By Gefen Miller
While visiting her daughter’s shul in New Rochelle, New York, Cherie Brownstein, Beth Tfiloh’s director of youth and synagogue programming, immediately saw the strong connection between recovering Israeli soldiers and Jewish American communities.
And she says she knew it was a “BT thing.”
The retreat Peace of Mind — designed for helping former Israeli soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder — is a program that supports the Metiv Israel Psychotrauma Center in Jerusalem. Providing assistance to IDF veterans to process their combat experiences in a supportive environment, the program includes a week spent hosted in a Jewish community overseas.
“I was so moved and so taken aback by being there [in New Rochelle] with the Peace of Mind group for dinner,” said Brownstein. “I immediately made time to speak to the [leader] from New Rochelle who helped to organize the visit there. When I came home ,I got in touch with Rabbi [Chai] Posner and several other people, and said I experienced something that Beth Tfiloh has to do.
“Fortunately, Rabbi Posner was familiar with [Peace of Mind] because Avi Benus, who is [chair of the board of directors at Beth Tfiloh], mentioned something to him about Peace of Mind a year ago.”
The transition from military service to civilian life is never simple, especially post-Oct. 7th. Most IDF veterans do not immediately suffer from acute PTSD, according to studies, but 80% of Peace of Mind participants experience mild-to-severe traumatic symptoms.
Last month, Beth Tfiloh and the local Jewish community hosted a Peace of Mind cohort for the first time, providing a sense of comfort and support for the visiting members.
“Developing a day-by-day, hour-by-hour itinerary [including 40 hours of therapy] was no easy task,” said Joan Feldman, Beth Tfiloh’s director of strategic initiatives. “We really owe the credit to Cheri, Avi and everyone who helped with programming and financially.”
On the Friday before the cohort’s arrival, Beth Tfiloh organized programming on all levels of the synagogue and schools — from purchasing Israeli snacks to having the lower school produce drawings and letters.
“We, the Jewish people, understand the importance of being a family,” said Huppit Miller, chair of the Israeli Engagement Committee at Beth Tfiloh. “The immediate importance of this program is that the Israeli [soldiers] realize that they have that.”
With a tightly-packed, week-long itinerary consisting of therapy sessions, community meetings and recreational activities — including basketball with BT alumni, a downtown night-out excursion and a day touring Washington, D.C. — Peace of Mind cohort members formed valuable connections and enjoyed new experiences.
Within the Beth Tfiloh community, the cohort was invited to a congregational Shabbat dinner, Saturday morning services and a Havdalah/Melaveh Malka. (The program was made possible by the the Benus Family.) Activities included a performance by students at the middle school assembly with singing, dancing and the waving of Israeli flags.
“They were completely blown away by everything that we did and all of the love that we gave them.” said Brownstein. “They felt completely embraced by the families who were their hosts, and by every single person they came in touch with.”
Beth Tfiloh’s Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev and his wife, Phaygi, hosted Evyatar and Ariel, a pair of former Golani Brigade soldiers. The Yoggevs now consider Evyatar and Ariel “new sons.”
“When I first arrived, I greeted the bus as the rabbi of the shul,” said Rabbi Yoggev, “And within minutes, we were dancing together to [the song] ‘Am Yisrael Chai.’ They uplifted the whole community. We were like one big family. It was such a strong connection in such a short time. We hope to see them in Israel!”
Said Phaygii Yoggev: “Seeing our congregation dancing and davening with [the soldiers] and coming from different backgrounds, it was incredible to watch.”
Pikesville resident and Beth Tfiloh congregant Israel Orange hosted former soldiers Michael and Nati. He said he thoroughly enjoyed spending a Shabbat with them, and they all even attended an NBA game together.
“Spending quality time with the soldiers, we really grew to love them,” Orange said. “The more we spent time with them, the closer we became. … If our nation has these people defending them, there is nothing we cannot do.”
Indeed, the bond between the Beth Tfiloh community and the Peace of Mind cohort members was profound. The closing program with the cohort members was particularly meaningful, said Joan Feldman.
“We had a beautiful closing ceremony on [that] Sunday morning,” she said. “There were so many tears, so many hugs, and the hosts were already making plans to meet up with their soldiers and connect in Israel.”
Will Peace of Mind ever return to Baltimore?
“I hope that we will do this again soon,” said Cherie Brownstein. “I hope that there are other synagogues in Baltimore who will take our lead and bring a group to their synagogue. There are literally thousands of veteran soldiers and units waiting for the opportunity that our group had.”
Gefen Miller is a former Jmore editorial staff intern and a student at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Pikesville.
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