On Nov2023 there was a collaboration between the Faculty of Medicine,theFaculty of Psycology,and the school of Social Work. This collaboration yeilded the project "Center ofStrength with Bears" to decrease stress and anxiety and to boostpersonal resilience among children. In these activities members of the staff and students of medicine, psycology, and social work participated.This helped children, parents ,and bears to deal medically and emotionally, with the difficult situation in the country.The idea for this program is based on a collaboration that has been going on successfully in the Medical Department of Bar Ilan in the Galilee.

Here in"the hospital for bears" children are givendolls and toy bears under the guidance of  students to feel empowered to release their feelings and to learn basic termsin medicine in an embracing environment. In recent weeks we have decided to expand this collaboration in order to help children cope with anxiety and fear that occur now.From the begining of the war until now we have successfully had 3 meetings that included  about 100 chidren betwern the ages of3-12. During these sessions the students played with children indiviually or in  small groups and helped them using dolls to deal with daily anxieties that arise during this reality. During these sessions the children and their parents received tools such as breathing techniques and other ideas that children can do with parents when needed.( during alarms or while in the safe room) We opened special emotion rooms where medical interns used ulrasound  casts for the bears. In this manner the interns were able to lessen the stress and uncertainty surrouding these procedures. Other professionals were also present:Dr.Tamar Zilberg, Dr Tali Gev, Prof.Rachel Dekel that invented this unique treatment.

Bar Sudai from Petach Tikva age 6 told us that after spending time in the emotion room with a psycology student "if the bear is stressed in the safe room we can pat the bear, do soap bubbles, and hug the bear when he's frightened. We can also tell him that the Iron Dome protects us."

Lital Strom mother of 3 yr. old Sinai joined us after leaving Kibutz Saad said"From Oct.7 This is the first time that Sinai is willing to talk to a professional.He was happy and calm with the tips he received-theraputic tools in games, and we the parents received tips for stessful situations" During one of the sessions children from the center and south had to go to the safe room during an alarm.YaelGolan  of the psycology department told us that they proceeded quietlly and in the safe room they used some of the techniques they learned earlier.

Prof. Noa Vilchinsky of the psycology departmentwho heads this project concluded "Comments of the children and their parents warm the heart. We are told that the children use the tools they received at home and during alarms.They remind their parents and even talk about these things in school.