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.
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