As much as the IDF tries to prevent the occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), many soldiers suffer from their experiences on the battlefield. Some have flashbacks. Others are unable to sleep at night. Some are numb. Everyone in Israel cares about the physical and psychological welfare of our chayalim. Many try to help them deal with their trauma.
In 2019, Big Shopping Centers in Israel created an adapted shopping environment for children and adults with sensory and neurological diversity. These children and adults are sensitive to music, noise, lights, and flickering screens. These stimuli cause them anxiety and take the pleasure out of many recreational activities, including trips to shopping malls. Big Shopping Centers began operating “Quiet Centers” in the mall. On the first Sunday of every month, they turn off the music, screens, and public announcement system, and they dim the intensity of lights and beeps for four hours. Whole families can use the restrooms and fitting rooms. Trained staff are available to help with whatever is needed.
This summer, the Big Shopping Centers, including the Beit Shemesh branch, began to operate in “quiet mode” for the whole day to help people traumatized by the war by providing a calmer shopping experience. This was done in conjunction with Natal, the Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, which offers multidisciplinary treatment and support for people experiencing trauma due to war and terrorism. Natal’s emergency hotline is open 24/7. Their motto is “Even the heart needs an iron dome.”
In 2021, the Israel-based mobile software company Umoove joined with mental health coaches and launched MindReset, an app that helps users relax and heal trauma through short, eye-tracking sessions. The app encourages users’ subconscious to access their distressing memory image. MindReset’s eye-tracking technology detects that split-second access and interrupts the connection with those subconscious images. Users often experience immediate relief from depression, anxiety, and stress immediately after this short treatment. Upon the outbreak of the war, co-founders of Umoove, Yitzi Kempinski and Tuvia Elbaum (a graduate of the Jerusalem College of Technology – Machon Lev), offered the MindReset app to all Israeli citizens for free. Soldiers report that MindReset helps them manage their stress and anxiety levels.
In June, the Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Defense launched a free app called “The Guide to PTSD.” The US Department of Defense originally developed the app to help veterans of the US Army. The app and the PTSD guide serve as a self-help platform for those experiencing stress. It provides information about post-trauma and its symptoms, guides users to perform a self-assessment, and offers tools to cope with the distress. The identities of those who use the app are kept confidential.
Due to the number of soldiers being diagnosed with PTSD, the Ministry of Defense has opened Ranches of Resilience all over the county. Soldiers come to the ranches three times a week and spend the whole day receiving treatments.
One of these ranches is located at Retorno Ranch through Ofek, an addiction prevention and treatment program outside Beit Shemesh. Retorno’s Iron Hug Project for Soldiers began four months ago with two clients. Now there are 19. It provides many alternative treatments including yoga, phototherapy, psychodrama, sports, and agricultural activities. But the favorite treatments are animal-assisted therapies including equine and canine-assisted therapies. Even clients who didn’t sleep the night before will not miss animal-assisted treatment days.
Ramat Beit Shemesh resident Aliza Timinsky volunteers as an equine-assisted therapist in the Iron Hug Project. Her passion for her work overflows as she tells me about the miracles she sees at the ranch. Aliza explains that horses are always in a state of PTSD. They respond with fight, flight, or freeze. They are scared animals because they are preyed upon. They are social animals who have personalities. When a horse is in distress, it looks for relaxation. This is also true of a person suffering from PTSD who is looking for peace in life.
The clients bond with horses by riding them, or by use of ground horse therapy. Ground therapy consists of brushing, saddling, grooming, and participating in various activities with the horse. Aliza tells about clients who brought their guns to the ranch and wouldn’t put them down. After a few weeks of treatment, they began to feel safe and no longer carry their weapons. Others arrived at the center in a dissociative state. After some therapy, they are more connected and grounded. They are smiling once again.
Aliza explains that horses are sensitive to people’s moods. They won’t cooperate with someone who seems stressed. Sometimes, the clients need to do relaxation exercises to calm themselves down so their horse will approach and listen to them. When they succeed, they feel a great deal of satisfaction.
I also spoke with Yoni Yosha, an equine and canine therapist at Retorno. He, too, uses the word “miracles” to describe the results of animal-assisted therapies. Soldiers who couldn’t sleep can now sleep some nights. Some who couldn’t control their anger now have tools and are more relaxed.
Yoni has been working in the trauma field for 12 years. He worked with soldiers who served in Operation Protective Edge in 2014. He states that the trauma the soldiers are experiencing in this war is drastically different from anything he has seen before. This is not normal PTSD.
In the past, the wars took place in a different country. The October 7 Massacre took place in our homeland. The soldiers saw terrible sights involving women and children. They were also forced to do things that go against their values. They don’t want to kill children or innocent civilians.
Many soldiers feel like they lost control on October 7. Some soldiers who carried a gun in Gaza suddenly feel worthless when they return to civilian life. They have no more power. When they ride the horses, they regain a sense of control of their lives. Yoga helps them release the trauma that is situated in their bodies. The yoga treatments and animal therapies work like magic. Their experience at the ranch gives them back control and peace of mind.
Despite all they’ve been through, many soldiers want to return to the front and fight. They are incredibly dedicated. Yoni believes they should take the time they need to heal. Most of the soldiers are not working now. The goal of the Resilience Ranch is to help soldiers return to their families, their jobs, and their normal lives. We hope they are successful in achieving this goal.
We hope the war will soon end, that we all heal from our national trauma, and that these therapies will no longer be necessary.
Please continue to daven for unity, the recovery of the wounded, the release of the remaining hostages, and the success and safe return of all soldiers and security personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
