Schechter’s Hope and Healing Campaign

In just two years, Schechter has seen phenomenal growth in its five groundbreaking certificate programs that help strengthen resilience by focusing on creative healing modalities. Schechter’s approach produces a healing–Jewish identity nexus that resonates deeply with Israelis from all different communities and walks of life.

THE  SCHECHTER  INSTITUTE  OF  JEWISH  STUDIES

The following programs are transforming students from around Israel:

*Marpeh  in the Gaza-border town of Ofakim
*Marpeh  in the northern Galilee town of Kiryat Shmona:

Marpeh  is designed to help replenish the emotional and psychological strength of individuals in leadership positions in “the helping professions” who have worked tirelessly to support their students, clients, patients, employees and communities in Israel’s war ravaged North and South. It enables them to invest in a Jewish learning-based, creative healing process so they can continue to do their invaluable work across all sectors in northern Israel.

*The Bibliotherapy Certificate program:
Bibliotherapy  combines academic courses that explore the intersection between bibliotherapy  and various literary genres—from the Bible, through Midrash and Hasidic writings and Hebrew literature. Throughout the program, participants – social workers, therapists, community programming directors in search of new, relevant approaches to make their work more effective.

*Sfat HaNefesh:
This program is intended for professionals and managers. It is especially suited for those working with populations dealing with trauma, loss, or crisis:

• Educators dealing with children who have been displaced from their homes, experienced bereavement, or been exposed to traumatic content
• Managers overseeing reservists returning to work after extended service and the loss of comrades
• Medical personnel supporting the injured and their families in spaces of grief and loss
• Army commanders leading soldiers in prolonged, intense combat situations

Participants learn applicable skills that enhance their professional and personal capacities, while also contributing to more attentive and sensitive professional environments—spaces that foster growth and hope.

*The Psychodrama Certificate program:
Psychodrama  is designed for educators, counselors and therapists who seek a transformative experiential space that fosters change in both intrapersonal and group relationships. The program integrates advanced approaches in psychotherapy with Jewish thought and tradition. Psychodrama  is a therapeutic method centered on human drama in action. At the heart of the therapeutic process, the participant—guided responsibly and professionally—enacts, with the help of the group, significant roles from real-life events. The group process is characterized by an empathic approach that balances containment and boundaries, creating a sense of release, recuperation and solace.

THE  SCHECHTER  RABBINICAL  SEMINARY (SRS)
B’chol Nafshach  includes two week-long retreats for recently released IDF soldiers and provides respite and healing, utilizing prayer, Jewish study, and therapy. In addition, SRS runs a weekly Beit Midrash for these young adults.

TALI  EDUCATION  FUND
TALI, which provides pluralistic Jewish education to 65,000 Israeli children, is expanding its unique Friends Across the Sea program, building bridges to strengthen Israel-Diaspora communication, and its Dialogue and Identity  program – to promote and improve Jewish-Arab-Druze relations in Israel.

NEVE  SCHECHTER  OUTREACH  CENTER  IN  TEL AVIV
The Artists’ Beit Midrash  guides young Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in Tel Aviv, who escaped one war only to find another. The young artists benefit from emotional support and counseling, and meaningful Jewish connection. We are expanding this program to include Ethiopian Israelis.  

CAMP  RAMAH  UKRAINE
Entering its 34^th season, our camp is crucial for Ukrainian Jewish children as a much-needed respite from war since February 2022. Due to increased demand, the camp now accepts 165 children every summer, an increase from 125 in 2023, yet there is still a waiting list.