I recently returned from an emotionally intense week in Israel on an FIDF mission visiting devastated kibbutzim, the Nova Festival grounds, the tense northern border, burned out military posts, mingling and speaking with many soldiers and visiting various facilities offering emotional and physical rehabilitation. PTSD ranks extremely high among soldiers and their families, not to mention the overall ongoing grief among the general population.

A positive experience for me was visiting a therapy, research and care institute which trains Emotional Support Dogs, the idea conceived by Major Michal Herchcovitz for the benefit of soldiers, their families and bereaved families.We viewed demonstrations of support for a person exhibiting PTSD symptoms. A benefactor of this program spoke to us of his and his family’s positive experience and he now volunteers as a trainer himself. A Service Dog in contrast will perform certain tasks such as guiding the blind and responding to medical emergencies whereas a Therapy Dog is trained to visit patients in hospitals and hospice.

The Hebrew word for dog is “kelev, translated it’s “like a heart”. Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend.. However, did you know dog spelled backwards is god?

-Harriet