REBUILDING Healing Hea
As 2026 begins, Israe remain in a critical pe recovery. While activ has subsided, the imp October 7 and the pr war continues to shap for thousands of teen young adults returnin communities marked displacement, and tra
American Friends of ELEM’s first campaign of 2026, Rebuilding from Within, focuses on supporting youth as they begin the long process of healing and reintegration.
Through ELEM’s holistic model of care, we provide consistent, trauma-informed support that meets young people where they are.
ELEM operates holistic models in several cities across Israel.
This campaign places particular emphasis on Ofakim and Kiryat Shmona, two communities among those hardest hit by the war. Ofakim was the site of one of the October 7 massacres, while Kiryat Shmona, located along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, was evacuated for nearly two years and heavily damaged by rocket fire. Youth in these communities are now returning to environments that are still rebuilding physically and emotionally.
The campaign highlights ELEM’s in-school drop-in centers, afternoon drop-in centers, night outreach vans, and digital intervention programs, which together create a continuous safety net for youth in schools, neighborhoods, and online.
Maya Baron, Head of ELEM’s Trauma Department
All board members are receiving the campaign emails.
We encourage and ask that you help amplify this effort by sharing the campaign with your networks, raising awareness about the challenges facing youth in these communities, and engaging with and sharing ELEM’s content on social media.
Learn more about ELEM’s work in Kiryat Shmona and Ofakim.
CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH VIDEO
ELEM’s work in Kiryat Shmona
ELEM’s work in Ofakim
ELEM FLORIDA CHAPTER
There is still time to register! If you have friends or contacts in the South Florida area, we encourage you to invite them to register and join us.
Registration is open through Wednesday, February 18.
ELEM NEXTGEN
2025 Hanukkah Recap + Future Events
25 young professionals from our NextGen group joined ELEM for our annual Hanukkah gathering last month at a private rooftop in Chelsea
The evening brought together new and returning supporters for a warm, festive celebration that highlighted the sense of community at the heart of NextGen. Guests enjoyed time to connect with one another, celebrate Hanukkah together, and learn more about ELEM’s work supporting youth at risk in Israel.
The event served as a meaningful opportunity to strengthen relationships, welcome new faces into the ELEM community, and build momentum for NextGen programming in the year ahead.
A big thank you to board member Moriah for her leadership of NextGen and for all that she does to support ELEM.
ELEM NextGen is gearing up for more events this year throughout New York City. Stay tuned for updates!
EMPLOYEE UPDATES
Welcome to the Team!
We are pleased to welcome two new full-time employees to American Friends of ELEM.
Matthew Bussy Communications & Partnerships Manager
Matt has nearly 10 years of experience in the Jewish non-profit sector working in marketing, communications, film editing, program curation, website management, and copywriting, to name a few. He is a graduate of Temple University and works for Allied Global Marketing on the side, managing advance movie screenings throughout Philadelphia.
“ELEM’s work in helping at-risk youth is something that so deeply aligns with my Jewish values, and I couldn’t be more excited to be here and expand ELEM’s reach here in the USA.”
Maya Shelton
Administrative Assistant
Maya Shelton is a Brooklyn-born creative and community advocate who values service, connection, and impact. She is a graduate of Old Dominion University and deeply committed to supporting under-resourced communities through meaningful, peoplecentered work. A proud mother of two, Maya is passionate about building spaces where dignity, care, and community come first.
“I’m excited to join the ELEM team to continue the work of supporting youth and community care.”
*TEAM UPDATE
Sindy Greenberg, our former FL Chapter Co-Chair, is now serving as our part-time Florida Development Officer, overseeing fundraising, community outreach, and leading the ELEM Florida Chapter.
Sindy Greenberg Development Officer, Florida
As a former Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS), Sindy is dedicated to supporting children and families through life’s most challenging moments, combining professional expertise with compassion and empathy. Her commitment to service began in her early teens with the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and has continued through leadership roles with Hillel, B’nai Brith, Hadassah, the ALS Foundation, and organizations supporting Israel and children and families in need. Over the years, Sindy has contributed to numerous initiatives that strengthen the Jewish community and promote the well-being of youth.
“I am deeply passionate about helping those facing challenges and committed to advancing the extraordinary work of ELEM. It is a privilege to contribute to an organization that ensures the health, safety, and success of Israel’s next generation.”
NEWS FROM ELEM ISRAEL
Development Services + Policy Advancements
Kiryat Shmona, a city located in northern Israel along the border with Lebanon, was evacuated for nearly two years due to the war and sustained significant damage from rocket fire The city has not yet returned to full functioning, and many municipal bodies remain inactive, making it difficult to advance processes and coordinate effectively with local authorities ELEM is in ongoing dialogue with the municipality with the aim of establishing stability for 2026. The municipality has proposed funding one night per week of ELEM’s mobile outreach unit (Outreach Vans). Based on current needs on the ground, ELEM is requesting funding for two nights per week. A response from the municipality is expected in late January.
In Bat Yam, ELEM is spearheading a therapeutic youth center that complements a holistic model in the city.
In Arraba, ELEM has been selected through a competitive government process (tender) to operate two nights of outreach activity. Staffing for the program is currently under development.
In Ofakim, attempts are being made to partially fund the mobile unit (Outreach Vans), which is currently funded through philanthrophy.
The Netanya and Yehud mobile units (Outreach Vans) closed at the end of 2025.
Policy advancements have been made through our participation in the following Knesset committees:
Committee on the sexual exploitation of minors.
Special Committee on Young People: Monitoring efforts to eradicate violence in Arab society
Committee for the Fight Against Drug and Alcohol
Use: the impact of social media on adolescents.
Committee on Children’s
Rights: prevention of social exclusion (bullying) and suicide.
Committee on support frameworks for survivors of sexual assault.
NEW WEBSITE
Coming VERY Soon...
The team has been working endlessly on a brand new website for American Friends of ELEM. This new and improved site offers much easier ways to navigate through ELEM’s programs and learn about the rich history of this organization.
Please note that the URL for the site will NOT be changed. The URL will remain as ELEM.org.
The new site is almost ready! We guarantee this revitalized version of our current website is shinier and absolutely easier to follow.
NEW INSTAGRAM HANDLES
Follow FL Chapter and NextGen
ELEM’s Florida Chapter and NextGen have officially joined the Gram! If you ’ re on Instagram, be sure to follow these accounts below:
ELEM Florida Chapter: @elem_fl
ELEM NextGen: @elem_nextgen
And if you don’t follow us already, be sure to follow @elem_usa
These pages, as you see, are still very new, and we have much to post about this year. We urge you to help us spread the word about these pages and encourage everyone to follow us. Just one click and that’s all you have to do!
Creating these separate Instagram pages are a very beneficial way for us to expand our reach and introduce more users to American Friends of ELEM. In this day and age, the world is VERY virtual, so social media is definitely crucial for us to grow. We have plenty of posts in store.
