Winds of change are blowing across Israel and the world: The Israel of today is not the Israel of October 7th.
Our committed diaspora family is also changing. The global Jewish community is focusing resources on rehabilitating Israel. Our neighbors, our ‘neighborhood,’ and the humanitarian landscape is shifting, especially given the threatened freeze on USAID funding and projects.
This is a time for reflection – inward and outward. A moment to look bravely at the new reality and ask hard questions about the future.
One thing remains crystal clear: NATAN Worldwide Disaster Relief is and will always remain committed to helping people in need. Wherever they are, whomever they are. This is what we do best.
Especially in these times, we are committed to showing Israel’s humane, compassionate, innovative, and helpful face to the world, and we are deeply grateful to all who support us in fulfilling our mission.
Building on the work that began in late 2024, NATAN and JDC have launched the “Almanara” program in Arab municipalities in the North, which aims to support local communities as they develop resilience plans in anticipation of future events. NATAN’s expertise in trauma-informed psychosocial care is vital to Arab community leaders as they seek to develop essential strategies to anticipate conflict and mitigate potential trauma. NATAN is grateful to the JDC for their generous support.
Mickey Goldshtein (R), with Marcin Piotrowski – Folkowisko Foundation, who hosted NATAN delegations in Poland.
Students in a Train the Trainer resilience-building program offered by NATAN to teachers and social workers in Ukraine, with NATAN volunteers.
Michael “Mickey” Goldshtein, born and raised in Ukraine, immigrated to Israel at 17 as a Lone Soldier. His IDF service as a logistics commander prepared him to lead multiple NATAN missions to Ukraine, where his family members still reside. Fluent in Ukrainian, Mickey has managed numerous teams of 10+ professionals often twice his age, and participated in many Train the Trainer workshops, which prepare Ukrainian professionals to support the community, dealing with the effects of trauma.
A big part of the work is convincing the ‘students’ that they, too, deserve care: “The idea that, ‘you can’t help anyone if you don’t help yourself’ is a new thought, for many in Ukraine,” according to Mickey. “It’s a very Ukrainian thing today, to help as many people as possible and forget about yourself. They get used to emptying the tank but not to filling it again.”
Now 25, Mickey says volunteering is one way he strives to build a better world. “NATAN gives me a way to help,” and the mission is clear: “What they think they should do, they do, and they don’t get tired. Compared to other organizations, it’s a unique thing.”
“Having the possibility to actually go to Ukraine, to see the positive effects – it’s unusual and it’s powerful.” Knowing the concrete impact of his work, as a team leader, translator and explainer of all things Ukrainian, reinforces his dedication.
“You don’t need to be a professional psychologist to know how to help people,” Mickey said, especially in Ukraine, where psychosocial services are relatively scarce. “You can see an impact within a few days.”
Mickey recently completed his BA in Political Science, with a focus on European Studies and Conflict Management. He will leave his home in Beersheva to pursue a Masters degree in Global Security in Glasgow this fall. His impact in a few short years has been immense, and he will be missed.
Click here to learn more about NATAN’s 1700+ volunteers.
