Prof. Eyal Fruchter is the director of the Mental Health Department at Rambam Health Care Campus. He has held key positions in the Mental Health Division of the Israel Defense Forces. He is also a leading expert on the prevention of post-traumatic stress syndrome and suicides, as well as an author of numerous scientific publications.

Dr. Gila Matzliah-Liberman is a renowned educational psychologist and director of the Educational Psychology Service and Multi-Disciplinary Center, the institution providing psychological assistance to children, parents and educators. She is also an advisor to the Minister of Education on the psychological aspects of Israel's Holocaust education program, and an author of written articles and books for children. 

Israeli specialists have practical knowledge and experience in providing psychological assistance to those affected by the trauma of war. The purpose of the meeting was, among other things, to exchange experiences and practices. The specialists presented some measures being taken in Israel to build the so-called social resilience to crisis situations.

Israeli doctors also talked about the methods of preventing and treating post-traumatic stress syndrome and secondary post-traumatic stress syndrome, to which those involved in helping war refugees in Poland are particularly vulnerable.

After four months of intensive work to help refugees, it is important to think about a long-term plan of action and adjust the efforts being taken accordingly. In order to continue providing effective assistance to those in need, it is necessary to implement solutions to manage the crisis on a long term basis.

A necessary step will be to prevent cases of activist burnout and secondary traumatization among helpers. At this point the experts highlighted the importance of̨ sustainable management of time and energy, as well as support from the loved ones and the community.

The visit of the Israeli doctors was in response to the great need for psychological support for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Israeli therapists have incomparably more experience and knowledge of the issues of war trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder than European specialists, as it is an important subject of research and an ever-present topic in the Israeli society.

“Israeli Breakfasts” is a series of meetings about Israel, showcasing the country through the lens of personal stories and experiences. The project aims at creating a platform for dialogue - addressing topics related to Israeli society, as well as the role of women or the world of new technologies. The key to the Breakfasts is the search for answers to the question “What unites - instead of dividing - Poles and Israelis?”

ELNET (European Leadership Network) is an international non-profit organization with one goal - to exchange experiences and deepen cooperation between Europe and Israel based on common needs and democratic values.