Background
Shalem is committed to community resilience and healing.
The ongoing war in Israel has left deep emotional and psychological scars across the population. Beyond the visible damage of rocket attacks, displacement, and terror, there is an urgent and growing crisis: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and long-term emotional trauma.
Children, families, the elderly, first responders, and survivors are all affected, and the existing mental health system cannot meet the growing need.
Without timely and accessible support, trauma solidifies into chronic suffering.
Projects we support
We support programs that bring mental health care closer to home, reduce suffering, and rebuild lives. Our focus is on early and ongoing support for trauma victims, reducing the occurrences of PTSD and ongoing mental issues.
Homiyah
Homiyah was launched in response to the October 2023 attack in Israel. It provides structured, multi-level training for professionals involved in mental health and emotional care, particularly in contexts of widespread trauma.
Graduates receive certification backed by Shalvata Mental Health Center and Columbia University, and are expected to train at least 10 additional professionals. (especially for Level 3)
Registration is free and fully funded by donors; participants aren't paid but are expected to commit time to both training and teaching others.
We believe Homiyah represents a unique opportunity to reach many through the "one to many" approach, with each graduate treating many early-stage patients, reducing long-term pressures on the country's mental health system.
Resilience Training - Team Sagi
Sagi Dovev served as the head of close-combat training within Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s top-tier elite special-forces unit. He's the highest‑ranked Krav Maga instructor in the IDF, specializing in real-world, hand-to-hand combat methods.
Following the October 7th attacks, he has dedicated himself fully to supporting injured IDF soldiers, especially amputees, by offering intense physical and psychological training at Sheba Medical Center.
This work, entirely voluntary, helps rebuild their warrior identity and resilience.
The Yahalom Foundation
Founded in 2015 by veterans of the IDF’s Yahalom unit, the foundation is a nonprofit organization that directs 100% of its donations to community and soldier support efforts.
While not exclusively focused on mental health, the foundation runs programs to support current soldiers and veterans of the unit. This includes therapeutic retreats in and outside Israel, guidance programs focused on adapting to civilian life, volunteering programs across Israel, and more.
The foundation supports EMDR-based treatments for its soliders, developing unique protocols for early treatment of trauma.
Ad Hoc Projects
From time to time, we get involved in mental health initiatives, such as a recent project providing intensive therapeutic care for people affected by the horrors of October 7th, as well as connections for therapeutic services such as this initiative.
