Maccabi World Union launches a national project for PTSD victims from the Nova Party 

Maccabi World Union is launching a national project in its glamping tent complex in Kfar Maccabiah – for PTSD victims from a Nova party on October 7th – the "Balance – A Place to Breathe" program.

The recently erected glamping tent site in Kfar Maccabiah was enabled by GLOW Glamping with generous funding from the Chicago Jewish Federation. The site includes around 30 tents and will host a professional support project for survivors of a Nova party near the Gaza Strip (held on October 7th). It will be operated by Maccabi World Union in cooperation with two non-profits: The "Safe Heart" Amutah, which includes about 400 psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, psychotherapists and certified clinical counselors with experience in working with severe traumatic experiences and minimizing psychedelic damage.

The "Yoga Brothers" Amutah, which was founded to treat people coping with post-traumatic stress disorder on security grounds and provide them with tools for a healthy routine. The program includes yoga as a way of life and combines tools such as sensitive and adapted physical practice, proper breathing, relaxation, nutrition, positive thinking, meditation and more. 

The Yoga Brothers program is run by trauma-sensitive yoga teachers and a clinical treatment team. The Amutah was inspired by “Ease at Warriors”, an American non-profit that has been working since 2011 through combat shock yoga in the US military. 

Roy Hessing – Maccabi World Union Vice President and Maccabiah CEO: " Maccabi World Union has opened its doors to almost 1,000 evacuated residents who have been staying at Kfar Maccabiah Hotel since October 8. The efforts included the establishment of a “small town” that includes an array of cultural, educational, and sports activities.” 

The project will run in parallel with the campaign for the abductees run by the Maccabiah #sportspeaksup, which calls to mobilize the sports world and international athletes to make their voices heard for the safety of the abductees.

Ofer Bavly, Director of the Chicago Jewish Federation office in Israel: "The Jewish community of Chicago sees special importance in standing with Maccabi World Union these days. Supporting the evacuees as a result of the war is a national mission of the first order, and the Chicago community is pleased to assist Maccabi World Union, which has taken upon itself this critical mission and is carrying it out in the best and most professional manner."

“Balance – A Place to Breathe” is a therapeutic program established especially for victims of parties in the Gaza envelope on October 7th, and currently the only one that includes accommodation. The process includes a 3-day retreat, weekly meetings via Zoom and a concluding face-to-face meeting. In the retreat, participants will undergo group dialogue and sharing circles, which will be led by clinically certified therapists (psychologists, social workers, trauma-informed yoga classes, experiential workshops, music, all in a safe and nourishing space in the glamping tent site in Kfar Maccabiah. 

The retreat is fully subsidized and free of charge. The first retreat is opening this week on 16/11, and registration is done through the following link.