First Treatment Center for Trauma Survivors and Their Families in the North of Israel Opened

Oct 15, 2026 by Susan Rosenbluth

Koach Junction, North of Israel (Oct 14, 2026) – Sheba Medical Center is expanding its national response to psychological trauma among security personnel and their families with the opening today of the Mevo’ot HaHermon – Sheba Clinic, UJA NY Home, a new treatment center in northern Israel. Located at the Mevo’ot HaHermon Rehabilitation Campus at Koach Junction, the center is being established in partnership with the U.S.-based Cohen Veterans Network (CVN), with support from UJA-Federation of New York and Friends of the IDF (FIDF).

The center aims to make specialized, trauma-focused care more accessible to service members and their families in northern Israel, bringing professional treatment closer to home. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place today with dignitaries and guests.

Ribbon-cutting and Itzik Shmuli – Photo Credit Eyal Warshavsky

The opening is part of a broader initiative led by Sheba since October 7 to expand access to mental health care for security personnel and their families and establish a nationwide network of trauma treatment services. The initiative builds on Sheba’s extensive experience treating security personnel and trauma survivors, as well as the expertise of its Integrated Rehabilitation Hospital in addressing both physical and psychological recovery.

The new northern center is the second in Israel, established through the partnership between Sheba, CVN, and FIDF, joining the existing center in Modi’in. It also joins six additional centers in the Returning to Life network, which operates at the Beit HaLohem rehabilitation centers of the Israel Disabled Veterans Organization throughout the country.

Services in northern Israel began in October 2025 at a temporary location before recently moving to the new facility at the Mevo’ot HaHermon Rehabilitation Campus at Koach Junction. The center serves security personnel and their families living in the Upper Galilee, Eastern Galilee, Tiberias, and the Sea of Galilee region, making it easier for residents to access professional mental health care closer to home.

The center provides individual and group therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other effects of psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, grief and loss, sleep disturbances and nightmares, and relationship and family challenges. Among the groups established at the center is a dedicated support group for combat soldiers’ spouses, focusing on the impact of military service and trauma on family life.

Professor Amitai Ziv, Director of Sheba’s Integrated Rehabilitation Hospital, remarked,

“The war has presented Israel’s healthcare system with an unprecedented rehabilitation challenge, affecting not only the body but also the mind. At Sheba, we have supported security personnel for many years, and our experience has taught us that trauma care must be professional, continuous, and accessible. It must address not only the individual service member but also the family around them.

“Since October 7, we have taken on the responsibility of expanding care beyond the hospital’s walls and building a nationwide support network together with our partners. The opening of the center in northern Israel is another important step in this effort, allowing us to bring Sheba’s accumulated knowledge and expertise closer to those who need it.”

Director General of UJA-Federation of New York in Israel, speaking at the ceremony – Photo Credit Eyal Warshavsky

Itzik Shmuli, Director General of UJA-Federation of New York in Israel, said, “The extraordinary mobilization of the New York Community enabled us to begin supporting northern Israel from the very start of the war, reaching an unprecedented scale across more than 100 communities throughout the region. The residents here deserve the greatest possible support, and we are committed to continuing to invest in strengthening the region and helping it flourish once again. Since October 7, UJA has allocated more than $366 million to provide essential support to the people of Israel, a tangible expression of our love for Israel and the mutual responsibility that guides our community.”

Brig. Gen. (Res.) Liron Donnell, CEO of FIDF Israel, said, “Since October 7, we have seen just how much the psychological impact of trauma continues long after service members return home, and how deeply it affects their families as well. Our contribution to establishing the center in northern Israel is intended to help security personnel and their families access high-quality, professional care closer to home. Together with Sheba and CVN, we will continue expanding mental health services and supporting service members and their families throughout their recovery.”

UJA-Federation of New York: Working with a network of hundreds of nonprofits, UJA extends its reach from New York to Israel to nearly 70 other countries around the world, touching the lives of 5.5 million people annually. Every year, UJA-Federation provides approximately $275 million in grants. For more information, please visit

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