Under Threat: The Children of Israel

The Hidden Victims of War

Dear Friends,

As the battle to defend the people of Israel from rocket attacks has moved into a ceasefire, it’s important to take a pause ourselves—to examine not just the physical damage of this conflict: the lives lost, the homes and workplaces destroyed—but also the mental and physical toll of unrest and bloodshed on the people of this region.

In the last few weeks of Operation Guardian of the Walls, many more have been added to the list of terror survivors—a list that numbers well into the thousands. *Yaron is one of them.

For several days now, Yaron has been lying in bed, refusing to come out of his room. He suffers from unbearable headaches and is unable to speak about what is happening to him.

When the first explosions of the rocket interceptions were heard, he was suddenly flooded with feelings that had been repressed for some time — the post-trauma stress erupted in him.

Yaron is one of many who suffer from this disorder as a result of living in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip. For these people, every alarm, every interception, every run to a protected space, can be a trigger for the disorder, which in turn leads to an onset of symptoms.

So how do we help the people who have suffered so greatly during this war?

Many have found themselves under a barrage of missiles, sitting in shelters and security rooms. In the days of Operation Guardian of the Walls, both children and their parents experienced a sense of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and constant pressure.

At Vision for Israel, we work to assist victims of war and terrorist acts. Thousands of survivors who have gone through difficult and unimaginable events in their lives need our embrace and support.

Through the years we have invested millions of Shekels in financial support, and numerous activities, for terror survivors.

Now, we have a new vision: to host various workshops for terror survivors at the Millennium Center. Through constructive experiences and rehabilitation workshops, our vision is to bring support, calm, and relief.

This is part of our answer—to meet fear and anxiety with love, hope, and compassion, and bring inner healing to the wounded souls of many across the land.

We invite you to partner with us in embracing the affected population, whose wounds may be invisible, but remain painfully real.

With Healing in His Wings,

Barry & Batya

*Name has been changed