On 8 October 2023, as sirens blared in the background, Telfed staff gathered on Zoom to devise an action plan. With so much uncertainty around us, one thing was clear: our community needed support. The first priority was reaching out to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Olim, starting with those in the Gaza envelope. We were all scared, worried, and deeply shaken.
In the weeks that followed, Telfed’s Social Worker led a team of volunteers making calls to check in on community members. Recognising the growing need for mental health support, we welcomed an additional Social Worker, focusing on Olim evacuees, survivors of the massacre, and bereaved families.
“War is like an open wound – raw, painful, and slow to heal. In times of prolonged crisis, the usual ways we cope can feel inadequate, leaving emotions exposed and resilience stretched thin. The weight of uncertainty, grief, and fear takes its toll, making even the strongest among us more vulnerable to emotional distress,” said Ariela Siegel, Telfed Social Worker.
This powerful insight reflects the deep emotional toll many are experiencing, and it underscored the urgency of providing targeted mental wellbeing support. Over the past year and half, we have partnered with trauma experts to offer webinars, support groups, and much-needed resources. Parents faced an overwhelming challenge – how do you reassure your children when you’re struggling yourself? How do you talk to adult children returning from the frontlines after witnessing the unimaginable?
“We see a growing need for initiatives promoting mental health and wellbeing in response to the trauma of the war. As a community organisation, we are well positioned to use the reach and relationships we’ve built over the past 77 years to provide this support,” says Robby Hilkowitz, Chairman of Telfed’s newly established Mental Wellbeing Committee. “We have a team of outstanding professionals and lay people with an interest in mental wellbeing who are committed to building resilience and healing,” he adds. “The committee is working on several programmes to encourage mental wellbeing, starting with the launch of R U OK? in Israel for English speakers.”
Originally launched in Australia, R U OK? is a peer-to-peer support initiative brought to Israel by Enosh, the Israeli Mental Health Association. Telfed has now made it accessible to the English-speaking community in memory of Dina Oraya Isaacson Z”L. Workshops have already begun, equipping participants with the tools to spot the signs of distress and start meaningful conversations.
Telfed Regional Volunteers, who serve as a key connection for new Olim across the country, along with PRAS student scholarship coordinators, were among the first to take part.
Sometimes, all it takes is a simple question: R U OK?
Reaching out to a friend, a neighbour, or a colleague could make all the difference.
Would you like to get involved or attend an R U OK? workshop? Contact Louise Geva on 054 429 9688.
For more information, visit www.telfed.org.il/r-u-ok.