Nov 28, 2024

IDF Reservists Face Combat-related Trauma With Federation Support

Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund (IEF), which raised more than $30 million, is directing critical medical and trauma relief resources to strengthen the resilience of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists impacted by the war. Through B’shvil Hamachar, combat reservists are learning tools and coping strategies to manage their PTSD. For Gaia Harris, who served as a combat paramedic, attending a B’shvil Hamachar retreat provided much-needed comfort and the skills to manage the mental and physical challenges of war. “The journey, the friends, the connections helped me continue my life in a healthy and complete way and to understand what I wanted from life — to understand that I want life,” she said. In the past year, more than 900 IDF reservists have benefited from more than 70 trauma retreats, enabling them to begin the healing journey and reconnect with civilian life. A $100,000-plus grant from our IEF will be used to train 30 new facilitators to expand the scope of services and meet the increased demand for psychological support.