2,000 Families Cared for at the NLC
Refugees in their land – but with a purpose for the future
“...He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted…”
(Isaiah 61:1)
“It is a privilege to work here”, says R. a young woman volunteering during her civil service, as she describes her feelings of working at the National Leadership Center.
Since October 7 we have been working with those who were evacuated from their homes, refugees in their own land, we come across people from all walks of life. Children, youth, families, religious, seculars, right-wing, left-wing –you name it. But all are in the same situation: they were driven out from the place they once called “Home” – both in southern Israel near the border with Gaza, and northern Israel bordering Lebanon.
Since the beginning of this year, we’ve attended over 2000 families. Some of them have lost not only their homes but a parent or another dear family member or friend.
They are heartbroken and in desperate need of emotional healing from trauma. Guided by a sense of urgency, we started going to the hotels where the evacuated families were accommodated, bringing them a few hours of relief from stress. Our team also goes to the boarding schools to which some of the students were sent to finish the school year somehow properly.
Through the activities, we’re able to touch their hearts and change lives. Our staff met a group of at-risk teens evacuated from the south to a town in central Israel. Our trainers spoke to them about David the young boy who became king. And also read to story of a soldier who fell in combat in Gaza while protecting the lives. The story of this hero left a great impression on the teens. At the end of the activity, one boy came to us asking if he could read a chapter of Psalms in memory of that soldier.
Back to R., a trainer who lived the horrors of October 7 in her hometown Sderot. She says that through her work with teens at the National Leadership Center, she could begin to understand what happened to her then. One day a group of teens from Sderot came to the NLC and R. was among the trainers working with that group. “There was a girl who climbed the Leap of Faith encouraged by her peers. The girl stood on the pole for over 45 minutes until she jumped. The girl later told the trainers and the group that while standing there, she processed what she had gone through on October 7. R. identified with the girl, and inner healing began.
As she took a few minutes to think about her next words, R. said: “This place brings people to recognize their inner strength, a strength they didn’t know they had. They just might need a little push”. She illustrated her words with a story: “A boy who seemed very shy, and did not want to participate in any activity. I pressured him a little, he climbed, succeeded and came down so different! His spirit was different!”
“This place, the National Leadership Center, gives me the ability to raise the spirit of the people!”
It is encouraging to see that the participants in the activities – teens and adults alike – are strengthened and inspired by the Jewish heroes – both biblical and recent.
We are in a critical time in history for the nation of Israel. Want to engage more?
Subscribe to receive updates and join exclusive webinars or view resources from our archives page
Connect with us on social media
Support our work and education initiatives
Read our previous education blogs below!
Fifteen years ago, the National Leadership Center (NLC) in Ariel was born from Heather Johnston's vision: to develop leadership in Israel, reconnect with roots, and foster faith. Today, that vision shines brighter than ever as the NLC stands as a source of strength during one of Israel's most challenging years.