On November 22, American Friends of NATAL held its annual event focused on “Voices of Resilience.” This important organization supports the NATAL Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center, highlighting the strength and determination of individuals on their journey to heal from trauma.
The evening began with a cocktail hour where guests enjoyed the stunning plaza before entering into the dining space. On display were 17 unique “Helmets for Heroes” brushes created by Israeli artists, which were later auctioned off in a live sale hosted by Emmy-winning actor, filmmaker, journalist, and Jewish LGBT activist Yuval David.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: “Voices of Resilience” auction items on display at the 2024 American Friends of NATAL Gala at The Plaza on November 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for American Friends of NATAL)
The evening featured personal stories from two IDF soldiers and a survivor of the Nova festival, along with insights from NATAL’s chief psychologist and Vice President of International Affairs at Bar-Ilan Universit, Professor Rivka Tuval-Mashiach. These meaningful experiences were shared in a discussion moderated by advocate Chuck Todd, NBC News’ Chief Political Analyst and former host of Meet the Press. The panel highlighted NATAL’s innovative treatments, with Professor Tuval-Mashiach sharing her expertise on narrative-based PTSD therapy and the impact of trauma on identity.
Maayan Aviv, CEO of American Friends of NATAL, highlighted “For NATAL, resilience isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the heart of our mission, and it’s about empowering individuals to not just survive but thrive. Our experiences reaffirm a simple truth we witness every day: recovery is multifaceted, and every path to healing is unique.”
Hananel Zilberberg, a former IDF Platoon Commander and author, shared his personal journey with PTSD, which inspired his book Ma Ha’kesher. His account of his experiences in the Gaza Strip and the pivotal role NATAL played in his mental recovery was powerful and a nod to the importance of this organization.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) Chuck Todd and Yuval David attend the 2024 American Friends of NATAL Gala at The Plaza on November 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for American Friends of NATAL)
Shiran Israel, a 24-year-old tattoo artist in training, also shared her harrowing survival story from the tragic Nova Festival attack. She expressed, “Everyone was dancing until the music stopped. We saw a lot of missiles and we tried to escape. We ran about 15K and found a place to hide. We were lucky and I knew I needed therapy to prevent PTSD. At NATAL I knew that I would get the right tools to cope.”
Affairs Captain Ortal Biran Gorfinkel shared her experiences from the Zikim base on October 7th, where she and her unit faced the unimaginable and later formed a support group to help heal through NATAL making her realize what she was feeling was okay.
A highlight of the evening was the Brush “Helmets for Heroes” live auction. Yuval David vowed that “We will dance again, and we will continue to thrive.” The hand-painted helmets were created by internationally acclaimed Israeli artists: Bar Ben Vakil, Uzi Amrani, David Gerstein, Taryn Treisman, Maya Gold, Eran Reshef, Orit Fuchs, Natasha Brilliantova, Ilan Baruch, Sharon Madanes, James Ame (Ame72), Shira Barzilai (Koketit), and Tomer Peretz.
Brush’s mission is to promote mental health through the transformative power of art, reminding attendees that even in the face of adversity, healing is possible. Ilan Preiss, Co-Founder & Co CEO of Brush, explained, “Each helmet has been designed, painted, and sculpted by different artists with a different meaning: hope, resilience, and sadness.” Michael Kahan, Co Founder & Co CEO of Brush, continued, “We took used helmets from the IDF and each artist was given it as a blank canvas. Proceeds will help the treatment of trauma and the important work of NATAL.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 21: (L-R) Yuval David and Tomer Peretz attend the 2024 American Friends of NATAL Gala at The Plaza on November 21, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for American Friends of NATAL)
The event welcomed an international audience, with members of the NATAL team from Israel including NATAL Co-founder Jude Yovel Recanati, CEO Efrat Shaprut, Chair Emi Palmor, as well as David Kostman, Co-CEO at Outbrain and Chair of American Friends of NATAL, alongside New York’s real estate leaders, VIPs, influencers, and generous donors committed to supporting trauma recovery and resilience.
Generous sponsors who champion NATAL’s mission to promote healing and resilience are recognized here for this Gala.
About NATAL: NATAL – Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center is a non-profit organization founded by Yossi Hadar and Judith Yovel Recanati. NATAL specializes in the field of war-and-terror-related trauma, PTSD and resiliency-building among civil society. NATAL was the first center in Israel to standardize and create protocols for coping with trauma and resilience-building in a social general society context.