B’nai B’rith International Provides Significant Funding

In a new collaboration between the Kamim Foundation and NATAL (Israel’s Trauma and Resiliency Center), a telephone line dedicated specifically to support released hostages and hostage families will launch with significant funding from B’nai B’rith International. The “Return to Life” line is a direct holistic approach with comprehensive support that will serve all the citizens and soldiers who were identified as hostages following Oct. 7, including those still held there, their families and the families of the deceased. 

The unique support line will be inaugurated at a special event on Jan. 6  with the participation of released hostages, families of hostages, Honorary President of Kamim Reuven Rivlin (the 10th president of the State of Israel), Ambassador of Panama in Israel Ezra Cohen, Director of B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Alan Schneider, Kamim Foundation founders and executives, and other distinguished guests. The event will also showcase the foundation’s additional activities.

“ ‘Kamim Line’ is a new strategic collaboration between the foundation and NATAL which provides psychological and emotional treatment and support to victims of war and terror and has gained vast experience for over 27 years in operating support lines. NATAL also has a clinical unit that provides individual emotional aid nationwide and various successful responses for strengthening resilience within the community”, said Attorney Shay Shoham, CEO of The Kamim Foundation. “As part of the partnership, we established a designated support line funded principally by B’nai B’rith International, which will provide a direct personalized response to hostages who were released, those still in captivity and their families.”

The Kamim Foundation was established this summer by founders of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, along with hostage families and volunteers from the business and philanthropic sectors. The foundation complements the goals of the Hostage and Missing Families Forum and its objective is to support and rehabilitate the released hostages and their families, including extended relatives such as second and third-degree family members in recognition of the long and complicated journey of recovery they must endure. 

The Kamim Foundation’s operating model is similar to the United State’s September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and will focus on rehabilitation in financial, emotional and occupational aspects.

Efrat Shaprut, NATAL CEO, said of the initiative: “At Kamim and NATAL, we understand the need of the families for emotional assistance, along with consistent and uncompromising support over a long period, and therefore, we decided that the professionals accompanying the families will do so personally and into the foreseeable future”.

 “B’nai B’rith is proud to partner with Kamim, NATAL, and President Rivlin in helping meet the needs of October 7 victims,” Schneider said. “This is a direct continuation of B’nai B’rith’s humanitarian activities that began nearly 160 years ago and continues through to today. We are grateful to B’nai B’rith members in Panama for their contribution to this important effort.”

For further information, please visit Kamim’s website or contact Attorney Shay Shoham, CEO, The Kamim Foundation, at +972-53-5250555.