Helping Holocaust Survivors Cope with Rocket Attack

"I couldn't face the bombing all alone," said Rosa, an 80-year-old woman who lives in Haifa. Thanks to AMCHA, she didn't have to. Last Sunday, while hundreds of rockets fell on northern Israel, Rosa and 20 other Holocaust survivors who live in the Haifa area sought refuge and companionship at the organization's office.

AMCHA, named for the code word that helped survivors identify fellow Jews in war-ravaged Europe, now represents a lifeline for Holocaust survivors throughout the year. In times of crisis, its role becomes even more pronounced. Through supportive therapy, social clubs and volunteer services, the organization's Haifa branch helps close to 2,000 Holocaust survivors, many of whom suffer from varying degrees of psychological distress.

In Haifa, AMCHA, a member of the UJA-Federation-founded Israel Trauma Coalition, has stayed open every day since the rocket attacks began, said director Dalia Sivan. "We are trying to provide a warm environment for the survivors, a place where they can feel secure and embraced."

Although many of AMCHA's therapists and patients are unable to leave their homes due to the situation, the staff is intent on continuing to provide essential services. Therapists conduct phone sessions with survivors and staffers reach out to the homebound.

"We try to maintain telephone contact with all of our survivors," said Sivan. "To those who sound really disturbed, we try to pay house calls."

Amcha is using its nearly 20 years of experience in dealing with trauma and serving the elderly to reach out to local residents of homes for the aged as well as first responders, notably Haifa's fireman, who have benefited from the organization?s counseling services through the Israel Trauma Coalition since the height of the Intifada.

dateline: July 21, 2006