What if one of the most powerful treatments for trauma isn’t found in a clinic, but in the ocean?
That’s the question Yaron Waksman, co-founder and CEO of HaGal Sheli, explores in a powerful TEDx Talk about surf therapy and how the ocean can help people living with PTSD reach breakthroughs that traditional approaches sometimes cannot.
Yaron’s story is also a story about resilience and the power of organizations to adapt in moments of profound need. HaGal Sheli is an Israeli nonprofit that uses surfing as an educational and therapeutic tool to empower at-risk youth and trauma survivors. Since co-founding the organization in 2012, Yaron has helped grow HaGal Sheli into a nationwide organization supporting more than 5,000 participants annually, with more than 20,000 graduates and 12 centers along Israel’s coastline.
When October 7 profoundly impacted the lives of so many Israelis, HaGal Sheli recognized that its work needed to evolve. An organization that had long supported youth at risk expanded quickly to address the deep and ongoing trauma affecting individuals and communities across Israel.
For CJP, supporting HaGal Sheli through our brand-new Boston-Israel Fund is one of our most meaningful investments. Our partnership is focused not only on direct trauma therapy and helping people heal emotionally, but also on strengthening the communities and infrastructure throughout the entire country.
That means supporting new volunteers and guides who can participate in and lead programs, creating new employment opportunities for drivers who need to commute to the region, and investing in regional development in the area. These efforts have a ripple effect—helping individuals heal while strengthening the communities around them and creating opportunities for people to contribute to the recovery of the South of Israel and beyond.
This is an important part of how CJP thinks about our work in Israel. We are constantly looking for ways to support emotional healing while also helping strengthen communities, develop the North and the South and build a more resilient future for all of Israel.
At CJP, we seek out partnerships with Israeli organizations and leaders who are tackling some of the foundational challenges facing Israeli society—organizations with the vision, leadership and capacity to address these issues in scalable and systemic ways.
HaGal Sheli is a powerful example of that approach. This partnership demonstrates what is possible when an organization and its leaders understand an emerging need, adapts its model, and brings people together around a shared purpose.
As we look ahead, CJP will continue working with organizations like HaGal Sheli to help Israel heal, rebuild and thrive.
I encourage you to watch Yaron’s TEDx Talk and learn more about HaGal Sheli—and stay connected to CJP’s ongoing work in Israel.