate that 30–50% are experiencing trauma-related emotional or psychological distress in the aftermath of October 7. Located northeast of the Gaza border – are experiencing significant trauma-related symptoms following the atrocities of October 7. For many families, professional care is not optional – it's essential to process the trauma and move forward into the future.
Mental health professionals throughout Southern Israel warn that the need for trauma care – already stretched thin before the war - will continue for years. For years, families traveled long distances to seek care in overbooked clinics far from their homes. The delayed treatment and the lack of holistic therapies meant that too often, suffering was left unalleviated, including instances with tragic outcomes.
One Family's StoryStatistics tell us how widespread trauma has become, but the personal stories remind us how families lives are affected every day. Haim ben Aryeh was known throughout his community as a devoted husband, loving father of eight, and a school bus driver who treated every child on his route as if they were his own. Following the October 7 attacks, Haim transported survivors from Kibbutz Be'eri to temporary housing near the Dead Sea. Every day he witnessed overwhelming grief. Every day he carried families whose lives had been shattered. When his work ended, the memories remained. Unable to overcome the emotional burden of what he had experienced, Haim tragically took his own life. His wife, Irit, and their eight children were left to rebuild their lives without him.
Elkana Wiesel's VisionBefore reserve officer Elkana Wiesel was killed in battle in January 2024, he dreamed of creating a place where families could receive emotional healing close to home. His vision was simple yet profound. Communities recover when people recover. His dream is ebing realized today, as Beit Elkana Centre for Holistic Therapy, a centre dedicated to restoring emotional strength throughout the Lachish region in the Negev region. Rather than asking families to navigate a complicated network of disconnected services, Beit Elkana will bring comprehensive care together in one welcoming environment, serving children, parents, couples, educators, veterans, and first responders.
Healing happens in many ways. For one child, it may begin through art therapy. For another, in conversation with a therapist. For someone else, through movement, nature, music, or simply discovering that they are not alone. By bringing together a wide range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, Beit Elkana will help each individual receive the care that best supports their recovery.
Your donation will help create a welcoming therapy centre where families can receive counselling, hydrotherapy, creative arts therapy, horticultural therapy, and other evidence-based treatments that restore emotional well-being and strengthen community resilience. Every dollar brings us closer to opening the doors of a place where healing can truly begin.
