Sixteen bereaved siblings and orphans recently completed a four-month surfing course organized by the OneFamily association in Ashkelon. Held for the second time for bereaved families in Israel's southern region, the program combined time in the sea and nature with overcoming obstacles, navigating both successes and setbacks, and acquiring new skills - all while fostering a vital space for belonging, empowerment, and personal growth.
Finding resilience through the sea
Across 12 sessions, participants took to the water to confront the waves while forging deep friendships and bonds with one another. Through the ocean, the outdoors, and teamwork, the program became a safe haven where participants could build confidence, recognize their own resilience, and find moments of joy while coping with profound loss.
Moran Magen - whose brother, Roi Moshe of blessed memory, served as a deputy team commander at the Beersheba firefighting station and fell in battle on October 7 - shared her experience: "We came to the sea, each with their own personal story, the longing and the pain in our hearts, and we came out with much more than surfing memories. During the 12 sessions, we found a safe space of acceptance, belonging, and connection. We learned to get back up after falling, to trust ourselves, and to understand that even when a big wave comes, we have the strength within us to deal with it."
Magen added: "We are finishing this journey with friendships, smiles, and experiences that will stay with us long after we leave the water. The sea may stay behind, but the people and the feelings that accompanied us will continue on with us."
Moving forward together
Southern region alumni coordinator at OneFamily, noted: "Within this gathering, there is much more than just surfing. There is partnership, belonging, connection, laughter, and moments of joy. Seeing them together, encouraging one another, facing the waves, daring, succeeding, and above all enjoying themselves, is a reminder of the power of togetherness - a space where for a moment you can put the pain aside, breathe deeply, and feel life."
Moshe Saville, CEO of OneFamily, added: "Dealing with the waves in the sea is very much like the waves that meet us in the course of life, including the loss of a close person. Precisely in the face of the undertow and the big waves, we discover the strength within us to rise, cope, and move forward. At the 'One Family' association, we see great importance in creating responses through extreme sports, which allow participants to process loss, face challenges, and rediscover their personal strengths."