At a special JW3 event, Professor Asher Ben-Arieh—Dean of the Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare at the Hebrew University, Haruv Chair for the Study of Child Maltreatment, and CEO of the Haruv Institute—shared how Israeli academia and the Haruv Institute shaped Israel’s response after the 7 October Hamas attack.
Professor Ben-Arieh detailed the urgent development of specialist guidelines for children returning from captivity, those displaced, and survivors coping with loss and trauma. Working closely with the government, The Israeli Security Agency (ISA) and the IDF, his team rapidly trained social workers, security personnel, and medical staff to ensure sensitive, evidence-based care for traumatised children.
He emphasised that “We are facing a new type of trauma—one defined by betrayal, prolonged fear and loss of trust in the adult world. We cannot simply apply the same models used for previous crises. We must listen to the children, respect their autonomy, and be prepared to think out of the box”. Professor Ben-Arieh also highlighted the launch of the Israeli National Centre for Innovation in Children’s Resilience and Mental Health, pioneering new approaches to support children’s recovery, even if some interventions may fail.
The event, generously sponsored by Marc Iarchy in memory of his grandmother, Hebrew University Honorary Fellow Thea Zucker z”l, brought together Hebrew University alumni, BFHU supporters and the wider community. The British Friends of the Hebrew University extend their heartfelt thanks for this meaningful partnership.
Watch the recording: