JERUSALEM (Press Release)–Following one of the most stressful and difficult summers in recent years, more than 50 women from Sderot spent a day in Jerusalem with The Koby Mandell Foundation, taking part in healing and stress reducing activities. The Foundation, created by Seth and Sherri Mandell after the tragic murder of their son Koby 13 years ago in a terror attack to help themselves and others heal from terror and tragedy, lead anti-trauma techniques, art therapy and playback theater to help express and release some of the tension from the difficult summer months.
“People think that the children get used to the sirens, but they don’t, and we, the mothers, have to be strong for them,” said one participant. “I didn’t leave my house for two months during the war – I stayed in the basement of my house. This was the first time that we were able to let go and feel for ourselves rather than be in the ‘protective mother’ role.”
In addition to the therapeutic exercises, the women were also treated to manicures, massages, haircuts and reflexology as well as swimming in a private pool, all donated by the individual service professionals.
“We’ve learned a lot from our years of hosting healing retreats for bereaved mothers,” added Sherri Mandell. “It was an honor to be able to use those and other techniques to help strengthen the mothers and families of Sderot after this difficult summer.”
The day’s activities were co-sponsored by the UJA Federation of New York and in memory of Shamai Yosef and Malka Rosh Silverman.
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Preceding provided by the Koby Mandell Foundation