I am writing these words just moments after we at HEMA completed the rescue of four teenage girls from one of the largest countries in Europe. We had received credible information that their father – a man working in a therapeutic profession – had been sexually abusing them for many years.
The operation was carried out in utmost secrecy. It involved a team of attorneys, both here in Israel and in the city abroad where the family lived, private investigators who followed the family and collected evidence, intensive work with the local education and welfare systems, and strategic planning carefully tailored to the girls’ needs and their emotional ability to confront their abusive father.
Today, the four girls are in Israel, living in a safe house, and receiving intensive emotional and psychological care. This case was complicated, took several months, and required significant resources, but it ended in a tremendous and meaningful success. Now begins the long process of helping these young women rebuild their lives.
In our day-to-day work at HEMA, we receive calls about children being harmed both in Israel and around the world. Sadly, in recent years, we have seen a dramatic rise in cases of domestic violence. The emotional hardships in Israel following the recent war have only worsened the situation: Women are being murdered, women endure severe abuse, children are harmed in their own homes, and many teenagers slide into addiction, depression, and other serious crises.
And yet, time and again, we – as a society and as those closest to these families – fail to recognize distress in real time. We don’t reach out for help, and at times, even the welfare authorities, overwhelmed by the heavy caseload, cannot reach every child in time.
Since October 7 and throughout the ongoing security tensions with Iran, the emotional burden has only intensified. The ground feels unstable, the pain sharper. More and more children are being harmed, and despite the desire to help, there is not always the time, energy, or knowledge to reach every case.
Romi (a pseudonym) is a grandmother appointed by welfare authorities to care for her three grandchildren. Her daughter had suffered severe abuse from her husband, developed post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health struggles, and over time, spiraled into drug use. Her situation deteriorated until she was living with her children in the family car, without a roof over their heads, even selling drugs from the vehicle.
A report about the children’s neglect and harm reached HEMA. The person who informed us knew our work and knew this family. He understood that reaching out could lead to a path where the children might be saved and their mother rehabilitated in the long term.
Ensuring physical safety
In those first crucial days, our volunteers did far more than ensure physical safety. They stood by the family through the legal and welfare processes, worked to have the grandmother appointed as a temporary guardian, and arranged an educational and emotional support network for each child. We chose the grandmother only after a careful assessment of her ability to care for them and provide the safest home possible.
Months later, after hospitalization and a long process of detox and rehabilitation, the mother began to rebuild her life. The children were already enrolled in suitable schools and were receiving ongoing emotional support. Today, the mother is still on her journey, but she is active in her children’s lives, holds a steady job, and serves as a role model for other women in recovery.
THE STORIES I have shared here – with identifying details altered to protect the children – are only the tip of the iceberg. Every week, we at HEMA encounter heartbreaking cases of physical, sexual, economic, and emotional violence against children and women, often by those closest to them.
In so many cases, the suffering could have been prevented if someone in their surroundings – a grandparent, teacher, neighbor, or close friend – had known how to read the signs in time.
Building on our extensive experience, we came to understand that raising broader public engagement is essential. This insight led us to develop a unique and highly practical initiative: a hands-on workshop designed to equip participants with the skills for early detection of abuse and life-saving first responses.
This one-time interactive workshop is built on years of experience and dozens of real cases. Participants learn to identify signs of emotional and physical distress in children and teenagers – even when they do not speak. They practice the correct responses and the first steps that can save lives.
Some of the topics covered in the workshop include:
• How to recognize signs of domestic violence – even when a child is silent
• What to do if you suspect drug or substance abuse.
• The earliest signs of sexual abuse – and the right first step to take.
• How to address addictions, cyber dangers, and risks on social media.
• How to identify speech or communication problems before they escalate into a crisis.
• What to do if you suspect hidden violence between partners – and whom to approach first.
The workshop includes 10 interactive sessions with practical exercises, simulations, and field visits in different areas of the country. Participants learn to “read between the lines” – to listen to the tone of voice, observe body language, and detect a cry for help before a complete breakdown occurs.
The sessions are led by welfare experts, psychologists, former investigative officers, and police representatives – all bringing real-world knowledge and practical tools for anyone who encounters children in their daily life.
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with all of us.
We cannot leave the detection of distress and the act of helping solely to the authorities or professionals. Each of us carries the ability – and the obligation – to pay attention, ask, report, and be a listening ear and a watchful eye. Sometimes, it takes just one phone call to save a life; sometimes, it’s the insistence on seeing what others choose to ignore.
Harm done to a child does not end with the event itself. Its effects can scar their lives for many years and, sometimes, even ripple across generations. That is why every act of awareness, every step of involvement, can become a turning point.
To book a workshop, consultation in cases of concern, or make a donation, please reach out to us at *3435.
The writer is the founder and director of the HEMA organization.