OneFamily sending support delegation to Australia
The delegation will include senior therapy professionals who will provide professional training and guidance to local therapists
OneFamily, Israel’s national organisation supporting bereaved families and victims of terror and war, is dispatching a professional delegation to the Australian Jewish community following the Chanukah terror attack at Bondi Beach.
The delegation will include senior therapy professionals with expertise in accompanying Israel’s injured and bereaved who will provide professional training and guidance to local therapists.
They will also help develop tailored therapeutic responses and establish a remote-care framework that will connect attack survivors with trauma therapists in Israel.
OneFamily founder Marc Belzberg said the organisation stood with the Bondi Beach community. “The shocking terror attack in Australia touches the heart of every one of us here in Israel,” Belzberg said.
“We stand with the Bondi Beach community and share our professional expertise in building a therapeutic response to help survivors and their families begin the process of healing and hope.”
Belzberg founded the organisation 25 years ago with his wife Chantal with a mission to accompany, strengthen and rehabilitate victims of terror over the long term.
The organisation’s unique experience in long-term trauma support for terror victims is built on its work with thousands of families in Israel over the past two and a half decades.
OneFamily professional director Dr Mordechai Ben Ari said trauma from a terror attack does not end on the day of the event.
“Trauma that is the result of a terror attack does not end on the day of the event – it accompanies victims for years and requires professional, tailored, and sensitive care,” Ben Ari said.
“The delegation’s goal is to give local therapists the practical tools we’ve developed and share the clinical knowledge we accumulated over the past 25 years working with terror victims in Israel.”
Belzberg emphasised the organisation’s commitment to standing with the Australian Jewish community “with mutual responsibility, professionalism, and hope going forward”.
Meanwhile, over 400 Israeli children participating in OneFamily’s winter camp for bereaved children recorded a message of solidarity for the families mourning in Australia. The children, who have lost siblings or parents to terror and war over the past two years, sang from atop Masada, sending a message of understanding, solidarity and love to the bereaved and injured children and families of Bondi Beach.
The children sang Rabbi Nachman of Breslav’s words: “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.”
“We send you a message of love and hope on wings of song – reaching across lands and oceans. We feel what you feel – and we love you very much,” the children said. “Be strong and steadfast – Am Yisrael Chai.”
OneFamily is Israel’s leading organisation supporting victims of terror and their families. It provides critical short and long-term emotional, financial and rehabilitative assistance to those impacted by terrorism. The number of people supported has more than doubled since October 7, 2023.
OneFamily was recently named one of the 2024 recipients of the prestigious Genesis Prize.
The Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14 killed 15 people during a Chanukah celebration.