Helping heal Jewish soldiers through sport

Linoy Hazan, a Canadian volunteer with the Peace of Mind (POM) program at the Israel Centre for the Treatment of Psychotrauma (ICPT) in Jerusalem, said she is proud to be involved with an organization that benefits both the discharged Israeli soldiers who participate in a therapeutic, week-long retreat, and the Jewish communities that host them.

Hazan, POM’s co-ordinating director in Toronto, explained that since 1989, the Israel Centre for the Treatment of Psychotrauma (ICTP) has been working to treat the estimated nine per cent of Israelis who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – three times the level of that in most western countries.

“The goal of the trips abroad is to get them away from the triggers in Israel and [have them] showered with love and admiration from the Jewish community in Diaspora.”

The $55,000 it costs to bring the soldiers to Toronto covers the round-trip flights, therapy fees, local transportation, field trips and meals.

To raise funds for the groups scheduled to come to Toronto later in the year, Hazan is planning a "bowl-with-a-soldier" event May 25th at Playtime Bowl near the Yorkdale Shopping Center in Toronto from 6 to 8 p.m. Competing in teams of 7 (6 plus a soldier), prizes will be awarded – from TFC and movie tickets to an ipad, ipod and more. With local entertainment, the Magen Boys mixing the tunes live at the bowling event. Every team is required to raise $613 or close to it, prior to the event (a minimum of $100 per player). One hundred per cent of funds will go to benefit POM.

For more information about Peace of Mind jump to the feature piece here on cjnews.com, visit www.traumaweb.org or e-mail Hazan at peaceomindcanada@gmail.com to bowl-with-a-solider. Five lanes remain open.

Compiled by The CJN staff