ELEM NEWS - OUTREACH VANS
We are happy to announce that ELEM has opened up a new outreach van in Tveria (Tiberias), located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee Operating three nights a week, this van will cater to the city’s heavily ultraOrthodox community. Because Tveria faces strong socioeconomic challenges, this specific initiative is designed to meet the cultural norms of the Haredi population and will be designated for boys.
We now have outreach vans in 18 cities across Israel.
ELEM AT THE KNESSET
Earlier this month, Michal Elihai, Director of the Holistic Model for ELEM in Israel and the Kiryat Shmona municipality, spoke at the Knesset about the situation of youth in the North following the period of war and evacuation.
In her remarks, she highlighted ELEM’s ongoing partnership with local authorities, providing continuous support to displaced youth during their evacuation to Tiberias and as they transition back to the city. She emphasized that the teams operate in a variety of settings in schools, afternoon activities, and on the streets where they encounter, firsthand, the challenges the youth are facing.
WATCH: Michal Elihai speaking at the Knesset. (Instagram)
Michal warned of a growing distance between the youth and the adult world, as well as damage to their trust in systems and authority figures Furthermore, she stressed the immense importance of professional youth work and creating a meaningful, beneficial connection with an adult as a central factor in strengthening resilience and preventing high-risk situations, together with full cooperation with other entities in the city.
No youth, both in the North and across Israel, should have to face these difficulties alone
GIVE BACK TUESDAYS
Give Back Give Back
DineOut GiveBack.Makeanimpact. DineOut GiveBack.Makeanimpact.
Desp ny thunderstorm, we had a decent turnout for our second GIVE BACK TUESDAYS event this month at Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ in Delray Beach. A huge thank you to everyone who braved the weather to show up and support ELEM!
We have two final GIVE BACK TUESDAYS remaining this summer. These are very easy ways for our community to step in and contribute to ELEM. All guests have to do is show up, notify their server that they are there to support ELEM, and then a portion of their proceeds will go towards the organization.
Let’s keep the momentum going! Help us spread the word and make these final GIVE BACK TUESDAYS even bigger
Final Give Back Tuesdays
Tuesday, July 14
Cucina Moderna (Boynton Beach)
Tuesday, August 18
Mamma Mia's Trattoria & Brick Oven Pizzeria (Lake Worth)
Moments from this month’s GIVE BACK TUESDAY event at Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ (Delray Beach).
(June 16)
OURJNEWS
OURJNEWS, dvocacy for ply personal
What are ELEM's goals for long-term solutions to help at-risk youth?
At ELEM, our long-term goal is not just to help young people survive difficult moments, but to help them build a future.
So many of the youth we meet have spent years feeling unseen, unsupported, and alone. Over time, that begins to shape what they believe is possible for themselves Our role is to help them rewrite that belief.
That starts with building trust and helping them take meaningful steps forward returning to school, preparing for IDF service, finding employment, or securing stable housing
We also work closely with government partners and communities across Israel to strengthen services, advocate for policy changes, and ensure vulnerable youth are not overlooked.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
What I find most rewarding are the moments that remind me what's possible, even in the hardest circumstances.
I remember visiting Galgal, one of our shelters for young women, and meeting a young woman who had been living on the streets and struggling with addiction. When I introduced myself as CEO, she turned to her friend and said, "Wow... I wish one day I could become a CEO."
It was such a simple moment, but it stayed with me. Because in that moment, something shifted For even a second, she allowed herself to imagining a different future.
And when I hear that a young person is no longer sleeping on the streets, has found a job, or escaped an abusive situation and is finally safe those moments are incredibly rewarding.
In those moments, I pause, take a breath, and think: we did it We helped change the trajectory of someone ' s life and helped Israel stay strong.
2026 ISRAEL MISSION
EM MISSION TO ISRAEL
November8-13
Join us for an eye-opening mission to Israel, where you will experience ELEM’s work firsthand and see how we are helping ensure Israel’s future through its young people. Over the course of the trip, you will visit our shelters and community programs, meet the dedicated professionals on the ground, and spend time with the young people whose lives are being shaped and rebuilt through this work. Through these encounters, you will gain a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing Israel’s most vulnerable youth
This mission offers a rare and meaningful opportunity to connect directly to our work on the ground, witness impact up close, and become part of the story of resilience, healing, and long-term change in Israel.
Who will help the young people carrying the weight of Israel's trauma?
For years, Israel's youth have lived through crisis after crisis COVID-19, violence, war, displacement, loss, and the ongoing fear and uncertainty that have become part of daily life Behind the headlines are young people struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-harm, bullying, and hopelessness
Some are withdrawing from the world around them. Others are acting out in anger, violence, or despair. Too many are suffering in silence, believing they have nowhere to turn.
This is not only a crisis for individual young people. It is a crisis for the future of Israeli society www.elem.org/not-alone GOAL: $500,000
In a recent study published by The Jerusalem Post, nearly 1.2 billion people lived with a mental disorder in 2023: a surge of 95.5% since 1990.
For the first time, this peak shifted to the 15-19 age group, whereas in the past, the burden of mental disorders tended to peak in middle age.
Israel’s Youth Are Growing Up in an Unprecedented Reality
Young people across Israel are growing up in a reality marked by repeated crises, which started with COVID-19 and includes social isolation, October 7, war, displacement, ongoing security threats, and national trauma
While adults struggle to process these events, many young people are carrying the emotional burden alone
For many teens, instability has become normal. Anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and trauma are no longer occasional experiences, they are part of everyday life.
-
Muhammad (Jadeidi-Makr)
We Are Seeing the Consequences
Across Israel, we are witnessing alarming increases in youth violence, bullying, depression, loneliness, self-harm, substance use, and other high-risk behaviors.
Youth violence is no longer confined to the margins of society. It is happening in schools, parks, neighborhoods, and online spaces across the country.
Increase in Youth Criminal Files
(Source: Knesset Research and Information Center)
We are seeing more young people involved in group violence, carrying weapons, and engaging in rapidly escalating conflicts.
One in four boys and girls in Israel experiences bullying, including humiliation, exclusion, verbal abuse, and physical violence.
Emergency room referrals related to suicidal thoughts and self-harm have risen dramatically
Criminal files opened for youth increased by 26% between 2025 and 2026.
Research from Bar-Ilan University found that 20% of teenagers report involvement in physical violence, while nearly one-third report exposure to violence or bullying in their daily lives.
TRANSLATION: Suspicion of severe violence in Holon: A 14-yearold was attacked at school and lost consciousness (Source: Hamal)
TRANSLATION: "With knives and iron bars" Three teenagers aged 16 and 17 were charged with the murder of Destao Tzakul in Beersheba (Source: Kan News)
TRANSLATION: "The age is dropping, the severity is rising" This is how the Youth State Attorney's Office describes the reality they are facing: more minors are involved in severe cases of violence and the use of knives. (Source: Ynet News)
TRANSLATION: A youth attacked an elderly woman in Haifa and snatched her bag - she tried to resist and fell hard (Source: Daniel Amram)
TRANSLATION: "They see the murderers of our days celebrating, so why not": Another severe violent incident in Petah Tikva - 10 teenagers aged 14–17 attacked a boy (Source: Damiel Amram)
Every day, young people across Israel reach a crossroads. Without support, many will continue down paths marked by violence, addiction, homelessness, exploitation, selfharm, or lifelong trauma. And when they struggle, the effects are felt throughout sraeli society.
f we fail to address the trauma, violence, and emotional distress affecting them today, we risk creating severe, long-term consequences for the entire nation tomorrow. Ultimately, Israel's future depends entirely on the strength, resilience, and wellbeing of its future generation.
Investing in Israel s youth is not only an act of compassion it is a direct investment in the country's future security, resilience, and long-term strength.
ELEM TRIBUTE COLLECTION
Click HERE to view our certificate collection
Our ELEM Tribute Collection is in full swing Recently, we announced this new giving initiative as a way to honor or commemorate loved ones while supporting ELEM When you make a donation this way, you can choose from multiple certificate options, such as holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Father’s Day, etc.) and major life moments (graduations, birthdays, etc.).
There are three ways to give:
$36 tier (minimum): the honoree receives a personalized ELEM certificate.
$54 tier: the honoree receives a personalized ELEM certificate and complimentary ELEM t-shirt the same shirts worn by our Anashim Tovim (Good People) team in Israel.
$72 tier or higher: the honoree receives the certificate, complimentary ELEM t-shirt, and an ELEM tote bag
