By David Harrison
Tens of thousands of Israelis were profoundly traumatized by the Hamas terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, and are in desperate need of mental health support.
In response, The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and local synagogues are launching a community-wide campaign, starting on Oct. 7, 2024, to raise funds for the Israel Trauma Coalition Resiliency Center in Ashkelon, Baltimore’s partner city in Israel.
The money will support the center’s expanded work since Oct. 7, providing therapy, home visits and intervention services.
Over a three-week period through Oct. 27, the goal is to raise $1 million from Baltimore’s Jewish community. One hundred percent of donations will go toward the center. The Associated will match every gift made up to $500,000 from funds raised by the federation.
The decision to address the trauma crisis in Israel was inspired by a recent visit to Ashkelon by a group of local clergy and community leaders. The group included Rabbi Andrew Busch of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, Chizuk Amuno’s Rabbi Joshua Z. Gruenberg and Rabbi Dana Saroken of Beth El, as well as Yehuda Neuberger, immediate past board chair of The Associated.
“Our hope is that we can raise enough funds for the Ashkelon Resilience Center to meet the ever-growing need for help in coping with the trauma stemming from Oct. 7 and the ongoing war,” said Rabbi Busch. “This trauma will be felt and relived, sadly, for many years to come.”
Over the past 21 years, the Baltimore and Ashkelon Jewish communities have built connections, developed long-lasting friendships and strengthened Baltimore’s ties to Israel.
In addition, through the Baltimore-Ashkelon Partnership, The Associated has funded programming that provides crucial support services for Ashkelon residents who are struggling and creates strong bonds between people in both cities.
Located only nine miles north from the Gaza Strip, Ashkelon had been the target of rocket fire for years prior to the current war. Ashkelon residents have lived with this ever-present threat, hopeful that their “safe rooms” and Israel’s Iron Dome defense system will protect them.
On Oct. 7, armed terrorists reached the outskirts of Ashkelon on three occasions. Between Oct. 7-30, 266 missiles were fired at Ashkelon and 190 missiles fell inside the city.
Since then, Ashkelon has faced additional losses through fallen IDF soldiers and murdered hostages who had been a part of the community.
According to the Israel Trauma Coalition, Ashkelon “needs a holistic, professional, and focused therapeutic response to prevent the development of post-trauma for many of the residents. The response must be accessible and provided quickly. As of spring 2024, 1,600 people were receiving treatment, with 1,000 waitlisted for treatment.”
The Israel Trauma Coalition estimates “the resilience center is expected to receive applications from between 8,000-10,000 residents. Since the outbreak of the war, the Ashkelon Resilience Center team has been working to provide services for residents who remained in the city and those evacuated to hotels across the country.”
Said Andrew Cushnir, president and CEO of The Associated: “We launched our partnership with the city of Ashkelon 21 years ago to build a communal link between our two cities. Over the years, we have celebrated joys and triumphs with each other, numerous delegations from both cities have visited the other, and I have seen the lasting, deep friendships among Baltimoreans and Ashkelonians. We are doing this community campaign because we so clearly understand the trauma inflicted on our Ashkelon family on Oct. 7 that continues to disrupt their lives.”
For information, reach out to your synagogue or go to bit.ly/ashkelontraumarelief.
David Harrison is a local writer.
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