Seven months have passed since our first retreat, when we brought soldiers from the Golani Battalion’s, 13th Brigade,one of the hardest-hit units of October 7th ,to Del Mar for rehabilitation. That moment marked the beginning of Heads Up, a Jewmanity™ program dedicated to supporting the resilience and recovery of those impacted by war. You can read about the first retreat here.
Since then, we’ve remained in close contact with the soldiers, even traveling to Israel in September 2024. We were fortunate to reunite with nearly all of them and were relieved to see them doing well.
Now our second retreat has just concluded. This time, a new group of soldiers, accompanied by a therapist, arrived in San Diego for ten days of healing and renewal. Thanks to the deep military connections of Jewmanity’s™ Executive Director, Shai Gino, we identified nine soldiers ,including their commander—--who had been profoundly affected by the events of October 7th. A dedicated therapist accompanied them to provide ongoing support throughout the retreat.
On January 22, 2025, the soldiers landed at LAX, greeted with open arms by Shai and his cousin Yohai. For some, this was their first time outside of Israel—-some had never even been on an airplane. Yet despite their exhaustion, their faces lit up as they stepped onto foreign soil, momentarily freed from the weight of war.
After a two-hour drive, they arrived at the Del Mar retreat—-a sanctuary where the sound of crashing waves replaced sirens, and birsdong took place of missile alerts. They settled into their new home before gathering for a welcoming dinner.
The retreat was thoughfully structured to provide both emotional processing and moments of joy. Therapy formed the backbone of their time in San Diego, with multiple sessions each day led by therapist Evyatar Ayzen. These sessions helped the soldiers process the psychological wounds of war, address PTSD and anxiety, and find ways to reframe their experiences. Group therapy fostered a sense of camaraderie, allowing them to share their stories in a space where they felt truly seen and understood.
Friday night’s Shabbat dinner was particularly meaningful. The soldiers were embraced by warmth, tradition, and an incredible outpouring of support from the community. Volunteers stepped up in every way imaginable,cooking meals, doing laundry, driving, and handling countless behind-the-scenes tasks. For many, this was a way to show solidarity when distance had previously made them feel helpless in the wake of October 7th.
Beyond therapy, the soldiers engaged in activities designed to bring them back to the present moment,indoor go-karting, surfing lessons, and a visit to SeaWorld. These simple joys offered them a rare opportunity to be young again, to laugh without restraint. One soldier, beaming, remarked, “I feel like a kid again!”
A recurring symbol emerged throughout their stay,dolphins. While surfing, pods of dolphins swam beneath their boards, leaping through the water in a breathtaking display of freedom. Later that same day at SeaWorld, they once again found themselves face-to-face with these creatures. It felt as if the universe was sending a quiet message: play, joy, and lightness were returning to their lives.
One evening, they gathered for a backyard BBQ and massage night,another simple yet powerful moment of relaxation. These experiences were as vital to their healing as the therapy itself.
The final days of the retreat included music therapy, art therapy, yoga, and breathwork,practices that provided the soldiers with immediate, accessible tools for finding inner peace amid chaos. One of the most profound moments came during a play therapy session. The therapist placed small figurines,soldiers, families, children, ambulances, and military vehicles,in front of them and asked them to use the figures to recreate their experiences from October 7th. What began as a simple exercise became an emotional breakthrough. Through these tiny representations, they told stories that words could not capture, expressing grief, trauma, and resilience in ways they hadn’t before.
As the retreat drew to a close, a final ceremony allowed the soldiers to reflect on their journey. They did not leave as the same people who arrived ten days prior,they left carrying renewed strength, a sense of hope, and the unwavering knowledge that they were not alone. One of the most deeply moving moments of the retreat came from a soldier who had been noticeably withdrawn upon arrival. He kept his distance, speaking little, his energy weighed down by an unspoken sorrow. Two nights in, he quietly pulled us aside. His girlfriend, who had been working on base on October 7th, had been killed. As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and handed us a sticker,hers. It was a small but deeply personal gesture, a way of keeping her memory alive and entrusting a piece of his grief to someone who would carry it with care.
Her name was Sivan Asraf, and she was killed during the Hamas attack on the Nahal Oz base.
After leaving the retreat, the soldiers traveled to Los Angeles to work with Israeli conceptual artist Tomer Peretz, founder of The 8 Project. Tomer created the initiative after volunteering with Zaka, where he witnessed the devastation firsthand as he helped recover bodies from Kibbutz Be’eri.
Through The 8 Project, art became a tool for healing. The soldiers poured their emotions into their work, channeling their pain and resilience onto the canvas. Their pieces will be exhibited at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, opening on March 19, 2025.
This initiative was more than just a trip,it was a transformative experience. It was a safe space for healing, an opportunity to rediscover joy, and a powerful reminder that no one walks alone. The journey doesn’t end here, and neither does our commitment to these brave individuals.
Until next time, we stand with them,united in healing, in love, and in unwavering support.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING TO JEWMANITY™ PLEASE CONTACT BELINDA DONNER AT BELINDA@RGGLV.COM OR CALL 702-528-6113