ELI - Israel Association for Child Protection. American Friends of ELI

17/09/2026

The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are an unusual and powerful part of the Jewish calendar.

The new year has begun, but we’re not asked to simply wish for a better year and move on.

We’re asked to reflect.

To look honestly at what happened, what we learned, and what we can do differently.

That idea feels especially meaningful to me, both personally and in my work with ELI.

When you work to protect children, “doing better” can’t remain an intention. It has to become something concrete: stronger families, better-trained professionals, better systems, and institutions capable of supporting children when they need us most.

That is also the thinking behind the new center we are building at ELI in memory of my late mother, Dr. Hanita Zimrin. It will bring together nearly five decades of experience in child protection with training and research to strengthen the field and, ultimately, better protect children.

As we enter 5787, I’ve been asking myself a simple question:

What did this past year teach us, and what will we build differently because of it?

I wrote more about that, and about why I think the idea of teshuva has something important to teach us about strength, responsibility, and caring for the next generation.

May the year ahead bring greater safety, strength, and hope to our children and to all those who care for them.

Link in comments.

10/03/2026

War forces families into prolonged, cramped confinement. This "hidden front" creates a perfect storm where the "secret" of abuse thrives:

Trapped with Abusers: We have seen the devastating results of victims trapped in safe rooms with their abusers.
Public Shelter Risks: For those without a private mamad, sleeping in public shelters introduces new risks from neighborhood perpetrators.
The Silence of Emergency: National crises often silence individual cries for help. When healthy boundaries collapse, the vulnerable are at their greatest risk.
Our children are resilient, but they are exhausted. Every adult in Israel must open their eyes. Watch for unexplained withdrawal or an extreme fear of specific adults, signs that go beyond "normal" war anxiety.

We cannot let the "big" war outside blind us to the silent battles being fought by children within. Breaking the silence is the first step toward healing.

Read more in my recent Jerusalem Post op-ed piece:
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-889475

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D

Protecting our children in the shadow of war

13/09/2025

I’m honored to share my new article in Healthcare Business Today: “From Stigma to Support: The Case for Family-Wide Mental Health Care.”

Explore why shifting from stigma to support in mental health means embracing family-wide care, fostering healing, resilience, and stronger connections.

01/08/2025

"Honored to be featured in Foreign Affairs Observer.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to share the impact of ELI – The Israel Association for Child Protection, where we work every day to ensure that every child in Israel has the right to safety, healing, and hope.

Some key highlights from the article:
- 10,000+ cases handled in 2024, with nearly 80% involving sexual harm.
- Whole-family healing approach, addressing trauma beyond the child to stop cycles of abuse.
- Rapid emergency response teams deployed to evacuation centers after recent conflicts.
- Free trauma care provided to over 2,000 people, including 700 children and Holocaust survivors.
- Prevention and education programs to raise awareness and encourage early reporting.

Thank you to Foreign Affairs Observer for shining a light on this critical work and amplifying the voices of the children and families we serve.

🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.foreignaffairsobserver.com/2025/07/eran-zimrin-leads-eli-israel-child-protection-trauma-care.html"

16/07/2025

"Dr. Hanita Zimrin, Founder of ELI
In 1979, Dr. Hanita Zimrin ז״ל founded ELI: Israel Association for Child Protection with a clear and powerful vision to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse through a broad spectrum of services, including crisis intervention, emergency hot line, therapy, prevention programs in schools, professional education, and community awareness.

At a time when child abuse was rarely discussed, Dr. Zimrin helped bring the issue into the public eye, giving language to what many experienced but few could express. Her dedication helped build one of Israel’s most impactful nonprofits, shaping a field and training thousands of professionals along the way.

Today, under the leadership of her son Eran Zimrin, ELI continues this mission by providing therapeutic care, education, and prevention programs for families across Israel. With services tailored to Israel’s diverse communities, we work every day to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and help children and parents thrive.

"

30/06/2025

"Eric’s Story: Finding Strength After Trauma

Eric* is a 10-year-old boy who came to ELI after enduring severe abuse at the hands of his father. As a form of “discipline,” Eric was repeatedly forced to fetch the very branch his father would use to hit him — a punishment that left deep emotional and physical scars, including uncontrollable hand shaking and severe tics.

When his parents divorced and his father left the country, Eric was left not only with trauma, but also with the pain of abandonment and unanswered anger.

At ELI, we’re helping Eric understand that he is not to blame for what happened. Through compassionate, trauma-informed care, he’s growing stronger, learning to rebuild trust, and beginning to see a future not defined by fear — but by hope.

No child should face abuse alone. Your support helps us reach children like Eric and walk with them on the long path to healing.
*Name changed to protect privacy.

"""

27/06/2025

"June is recognized in the USA as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month, with June 27 specifically designated as PTSD Awareness Day.

At ELI, we’re reminded daily that trauma doesn’t just impact individuals — it affects families, communities, and future generations.

Our mission is to protect Israel’s children and break the intergenerational cycle of abuse through a full spectrum of trauma-informed services: crisis intervention, an emergency hotline, therapy, school-based prevention programs, professional training, and public awareness initiatives.

As our CEO Eran Zimrin shares:
“Treatment starts with the child — and then their story reveals itself so that we can treat the entire family.”

From emergency responses to long-term care, ELI draws on decades of clinical expertise and on-the-ground experience working with PTSD victims. Much of our approach is rooted in the pioneering research of the late Dr. Hanita Zimrin, whose legacy lives on through the work of our team and the Dr. Hanita Zimrin Center.

In this month of awareness, we honor her vision and reaffirm our commitment to helping children heal — and families recover — from the invisible wounds of trauma.

"

23/06/2025

"Recently, @ Wendy Borodkin and I had the opportunity to visit with friends and supporters across the U.S. These meetings were deeply constructive, fueling real impact for Israeli children and families affected by trauma.

Thanks to your generosity and partnership, ELI’s services continue to be a lifeline — especially during times of crisis. Since the start of the war, we’ve stepped up in critical ways:

- Met with 2,000 survivors in the early weeks of the war to help reduce anxiety and restore basic functioning
- Identified 200 individuals — mostly children and their families — requiring long-term care, and have already begun trauma relief for 180 of them
- Launched support for hundreds of evacuated families from Israel’s North, many of whom remain in hotels where pressure and instability fuel abusive environments

We are committed to seeing every survivor through their healing journey. With your continued support, we’ll secure funding to treat all 200 cases — and beyond.

Thank you for being part of this mission. Every conversation, every connection, and every contribution helps us protect and heal vulnerable children.

Excited to share this photo from our meeting with the Jewish Federation of Broward County (https://www.linkedin.com/company/3483344).

"

21/06/2025

"June is PTSD Awareness Month — and a Reminder: No One Should Carry Trauma Alone

One of the most powerful steps in healing from trauma is simply being able to talk to someone you trust. To say, “This happened to me,” and have someone truly listen. Without judgment. Without shame.

At ELI – The Israel Association for Child Protection – we know that trauma thrives in silence. But healing begins in connection.

PTSD can take many forms — from flashbacks and anxiety to difficulty sleeping or concentrating. But the common thread is this: no one should have to face it alone. Whether you're a child, parent, teacher, or caregiver, being able to share your story with someone you trust can be life-changing.

This June, let’s commit to creating more space for honest conversations, compassionate listening, and meaningful support.

Because no child — no person — should be alone with their pain.

"

14/06/2025

In the Heart of the Storm – We Are Here
At ELI – the Israel Association for Child Protection – we are a lifeline for children and families in their most difficult moments.
Our presence in Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, and many other communities across Israel – including areas vulnerable to rocket attacks – ensures that we are there when and where we’re needed most.
Together with our Purple Button, a digital emergency tool accessible with a single click, we are available – in times of calm and in times of crisis.
The Purple Button was designed for moments when it’s hard to speak up – moments of fear, panic, or trauma. With one click, from anywhere – even inside a safe room – children and families can reach us.
Inside these small, crowded safe rooms, with anxiety at a peak, children are at extreme risk.
Too often, they become the outlet for adult stress and distress – an easy target for the pressure, fear, and frustration around them.
We are here to offer a safe, fast, and compassionate response – before harm occurs.
We work from within the crisis.
Our teams are active in Tel Aviv, Rishon LeZion, and in other cities and towns across the country. This physical and emotional proximity helps people know: help is close, and they are not alone.
Today more than ever, people are searching for clear, accessible answers to deep fears and uncertainties.
We are here – not just to listen and support, but to prevent the next trauma.
For the children. For all of us.
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💜 Help Us Protect Israel’s Children
With your support, we can continue to be there – in real time, in real places – for children in distress.
👉 To learn more or make a donation, visit eli-usa – Israel Association for Child Protection
👉 Follow and share our work on social media
👉 Contact us to explore partnership opportunities
Thank you for standing with us.
American Friends of ELI (AFELI)
Working together to protect children. Always.

Unique in its mission to protect children from all forms of abuse – sexual, physical, emotional, and parental neglect, ELI is Israel’s leading child protection association. Founded in 1979 by Dr. Hanita Zimrin, ELI is geared for maximal outreach, identification and treatment of child abuse victi...