It’s hard to even remember what the world was like a month ago before we found ourselves living in a world where evil is embraced and our worst fears are coming true before our very eyes. Things have been extremely hard on everyone since the war broke out, and all of us at Amudim and Amudim Israel have been working overtime to provide mental health and support services to those affected by the conflict.

It should come as no surprise that the need for mental health support for Americans in Israel has exploded in recent weeks. Spending a gap year in Israel has been a rite of passage for our post high school students, but no seminary girl or yeshiva student came to Israel mentally prepared to wake up one day and find themselves in the middle a war zone. It is safe to say that while some are faring better than others, virtually all have been impacted in some way by the ongoing crisis. Similarly, lone soldiers who are far from their normal support systems are also encountering significant challenges in the face of a sudden military conflict of this nature, as American olim who may not speak Hebrew or have the ability to navigate the Israeli mental health system.

One of the many resources that Amudim is offering is free virtual therapy. We are partnering with SIMHA to offer three free virtual counseling sessions for English speakers currently in Israel, whether for processing or a specific purpose. These sessions are provided by licensed professionals and offer a confidential opportunity for individuals who may be struggling to discuss their thoughts and concerns. We encourage any Americans who are facing difficulties at this time—such as students, lone soldiers, wives of IDF reservists, and new olim—to take advantage of these sessions, which can provide critical emotional and psychological support. We are also in the process of securing funding and additional resources for those who may require therapy beyond the initial three free crisis processing sessions.

We are living in extraordinarily difficult times. Even as we pray for an end to this war and those who perpetuate evil and terror, we are continuing to do everything we can to support those in need to the best of our ability.