KFAR MAAVAR - A program for reservists

A program for reservists to cultivate tools for the transitions from the battlefield to home and back again

Kfar Ma’avar/Transition Village is a safe and supportive environment for reserve soldiers to make the transition between military service and civilian life. The essential values of the Kfar/Village are solidarity, mutual support and collective responsibility within Israeli society. In a brief, intensive set of experiential workshops, the Village offers therapeutic tools to reduce the risk of further traumatization and integrates introspective approaches to trauma which view crisis as an opportunity for growth. The activities in the Village teach the reservists to self-regulate and reduce their anxiety and trauma symptoms, while encouraging them to take leadership in their own homes and within society. The Village sees community as a healing force and works to empower the spouses and families of the reservists too.

How was the project born?

The events of October 7th, which happened in the midst of the biggest social crises we’ve experienced in Israel, led to operation Swords of Iron and the recruitment of 350,000 reserve soldiers, who put aside their civilian lives and enlisted.

Now the reserve soldiers are beginning to return to their homes, families and jobs. During their time in action, soldiers experienced extreme events of war which may continue to impact them with symptoms of trauma and stress. At the same time, these intense months have the potential of being a breeding ground for new vision and new leadership to emerge.

Their ability to process their experiences and integrate back into civilian life is critical for their future, but even more so for the future of their families, communities, workplaces and the whole Israeli culture.

Since the reservists are such an integral part of Israeli society and hold roles of leadership in the business, social and political realms, we hope to use this opportunity to strengthen them and thereby strengthen our whole society which was in a weakened state prior to the beginning of the war. We hope to instill the values of solidarity and collective responsibility that were lacking during the civil crisis and through this project remember who we are as Israelis.

What do we offer?

A customized process that allows the reservists to rest, recuperate and learn and practice tools that enhance resilience, stress regulation and connection to the others in the unit.

The process consists of a structured series of experiential workshops that connect the participants to themselves and their comrades, provide accessible body-centered tools, enable battlefield processing, and support the creation of their own personal vision for how to transition realistically and effectively.

The program operates in three carefully selected locations, each chosen to provide the ideal setting for a three-day retreat. These venues combine a supportive atmosphere, dedicated work spaces, comfortable accommodations, and full board. The locations include a ranch in Moshav Betzet, the “Here and Now” center in Gedera, and a new complex of three villas in Caesarea. Each retreat hosts 15–50 combat reservists in their organic teams

The Activities Include:

Toolbox for self-regulation and assisting others – Emotionaid

Complementary therapy workshops (phototherapy, movement, writing)

Body treatments

Team-building and resilience -building activities

Battlefield processing methods

Creating vision and building leadership

Healthy and nutritious meals prepared by a private chef

Support for spouses & Tools for couples

Our team meets the commanders of the unit before the program and we offer an additional integration through follow up zoom meetings with the reservists and with their spouses to support their integration back into their homes.

Project leaders

Gil Katz
Member of the Board, Acting CEO and Treasurer

A computer engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and investor with over three decades of experience in the high-tech industry. Haifa native and a graduate of the Technion – one of the world’s leading institutions in the fields of engineering – he built his career in California, where he worked for about 20 years at the heart of the technological innovation scene, and was a partner in groundbreaking projects in the fields of engineering and entrepreneurship.

Elad Hadad SEP, MA
Entrepreneur and Head of the Project

Former combat soldier and special unit combat instructor, body psychotherapist specializing in trauma and resilience development. He is a therapist, instructor, lecturer, and mentor. For over 20 years, he has combined community, science, and spirit in creating programs that promote trauma-informed leadership emerging from life crises. He learned firsthand, from a personal medical crisis, the role of community in individual healing and the role of the individual in community healing.

Board of Directors

Facilitators and therapists

Shai Epstein SEP ,MA
Lead Facilitator

Facilitator, therapist and instructor in physical psychotherapy, certified group facilitator, expert in working with trauma according to the somatic experiencing method, teacher of physical psychotherapy. In his work, he combines several practices in which he has specialized over the past 20 years, the main ones being - the language of physical experience, working with touch, breathing techniques, working with various traumas, dynamic and interpretive processing through conversation.

Zohar Wilson
Psychotherapist and Group Facilitator

Former staff sergeant in the Israeli army and advertising executive in corporate America. For the past two decades therapist and workshops facilitator integrating consciousness, movement, and health. Somatic psychotherapist (Hakomi Institute four-years program) and certified Chi Kung instructor. Lectures and facilitate at companies and organizations. Founded the first holistic center in New York City. Hosted the "Gut Feeling" radio show. Since the October 2023 war works with groups of survivors, bereaved parents, and soldiers.

Gili Sheleg
Facilitator

A man of the land with golden hands, establishing the Human Nature Farm, a carpenter and craftsman for over two decades. Studies and walks the Native American tradition and the connection to nature and life through sustainability (permaculture), food forests and process leadership. Active and leading in the "Derech Gver" association and leads groups and circles for men for personal empowerment and emotional connection in Israel and around the world. Lives close to the earth and recognizes that understanding life comes through the wonders of the world, living with nature and entering within through them - all of which support healing. Walks the red path of the shamanic world and never stops learning and expanding his horizons.

Harel Stanton
Phototherapist and presenter

Developer and thinker of the Spicture method - honest emotional dialogue through photography, phototherapist, group facilitator, international lecturer and "Another Journey" photographer. Harel conducts personal development and organizational development workshops using tools from coaching and phototherapy that are based on a visual experience that bypasses cognition. Harel has rich experience of hundreds of lectures and workshops in Israel and abroad.

Tomer Aloni
Therapist and Facilitator

Senior therapist and teacher of Shiatsu and Chinese medicine and director of a clinic in Herzliya with over 20 years of experience in the fields of therapy, education and movement. Formerly a fighter in the Orev Nahal, and currently accompanies fighters in dealing with trauma. Creates and outlines unique methods for combining rhythm, movement and voice in healing and empowerment processes – RT Movement and the training program for teachers “At the Heartbeat” in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Created and performed with the Myomana group. Pilates teacher and has practiced yoga and kung fu for many years. His vision: to enable a deep connection between a person and his environment, within safe spaces of listening, movement and healing. Married and father of two.