Sergey Zhurkovskii: Strong Heart – Supporting Our Heroes' Return to Life

Strong Heart – Supporting Our Heroes' Return to Life

Since October 7, thousands of soldiers have returned home - but for many of them, the war has never truly ended. The memories, stress, and emotional burden continue to accompany them long after they have taken off their uniforms and returned to everyday life. Over the past year, Israel has faced a troubling rise in mental health crises among soldiers, including an increase in suicides and suicide attempts. Many are still fighting a quiet, internal battle, searching for a place to breathe, pause, and begin finding their way back to themselves.

Strong Heart was born from a simple belief: a strong country can exist only when the people who defend it are strong as well. Through guided work with horses, a supportive community, and a non-judgmental environment, we help combat soldiers restore balance, reduce stress, and reconnect with themselves. Horses do not respond to words - they respond to what is real. And through that connection, something begins to change.

A unique element of the program is that soldiers participate in the workshops together with their organic units - the very people they fought alongside, shared the same experiences with, and who carry many of the same scars. Working together helps rebuild a sense of belonging, trust, and mutual support, all of which are essential components of the journey back to everyday life.

For those who need deeper and longer-term support, we created Second Home, an ongoing community for soldiers coping with post-traumatic stress and the lasting effects of war.

To date, we have helped 230 soldiers. But the need is far greater.

This year, we aim to reach an additional 800 soldiers and provide them with the professional and human support they need.

The cost of participation for one soldier in the program is ₪700.

This means that every donation of this coast funds participation for one additional soldier in a process that can make the difference between coping alone and receiving the tools, support, and community that help them return to life. For many of them, this is not just a therapeutic program - it is a real opportunity to start again.

They carried the burden for all of us. Now it is our turn.

Join us. Together, we can help them find their way back to everyday life.