TEL AVIV, Israel (Press Release) — For former captives, families of hostages, and their wider support networks, which have involuntarily become a community numbering in the thousands, the consequences of captivity and the ongoing process of coping are expected to last a long time, potentially a lifetime.
Until that Saturday, October 7, an event of such magnitude had never occurred in Israel, and there was no precedent for developing tailored support mechanisms. This created a critical need for a unique and complementary framework to accompany government efforts, one that operates in partnership with state institutions and other organizations, while involving families in the development process in a long-term, customized way.
“255 – The Hostages and Their Families Organization” was established about a year ago to meet this need. Founded on the initiative of former captives and families of hostages, the organization is built on the understanding that “being a hostage family is forever.”
The organization focuses on a single encompassing circle, the “support and accompaniment circle.” It addresses all layers of the family, recognizing that trauma fragments family units and affects extended families, friends, and entire communities. Many of these extended networks have effectively functioned as nuclear families and are an inseparable part of the coping and rehabilitation process.
The disaster has made those affected a distinct group within Israeli society, with unique needs that only they can define. The organization implements a post-traumatic growth model that engages affected individuals in identifying their needs, combining professional expertise with “experiential expertise” from families and former captives themselves.
“Captivity doesn’t end the moment the hostage returns home, whether alive or posthumously,” says Elyah Kadish, social worker and Head of the Personal and Family Support Program at 255. “The families themselves initiated this effort. They are not merely in need; they are a community with strength, capabilities, and talent. Over the past two years, many have become involuntary experts in policy, communications, welfare, rehabilitation, and education. The knowledge they have gained through personal experience forms the foundation for how we shape support programs.”
255 emphasizes several key components, including a broad personal and family support framework led by professional social workers, addressing emotional, familial, occupational, financial, and social needs. The organization also focuses on community-building by creating safe spaces and dedicated belonging networks for hostages and their families, offering support grounded in shared identity and experience.
Another central pillar of the organization’s work is public strategy and policy advocacy, aimed at closing gaps in support and rights, and developing a state-level response to this unprecedented situation.
Preserving the narrative is also a core element of the organization’s mission, ensuring that hostages and their families are the ones telling their stories, commemorating their loved ones, and passing their testimonies to future generations in their own authentic and human voice.
The organization operates with the support of the Shashua Family Foundation and the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, alongside partnerships with the Jewish Federations of North America and The Joint Israel. Its mission is to facilitate the journey back to life, strengthen trust in institutions, and ensure an optimal return to life for former captives and their families.
*
Preceding provided by the 255 organization of Oct. 7, 2023 captives and their families.