Establishing an Army of Healers in the Middle East
Creating Safe Havens to Feel, Heal and Promote Change
“It’s important to remember that extreme trauma not only reshapes the lives of those who actually live through overwhelming events. It is a train that rumbles through history, depositing its load into the lives of new generations as well.” – Tirzah Firestone
Pain that is not transformed is transmitted – Richard Rohr
Goal:
To rebuild trust, reawaken compassion and enhance the ability of Jews and Arabs, Israelis, and Palestinians to live in harmony and work for Peace.
Background:
In Israel today, we are facing a deep crisis — a painful breakdown of trust between the two peoples who share this land. Most Jews and Arabs are avoiding meaningful interaction; fear and suspicion have replaced the natural human connections that once existed. The public space has grown tense and divided, and even long-standing coexistence organizations are struggling to stay in dialogue.
There is an urgent need for safe, compassionate spaces where people can meet heart to heart where pain can be expressed and received, where listening replaces judgment, and where the possibility of living together in dignity can be remembered.
For over 30 years, Together Beyond Words has been helping people work with painful emotions, stay connected through conflict, and transform fear into understanding. Our experience in movement, expressive arts, and embodied dialogue has shown that healing is possible even in the most polarized times.
What We’ve Achieved and What’s Next
In just 19 months, we have created 22 healing groups with over 400 participants — Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians — who have come together to feel, listen, and rebuild trust.
Out of this work, we launched the Army of Healers, a movement that reclaims the language of war and turns it into a call for compassion, courage, and healing across divides.
In the coming year, we are preparing to open 10 new groups and engage more than 200 additional participants. Alongside this, we are developing “Training the Trainers” workshops and retreats that equip therapists, educators, and facilitators with the skills to lead healing circles in their own communities — extending the impact of this work to hundreds more people across the country.
We are also expanding into universities and community programs, creating spaces where individuals can reconnect to their humanity and foster peace from within.
Together, we are cultivating a new culture of compassion and coexistence and planting seeds of hope for generations to come.
