Spring Newsletter 2024
Greetings from Our CEO Dear Friends, After ten years with ELEM, I am excited and gratified to have been named ELEM’s Chief Executive Officer. Over this last decade, I’ve witnessed our growth throughout Israel in the inspiring impact of our work. During my visits to our centers in Israel, I have experienced the confidence, strength, and life skills our staff gives to youth and young adults. I’ve heard first-hand the challenges our kids in Israel face, and the faith they’ve lost that ELEM has restored. In a post-October 7th world, our forty years of work with youth has positioned us to meet the tidal wave of needs these youth have, with expertise and vast operational knowledge. Perhaps you’re already familiar with our innovative Breathing Spaces program, that has expanded over the last six months to support Israeli youth during an active war. We’re working in collaboration with the Ministry of Welfare to expand Breathing Spaces into schools serving displaced youth, and we need your support to continue this work. For so many of these youth, ELEM is their only lifeline. We’ve helped survivors of the October attacks and other youth in Israel for whom the recent events have triggered their own, pre-existing traumas. We’ve reached youth who won’t seek out traditional therapy. We’re also supporting teens and young adults in our existing programs, online and in person, at homeless shelters, and on the streets. ELEM is stretching its limited resources to meet all these needs, and we can’t do it without you. O u r emergency campaign, which is only halfway towards its goal, is critical in ensuring that ELEM’s work can continue. But don’t only take it from me. Gaya Nir, Director of the Breathing Spaces program, will be visiting the US this April and will share stories and innovations from her work in the field. Details on public events in San Diego, Boston, and New York, including a webinar, a live-streamed talk, and numerous in-person events, are in this newsletter. I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Gaya and hearing her stories, as well as the stories of Israeli youth and mental health workers. Now, more than ever, ELEM’s work is critical for Israel’s future and strength. The thousands of youths we are serving are the future. They represent the future workforce and the future leaders of the country. Israel needs you.
The youth of Israel need you. Thank you for being part of ELEM's journey with me. I look forward to our continued partnership as we share the stories, tackle the challenges, and support the successes of ELEM's work with Israel's at-risk youth.
Liora Attias Chief Executive Officer
EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN: DONATE TODAY
ELEM USA UPDATES Expanding ELEM’s Reach Across the US ELEM is continuing to expand its reach in the US, thanks to the tireless efforts of our staff, our development officers, our Board of Directors, and our advisory committees: I n Boston, ELEM presented at the Rashi School as part of the Tanchumi project, which introduces elementary and middle school age students to nonprofit organizations. This year, the Rashi School focused on Israel, and selected ELEM as one of the featured organizations. Chen Drachman finished her five year tenure at ELEM with an incredible presentation to students of all ages. “ELEM specifically stood out to our class,” reflected one first grade teacher. “Even though we were a Zoom link apart, we felt connected to ELEM.” The project culminated in student-led donations to each nonprofit, including a generous contribution to ELEM!
Students lead a presentation. Here, they note that E LEM helps over 12,500 youth annually. In Florida, Alan Frent, the Southeastern Regional Development Officer, led the advisory council in bringing ELEM presence at a number of exciting community events. The Great American Kosher BBQ and Jewish Festival launched this February in Lake Worth, with a donated table for ELEM to share information and current projects. The partnership proved so inspiring that the festival’s founder, Melissa Berenson, joined the Florida Advisory Council. Later in February, Laura Goodman, also an Advisory Council member, represented ELEM at Temple Beth Emet’s Mitzvah Day, which drew a crowd of over 600 people. In that crowd was Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, who welcomed the opportunity to learn more about ELEM.
Great American Kosher BBQ with ELEM
Spotlight Donor Spotlight ELEM is delighted to announce a generous donation of $300,000 from the family of Jeff Altman, the founder of Owl Creek Asset Management and a steadfast advocate of ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel. This contribution will provide immediate support for the purchase and operation of two new outreach vans in Beit Shemesh and Safed, necessary after the events of October 7 to ELEM's Outreach Van Program. Mr. Altman's longtime commitment, exemplified through his support at the Ray of Hope Gala, which consistently pays tribute to Dan Sapadin, longtime ELEM volunteer, has been instrumental in upholding ELEM's life-saving initiatives. For further information regarding ELEM's naming opportunities within the Outreach Van Program, please reach out to our Chief Executive Officer, Liora Attias-Hadar, at attias@elem.org.
First look at the new outreach van,
which will already be in operation as early as April.
News from Israel Breathing Spaces Update With the ongoing impacts of war, including first-hand trauma, displacement, and mental health impacts, ELEM is continuing to meet the needs of a growing range of Israeli youth. Outreach through ELEM Digital has increased by nearly 120%, and there are now 17 Breathing Spaces around the country. ELEM staff has partnered with businesses and organizations to provide educational resources and panel presentations on the impacts of war on youth. Watch this compelling video, produced by Israeli Channel Kan 11, featuring staff, volunteers, and teens involved in the Breathing Spaces. The next phase of the project will see Breathing Spaces expand into schools to assist youth with transitions into routine, new social groups, and the challenges of normalcy in a time of crisis and trauma. Learn more during our upcoming tour.
Largest Conference on Youth Mental Health, Post Oct. 7 On March 17th, ELEM hosted “From Emergency to Recovery,” the largest conference on youth mental health in Israel in the aftermath of October 7th. Created by ELEM at the initiative of Mrs. Michal Herzog, the wife of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, the conference tackled the impact of displacement and war, and ELEM’s innovative approach to breaking the cycle of trauma. The conference brought together over 120 participants ranging from senior officials in the public, social, and philanthropic sectors, as well as a large delegation of ELEM employees, volunteers, and evacuated youth. The opening reception featured a panel discussion, moderated by Channel 12 journalist Yael Odem, between ELEM youth and Gaya Nir, Director of ELEM’s Breathing Spaces program, who will be touring in the US this April.
Featured: Lenore Ruben, President of ELEM USA, with (right to left) President Isaaz Herzog, Mrs. Michal Herzog, and Nava Barak.
Mazel Tov Corner ELEM is excited to welcome Ayelet Pearl to the team as the new Partnerships and Communications Manager. Ayelet is an artist, educator, and curator, whose work has been at the intersection of community and creativity. Ayelet is the co-founder of Ashreynu, a startup for Jewish arts and music, and served as the DEI and community engagement consultant at the Voelker Orth Museum. Ayelet is a graduate of Barnard College, and in 2023, was named to the JTA 36 to Watch list. Ayelet is excited to bring over a decade of expertise in partnerships, programming, and nonprofit media to ELEM. ELEM is grateful to Chen Drachman and Rotem Weizman for their work with ELEM.
Upcoming Events April 4th-April 13th This April, Gaya Nir, the director of theBreathing Spaces program, will be touring the US, hosting speaking engagements in San Diego, Boston, and New York. Gaya will discuss the impact of terror attacks and war on Israel’s youth, and ELEM’s unique approach to treating trauma and displacement during an ongoing war. She will be sharing first-hand
experiences and stories of newly and already at-risk youth. Over a thousand teens and young adults have participated in Breathing Spaces since early October. Catch Gaya at an event in your area: check our events page or follow us on social media to stay in the know.
Upcoming Events
Florida
California
Sunday, April 3rd West Palm Beach, Florida Temple Beth David Join Temple Beth David for complimentary coffee and a presentation from Development Officer Alan Frent on ELEM’s responsive “Breathing Spaces” program. Learn more and RSVP here.
Saturday, April 6th San Diego, California Morning Services: Gaya Nir at Temple Tifereth Israel. Click here for details.
New York
Virtual Programs:
Saturday, April 13th New York, NY Temple Emanu-El Shabbat Services with Special Guest Speaker Ms. Gaya Nir, from
Monday, April 8th Webinar: Responding to Trauma: Stories from ELEM and Displaced Youth in Israel with Gaya Nir. Get the link.
ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel. Join in person or livestream. Click here for details. Saturday, April 13th New York, NY Marlene Meyerson JCC Havdalah for the Hostages: Featuring guest speaker Gaya Nir and Israeli musician Yoshie Fruchte. Register for the event.
Saturday, April 13th Shabbat Services with Gaya Nir at Temple Emanu-El. Join the livestream here. Sunday, May 5th From Yom HaShoah to Nova Webinar details coming soon.
Additional private events throughout the week. Email info@elem.org for more information.
ELEM’s Ray of Hope Benefit Gala: The Journey to Recovery
Save the Date: September 19, 2024 in New York City Pre-register
Join “Friends of ELEM” We know you love seeing our great work helping Israel’s at risk youth. We would be honored if you became a “Friend of ELEM,” by becoming a yearly donor of $5,000 or more. Friends receive "in the know" information, exclusive direct information from Israel, participation in quarterly Zoom calls with Israel and more.
Get Involved Consider making a donation. No amount is too small. Our youths, staff and volunteers greatly appreciate your support. If you want to learn how you can get more involved, click here. Get your child involved in a mitzvah project or create a fund to honor someone special.
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ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel Officers Ann Bialkin, Chair Lenore Ruben, President Lori Gosset, Vice President Alon Harnoy, Treasurer Liora Attias-Hadar, Chief Executive Officer
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