Creating a Rehabilitation Horizon for the Wounded: The Post-War Battle

The injury does not end with hospital discharge. For many wounded individuals and their families, that is precisely when a complex journey begins—involving mental and physical coping, realization of rights, return to functioning, rebuilding a professional identity, and reintegration into the family and community. As of August 2026, approximately 27,000 war-wounded individuals have been recognized by the Rehabilitation Department. 54% of them are dealing with psychological distress and PTSD. Behind these figures are individuals and families seeking a genuine opportunity to rebuild independent, active, and meaningful lives. What is Ofek? Ofek is an initiative based on a capability model—tested, proven effective, and demonstrating a high ROI—run by the "Ofek for Life" association. It offers a single point of contact and a continuous support envelope for the wounded individual and their family. The model connects treatment, functioning, and action, based on the understanding that rehabilitation takes place not only in the therapy room, but also at home, in the workplace, and in the community. The model integrates five areas of activity: • Holistic treatment. Mental, physical, and familial responses tailored to each participant. • Rights accessibility. Personal accompaniment in dealing with the Rehabilitation Department, National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), health funds, and authorities. • Vocational rehabilitation. Strength mapping, training, experience in a supportive environment, mentoring, and gradual placement. • Community integration. Connection to employers, mentors, professionals, and program alumni. • Knowledge and measurement. Documenting results, developing a data-driven working model, and training professionals. Acting Now Even before establishing the full operational framework, the Ofek Association is launching a first phase of 12-month activity due to urgency, the narrowing window of opportunity for rehabilitation, and the rise in red-flag cases and suicides. This phase is designed to provide an immediate response to the wounded and their families, test the model in the field, and build the professional and financial infrastructure for the future. First-phase goals: • Four retreats for approximately 112 wounded individuals and their family members. • A rights-accessibility and personal accompaniment mechanism for 60 families. • A vocational rehabilitation pilot for 25 participants, including strength mapping, mentoring, and assistance with workplace integration. • Two professional retreats for employers and professionals. • Measurement, documentation, and research of activity outcomes. "Ofek Journey: Resilience, Capability, and Productivity – The 10-Day Program" Operational Foundational Principles: • Bandura's model as a compass: The program relies on four central anchors for building self-efficacy: Mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and emotional and physiological regulation. • The five arms of Ofek integrated horizontally: Intakes and employment assistance, processing treatments and workshops, capability building, senior business mentors ("The Golden Team"), and the innovation and bureaucratic accompaniment arms. • Operational style: Full day every day (08:00–16:00), integration of therapeutic nature spaces, practical productive work, peer circles, fine field meals, and a mentoring envelope.