Last Thursday, a festive inauguration took place at the new Bayit Cham clinic in Ofakim. This new branch was opened following the events of Oct. 7^th, in order to provide culturally adapted therapy for the residents of Ofakim and its environs.                                                                                              

The moving ceremony was attended by Minister of Labor and MK Rabbi Yoav Ben Tzur, the Mayor of Ofakim Mr. Itzik Danino and his deputies, rabbis and distinguished public figures as well as Bayit Cham’s CEO Rabbi Arie Munk and other senior directors.

We wish much success to all the branch’s therapists and we are happy to provide a secure, helpful place for the residents of the city.

May we share good news💙

Senior citizens and youth? We’re one community, one Nation🇱💙

The participants of the Anan program who work at our Technology Center went out last Thursday to a sheltered living facility in Jerusalem, for a joint activity with the residents. The purpose of the outing was to mark 100 days of the war in Israel and a desire to share the burden and empathize with the evacuee families. What’s the connection?

Young participants and those who are young at heart (they don’t rest for a second – they’re charming and super-active✋️😍) planted cuttings in flower pots, which they will send in about a month to evacuee families after the plants take root and begin to grow in the new soil.

The employees at the Technological Center are used to creating things from scratch; they refurbish electronic waste for the benefit of others. This time they did it with plants for the community – to give to them and offer a message of hope❤️

Like cuttings that strike roots, we wish all the evacuee families to soon take root again, grow, and flourish.

We wish you a Tu BiShvat with good news.

Hope means waiting for something good to happen. It is combines emotions, thought and behavior. It has an important therapeutic affect that helps a person, both practically and theoretically, to arrive at a better place.

On Tu BiShvat the feeling of abundant hope is in the air… in the planting, in the rooting, in the growth, in the sweet fruits, in the celebration of the trees and the greenery, in the Land of Milk and Honey.

So lately we haven’t exactly been licking honey, and there’s been a lot of worry and pain. Maybe we’ll give Tu BiShvat a chance to give us some hope? Don’t give up on the fruits and the planting… Look there for meaning that will give you strength.

Good news☘️

“She came with a lack of trust and self-esteem at a level I’ve never seen before… with a belief that she was absolutely incapable of doing anything, with a kind of despair and a sense that she totally lacked the ability to manage her own life in an extreme way.” This is what Leah, a life coach at Bayit Cham’s Tze’adim center, told us this week, when she shared an extremely moving email that she received from a woman she had coached two years ago. Here are excerpts: “I wanted to tell you about the amazing changes that, thank G-d, are happening to me. If I’m sending you an email, then you realize that I now know how to use a computer; it was much easier than it seemed at first… and the most significant change I’ve made is with employment. Despite all the difficulties, I had the strength not to give up. I applied for a job to run group activities and believed that I was capable of doing it, with G-d’s help. Now I am running 14 (!) group activities each week, for which I am well paid. I come home from work just plain filled with satisfaction, pleasure, and joyful experiences to remember! I feel that the coaching process that I went through with you was the powerful motor that propelled me forward to all that has happened, and I want to thank you again and bless you 🙏”

We’re proud…❤️ Precisely now, when the situation in Israel is full of uncertainty and pain, this is the time to lift yourself up with the help of professional coaches who will guide you to discover your inner strength (and you do have it in you!) and make significant changes in your life. For more details and registration >>> https://www.bayit-cham.org.il/en/tzeadim/

This week an adoptive parents’ support group completed a series of sessions, co-facilitated by MSW Mali Gavra, Bayit Cham’s Lev LaMishpacha trauma specialist and social worker Yael Elbaz of Israel’s Child Services Unit. These two organizations collaborated on Lev LaMishpacha, a unique program that aims to provide psychotherapy to the adoption community in Israel: adoptive parents and their children, children and adults who were adopted, the biological family or any other significant relative.

The Iron Swords war created new traumas and triggered previous ones among many people, and also affected the adoption community. Bayit Cham’s program directors, in partnership with the Child Services Unit, established online parent groups to help them cope during this stressful time.

The sessions gave them the opportunity to observe and discuss specific symptoms that arise among adopted children including anxiety, concern for their biological family, insecurity (in the world), and more. They acquired tools for emotional regulation, handling various behaviors, and connecting to the strengths of the children and parents.

Another second group is about to complete their series of supportive sessions and a third group is slated to open soon. If you are part of the adoption community in Israel, you are welcome to contact us for information, to register for the group, or to receive therapy. The services are offered throughout Israel and are free of charge.

Write or call: Feigy.p@bch.org.il,  073-2800487