SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — American Friends of ELEM, the American partner of Israel’s leading nonprofit for at-risk youth, is bringing Shahar Lev Roth, Manager of A Real Home (“Bayit Amiti”) in Tel Aviv, to the United States for a series of community events on trauma recovery and resilience following October 7th.
As part of the visit, Lev Roth will be speaking at Chabad PB and at ‘Walk B’Yachad – Walking Together for Israel’s Youth’, a community-wide, family-friendly walk taking place in San Diego’s Balboa Park on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 8 a.m. The event aims to raise $100,000 to support critical mental health and outreach programs for at-risk youth in Israel
For Jewish communities across America, October 7th was not only a national tragedy for Israel but also a moral call to action. Sexual violence as a weapon of war left deep scars on survivors and shook Israel’s social fabric. This event gives American Jews the chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with survivors, to learn from Israel’s frontline experts, and to take part in ensuring their healing.
“The girls we work with are not statistics,” said Shahar Lev Roth. “They are daughters, sisters, and future leaders of Israel who deserve to rebuild their lives with dignity.”
A Real Home is a therapeutic community for young women ages 14–26 who are survivors of sexual violence. Based in Tel Aviv, the program provides a safe and structured environment that supports survivors from across Israel in rebuilding their lives. Services include individual counseling, group therapy, enrichment workshops such as songwriting and creative expression, and a stable daily framework that fosters healing and growth. Led by trauma-informed professionals and trained volunteers, A Real Home enables participants to regain a sense of agency and dignity as they move forward.
Since the atrocities of October 7th, when sexual violence was used as a weapon of war, Shahar Lev Roth’s leadership has become even more critical as ELEM responds to an unprecedented surge in need. Requests for support through ELEM programs have risen dramatically, underscoring the urgency of this work.
“American Jews cannot be bystanders,” said Liora Attias-Hadar, CEO of American Friends of Israel. “Our support makes it possible for survivors to access care and for programs like A Real Home to meet this historic moment.”
For Jewish communities across America, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect directly with ELEM’s work in Israel. Attendees will gain insight into the scope of the crisis, learn how survivors are finding healing, and understand how American support ensures these programs can continue and expand. By attending, participants stand with survivors at their most vulnerable moment and signal that the Jewish people will not abandon them.
With continued investment, ELEM aims to expand outreach, develop support programs for teen boys and young mothers who have experienced sexual abuse, and ensure that no survivor is left without care. This event is not only a chance to hear directly from Israel’s frontline professionals, it is an opportunity for American Jews to affirm their solidarity with survivors and to help guarantee that young survivors in Israel are never left behind.
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Preceding provided by American Friends of ELEM