The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) is a local crisis response organization based within the State of Israel. The group claims to operate “resilience centers” that provide psychotherapy and emergency services to communities impacted by conflict and other crises. Activity for the group increased following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and the resulting Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.  The group also operates within Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 Invasion of that country as well as other countries impacted by antisemitism. The group was founded by, and receives funding from, the UJA-Federation of New York. ^{1 2 3}

Background

The Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) was founded in 2001 by the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York (UJA-Federation of New York) which claims to have over $260 million in revenue and $1.6 billion in assets as of 2023. ⁴ UJA founded ITC through combining roughly 7 smaller Israel-based organizations, and as of 2024 now serves as an advisory body to the United Nations (UN). ^{2 3}

Activities

The group founded its first “resilience center” in 2007 with support and funding from the Israeli government. It was created to serve local Israeli communities “bordering the Gaza Strip” following the terror group Hamas taking control of the territory in the Palestinian legislative election of 2006. ³

ITC CEO Talia Levanon claims that their model of resilience centers are “unique” “as they are “established in areas with high exposure to potential security events.” ³ Since 2007 the group has opened and operated 12 similar resilience centers to provide 24/7 emergency services, training, and trauma counseling. ³

According to a March 2024 article by Israel21c, ITC claims that each resilience center offers “a team of trauma specialists, such as social workers and psychologists, who offer direct treatment to those seeking help during and after a traumatic event. The centers offer training, helping the staff acquire the skills needed to treat trauma victims.” ³

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks against the State of Israel, ITC claimed that two of its resilience center employees were killed in the attacks with one being kidnapped and taken hostage in Gaza. ITC further claimed that several staff members “lost loved ones. Many more suffered unimaginable trauma of having to escape the Hamas death squads.” ³

In May 2023, the group opened resilience centers in Ukraine with the support of the Ukrainian government following the Russian invasion in February 2022 and the ongoing war in the region. The group claimed it would apply “the highly effective Israeli resilience model of preparedness and response to the psychosocial aspects of war for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself from the Russian military invasion.” ⁵

The group also sent an emergency team to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to provide counseling services following an October 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. ⁶

1. “Resilience Centers.” Israel Trauma Coalition. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://israeltraumacoalition.org/en/resilience-centers/
2. “About Us.” Israel Trauma Coalition. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://israeltraumacoalition.org/en/about-us/
3. Karra, Yulia. “The trauma expert helping to heal Israel.” Israel21c. March 17, 2024. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.israel21c.org/talia-levanon-the-trauma-expert-helping-to-heal-israel/
4. “United Jewish Appeal Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Of NY.” ProPublica. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510172429
5. Ghert-Zand, Renee. “Israel Trauma Coalition opening resilience centers in Ukraine.” The Times of Israel. May 9, 2023. Accessed November 15, 2024.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/israel-trauma-coalition-opening-resilience-centers-in-ukraine/
6. “Israel Trauma Coalition returns to Pittsburgh.” JFCS Pittsburgh.  https://www.jfcspgh.org/israel-trauma-coalition-returns-to-pittsburgh/