ELEM Quarterly - June 2026 ELEM’s Quarterly Newsletter
Table of Contents
2 Program Updates 5 ELEM at the Knesset 9 Interview with OURJNEWS 10 2026 Israel Mission 11 Campaign Briefing Don't Make Them Do It Alone 15 ELEM Tribute Collection
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
PROGRAM UPDATES Breathing Space (Dimona) This past March, just before Passover, an Iranian rocket struck the city of Dimona, destroying an entire neighborhood. Dimona was already grappling with significant socioeconomic challenges. Over 400 residents — children, parents, adults, and teens — were evacuated to the Dead Sea as
a
result
of
the
blast.
Following
the
impact
and
subsequent
displacement of their community, the city’s youth faced compounding trauma. In response, ELEM created a new “Breathing Space” for the evacuees. Located in a hotel at the Dead Sea, this space supports teens and youth whose
homes
were
destroyed.
ELEM’s
team,
which
includes
professionals from HaLev shelters in Dimona and Kiryat Shmona, as well as other employees and volunteers, were on site providing the emotional support these youth needed.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
For Moshe Elad, manager of the Breathing Space and ELEM's Anashim Tovim (Good People) program, the work at the Space is not about logistics; it's about humanity. "Living in a hotel for this period is heartbreaking, for adults and certainly for the youth,” he says. “And then when ELEM arrives, a true partnership begins with the youth. We support one another from the ends of the country and hear difficult stories all day long, even during Passover.
But
they
[the
youth]
are
grateful that the place has become something more than just a hotel. They found a home in the place. They found meaning, and even a quiet moment to play together without worry."
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
At one point, a man in a wheelchair approached ELEM staff at the hotel. Becoming emotional, he explained that in the early 2000s, ELEM helped get him off the streets, beginning with an encounter in an Outreach Van and a referral to one of their shelters.
It’s stories like this that remind us of the incredible lasting impact of ELEM’s work.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
ELEM AT THE KNESSET June 2026 Michal Elihai, Director of the Holistic Model for ELEM in Israel and the Kiryat Shmona municipality, spoke at the Knesset about the
situation
following
of
the
youth
in
the
North
period
of
war
and
evacuation. In her remarks, she highlighted ELEM’s ongoing partnership with local authorities, providing continuous support to displaced youth during their evacuation to Tiberias and as they transition back to the city. She emphasized that the teams operate in a variety of settings — in schools, afternoon activities, and on the streets — where they encounter, firsthand, the challenges the youth are facing. Michal warned of a growing distance between the youth and the adult world, as
WATCH: Michal Elihai speaking at the Knesset. (Instagram)
well as damage to their trust in systems and authority figures. Furthermore, she stressed the immense importance of professional youth work and creating a meaningful, beneficial connection with an adult as a central factor in strengthening resilience and preventing high-risk situations, together with full cooperation with other entities in the city.
No youth, both in the North and across Israel, should have to face these difficulties alone. 5
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
May 2026 This month, ELEM professionals took the stand at the Knesset. Maya Magnat, Manager of Digital Spaces
at
ELEM
in
Israel,
represented the organization at a meeting of the Knesset’s Science and
Technology
Committee,
which addressed a pressing issue affecting Israel and the world: the emotional and personal use of AI by teenagers. Maya,
who
recently
presentation youth
for
culture
us
led
on
a
digital
(watch
HERE),
explained in detail how teens are using
AI
not
only
as
a
technological tool, but also as a space
for
emotional
seeking
advice,
release,
belonging,
Maya Magnat speaking at the Knesset. (Instagram)
and
personal support. "When more than half of young people sometimes prefer turning to an AI-based chat instead of a real
person,”
she
said
in
an
interview with Israel’s People & Computers media outlet, “it is a significant
social
signal
that
requires us to act.” (Ynet)
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
In a new study conducted by ELEM and the Israel Internet Association: 52% of teens prefer talking with AI about emotional issues instead of with people 55% of teens use AI as a friend 49% of teens use AI for emotional therapeutic advice 20% of teens use AI as a romantic partner Alarmingly, about half of the participants in the study reported feelings of frustration after conversations with the chatbot, and one-third experienced loneliness and sadness.
At ELEM, our teams witness the digital reality of teenagers every day — the places where they search for someone who will listen, for meaning, and for security. That is why it is important for us to be part of this conversation, to bring voices from the field, and to make sure that even in a world of AI, no youth is left alone.
Video published by the Knesset featuring ELEM’s Maya Magnat. (Instagram)
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
In addition to Maya, Yael Kahn, a graduate of ELEM’s Bayit Amiti (A Real Home) program, bravely shared her story of abuse — abuse that continued when the offender was released from prison and returned to live near her. Joining
Yael
was
Renana
Danon,
ELEM's Assistant Clinical Director of Training, who spoke in-depth about the
need
to
train
teachers
and
school staff on sexual abuse and working with survivors. “What happens is that all of our children are there [in school] every day...
in
educational
frameworks,”
she said. “And the people who are trusted to support them... they don’t At the Knesset, Bayit Amiti graduate Yael Kahn shares her story of surviving abuse. (Instagram)
have the tools.”
At ELEM, we support boys and girls who have experienced sexual abuse, as well as those who sexually harm others, and we
work
in
prevention,
education,
identification, and treatment. We are proud of Yael for her courage to share her story and give voice to so many others.
Renana was also our keynote speaker at our first Florida Luncheon in 2024. (Instagram)
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
INTERVIEW WITH OURJNEWS
In a recent conversation with OURJNEWS, Liora shared her passionate advocacy for vulnerable youth, a cause deeply personal to her own life experiences.
What do you find most rewarding about your work? What
I
find
most
rewarding
are
the
moments that remind me what's possible, even in the hardest circumstances. I remember visiting Galgal, one of our shelters for young women, and meeting a young woman who had been living on the streets
and
struggling
with
addiction.
When I introduced myself as CEO, she turned to her friend and said, "Wow... I wish one day I could become a CEO." It was such a simple moment, but it stayed with me. Because in that moment, something shifted. For even a second, she allowed herself to imagining a different future. And when I hear that a young person is no longer sleeping on the streets, has found a job, or escaped an abusive situation and is finally safe — those moments are incredibly rewarding.
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Click HERE to read the full article.
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
2026 ISRAEL MISSION Save the Date
2026 ELEM MISSION TO ISRAEL November 8-13 Join us for an eye-opening mission to Israel, where you will experience ELEM’s work firsthand and see how we are helping ensure Israel’s future through its young people. Over the course of the trip, you will visit our shelters and community programs, meet the dedicated professionals on the ground, and spend time with the young people whose lives are being shaped and rebuilt through this work. Through these encounters, you will gain a deeper understanding of the complex challenges facing Israel’s most vulnerable youth. This mission offers a rare and meaningful opportunity to connect directly to our work on the ground, witness impact up close, and become part of the story of resilience, healing, and long-term change in Israel.
Interested in joining us? Click HERE or contact Sindy Greenberg (sgreenberg@elem.org) for further details. 10
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
CAMPAIGN BRIEFING - DON’T MAKE THEM DO IT ALONE
NOW
IS
THE TIME
TO ACT
Don’t make them do it alone. Don’t make them do it alone.
Act now to stop trauma from defining a generation. www.elem.org/not-alone
GOAL: $500,000 Who will help the young people carrying the weight of Israel's trauma? For years, Israel's youth have lived through crisis after crisis — COVID-19, violence, war, displacement, loss, and the ongoing fear and uncertainty that have become part of daily life. Behind the headlines are young people
struggling
with
anxiety,
depression,
loneliness,
self-harm,
bullying, and hopelessness. Some are withdrawing from the world around them. Others are acting out in anger, violence, or despair. Too many are suffering in silence, believing they have nowhere to turn. This is not only a crisis for individual young people. It is a crisis for the future of Israeli society.
No young person should have to carry their pain alone.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
In a recent study published by The Jerusalem Post, nearly 1.2 billion people lived with a mental disorder in 2023: a surge of 95.5% since 1990. For the first time, this peak shifted to the 15-19 age group, whereas in the past, the burden of mental disorders tended to peak in middle age.
Israel’s Youth Are Growing Up in an Unprecedented Reality Young people across Israel are growing up in a reality marked by repeated crises, which started with COVID-19 and includes social isolation, October 7, war, displacement, ongoing security threats, and national trauma. While adults struggle to process these events, many young people are carrying the emotional burden alone. For many teens, instability has become normal. Anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and trauma are no longer occasional experiences, they are part of everyday life.
What ELEM is seeing on the ground:
- Muhammad (Jadeidi-Makr)
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
We Are Seeing the Consequences Across Israel, we are witnessing alarming increases in youth violence, bullying, depression, loneliness, self-harm, substance use, and other high-risk behaviors. Youth violence is no longer confined to the margins of society. It is happening in schools, parks, neighborhoods, and online spaces across the country.
Increase in Youth Criminal Files
(Source: Knesset Research and Information Center)
We are seeing more young people involved in group violence, carrying weapons, and engaging in rapidly escalating conflicts. One in four boys and girls in Israel experiences bullying, including humiliation, exclusion, verbal abuse, and physical violence. Emergency room referrals related to suicidal thoughts and self-harm have risen dramatically. Criminal files opened for youth increased by 26% between 2025 and 2026. Research from Bar-Ilan University found that 20% of teenagers report involvement in physical violence, while nearly one-third report exposure to violence or bullying in their daily lives.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
This Is Not Just a Youth Crisis. It Is a National Crisis. Every day, young people across Israel reach a crossroads. Without support, many will continue down paths marked by violence, addiction, homelessness, exploitation, selfharm, or lifelong trauma. And when they struggle, the effects are felt throughout Israeli society. If we fail to address the trauma, violence, and
emotional
distress
affecting
them
today, we risk creating severe, long-term consequences tomorrow. WATCH: At ELEM, our teams choose to not give up on the youth who are out there alone. (YouTube)
for
the
Ultimately,
depends
entirely
resilience,
and
on
wellbeing
entire
nation
Israel's
future
the of
strength, its
future
generation.
Investing in Israel's youth is not only an act of compassion — it is a direct investment in the country's future security, resilience, and long-term strength.
Please share this campaign and help us spread the word on this critical matter.
www.elem.org/not-alone 14
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
ELEM TRIBUTE COLLECTION
Click HERE to view our certificate collection Our ELEM Tribute Collection is in full swing. Recently, we announced this new giving initiative as a way to honor or commemorate loved ones while supporting ELEM. When you make a donation this way, you can choose from multiple certificate options, such as holidays (Rosh Hashanah, Father’s Day, etc.) and major life moments (graduations, birthdays, etc.). There are three ways to give: $36 tier (minimum): the honoree receives a personalized ELEM certificate. $54 tier: the honoree receives a personalized ELEM certificate and complimentary ELEM t-shirt — the same shirts worn by our Anashim Tovim (Good People) team in Israel. $72 tier or higher: the honoree receives the certificate, complimentary ELEM t-shirt, and an ELEM tote bag.
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AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ELEM
Here
are
just
a
few
personalized
ELEM
certificates that you can select from when making your gift.
Click HERE to view the full certificate catalogue. givebutter.com/elem-tribute-certificate
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NO YOUNG PERSON IN ISRAEL SHOULD WALK ALONE. WE HAVE A NEW ADDRESS 35 Journal Square, Suite 531 Jersey City, NJ 07306 (212) 787-3337 info@elem.org
121 West 36th Street, Suite 329, New York, NY 10018 USA | (212) 787-3337 | info@elem.org