On Wednesday, Dec. 7, just ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles in Commerce, a group of 20 people gathered at Shugar Soapworks. Around tables filled with vibrant toys and crayons, they diligently assembled Healing Arts Kits destined for children affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel.
“So far, more than 50,000 children have been helped by the Healing Arts Kits.” – Craig Dershowitz
“The Healing Arts Kits are an emergency, psychological first-aid kit that was designed by a consortium of psychiatrists, art therapists, first-responders, parents and teachers to slow or stop the onset of new cases of PTSD in children in crises,” explained Craig Dershowitz, CEO of Artists 4 Israel. “So far, more than 50,000 children have been helped by the Healing Arts Kits.”
Since 2014, Dershowitz has overseen the shipment of 10,000 kits to Israel, with 3,000 dispatched since Oct. 7. Since its inception in 2009, Artists 4 Israel has been dedicated to various initiatives, including tattooing over scars of terror attack survivors, painting murals in bomb shelters, launching canvas programs and performing street theater. With a global network of volunteers, they continue to donate their time and artistic talents in support of Israel.
The Healing Arts Kits look similar to the first-aid kits that hold emergency medical supplies, but hold instead a host of art supplies and toys. Each kit includes four finger puppets, four egg shaped rattlers, four bottles of bubbles, four pieces of coloring books, four crayons, two bottles of lavender scented body spray and a personalized card.
These items were selected to guide children through activities that offer therapeutic benefits. For instance, blowing bubbles necessitates deep breathing, which in turn regulates the entire nervous system. Engaging with finger puppets depicting powerful animals aids in restoring a child’s sense of personal empowerment. Additionally, there are over a dozen other activities included in the kit, all offering similar mental health benefits.
The demand for the healing kits has steadily increased. Israel’s Health Minister, Uriel Bosso, has described the situation as “an unprecedented mass casualty mental health event.”
In addition to the trauma stemming from the Oct. 7 terror attacks, nearly 200,000 Israelis have been displaced by the ongoing Gaza War. Many have been forced to evacuate from areas near the western border with Gaza, or from the northern border with Lebanon due to Hezbollah activities.
For children, this upheaval translates to the loss of friends, disruption of schooling and constant resettlement, compounded by the sirens warning of rocket attacks. These daily traumas severely undermine a child’s sense of security and increase the risk of developing PTSD without timely intervention. But Israel doesn’t have enough therapists to meet the needs of so many affected by the war. This scarcity underscores the urgent need for Healing Arts Kits, which can be distributed to every family and utilized whenever a child encounters a traumatic event.
Dan Shugar, the owner of Shugar Soapworks, who along with his brother Ronnie donated 100 kits, said: “My mother was from Jerusalem. After Oct. 7, I wanted to do everything I could to support any kind of healing. Before becoming involved, I didn’t realize just how people were affected. It is important to give people who want to help an outlet. The Jewish community has had many ways to help. But it’s important that our Christian friends have this opportunity because they care about Israeli people, too.”
Indeed, Dershowitz said that they have held packing events at churches, synagogues and day schools and many of the volunteers who are coming in to help aren’t necessarily Jewish.
“We are honored to partner with Shugar Soapworks, a company not afraid to put themselves and their factory to use to help children even in the face of potential anti-Israel backlash. Artists 4 Israel hopes that we can produce enough Healing Arts Kits to meet the overpowering demand generated by the Oct. 7 massacre and the continued effects of war.”
To learn more about Artists 4 Israel, visit: artists4israel.org
