In the face of the deadliest attack in Israel’s history and the surging increase in antisemitism across the globe, Chai Lifeline’s Crisis and Trauma Services team has risen to the challenge, confronting hate and terror with compassion and healing. The volunteers, comprised of more than 200 paraprofessionals, are providing critical psychosocial support to the worldwide Jewish community—one phone call at a time.
Following the October 7 massacre, Chai Lifeline, the Jewish community’s leader in health and trauma support, swiftly mobilized its resources and expanded its services to assist all those impacted. Chai Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis line, staffed by volunteers from diverse backgrounds and spanning multiple countries, has become a lifeline for Jews across the globe, providing a much-needed sense of solidarity and sanctuary.
“The global Jewish community is facing an unprecedented traumatic event and Chai Lifeline is there to help them get through it,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “Our dedicated team stands as a beacon of hope, emphasizing that amidst the adversity and turmoil, no one should feel alone.”
In recent weeks, the team has fielded hundreds of calls, addressing a broad spectrum of concerns including guiding parents on managing their children’s anxiety, aiding Holocaust survivors with resurfaced trauma, supporting anxious parents of IDF soldiers, and providing relief to victims of antisemitic assaults.
The team is continuously trained by their director, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Fox, to handle the complexities of trauma with sensitivity and expertise, ensuring that every call for help is met with an informed and heartfelt response.
In addition to the crisis line, Chai Lifeline’s Israel crisis response has included safely relocating Israeli families with children under active cancer treatment out of high-risk areas and providing them with counseling, programming, and support; distributing trauma resources and materials in multiple languages and offering psychological guidance to hundreds of thousands; leading crisis interventions and consultations for thousands in global communities, schools, and organizations; and ensuring medical care continues uninterrupted for families whose medical hardships are further complicated by the ongoing situation.
On Monday, December 4, the Crisis and Trauma Services team will be recognized at Chai Lifeline’s Evening of Unity at Pier Sixty, New York City. To learn more about the program and Chai Lifeline’s Israel crisis response, visit www.chailifeline.org/unity.
For Chai Lifeline Israel crisis support and trauma resources, visit www.chailifeline.org/israel. To contact the Crisis helpline, call 855-3-CRISIS.
