The National Council of Young Israel announced today that it has launched the Eye Squad, which is an initiative designed to assist the 7,500 post-high school North Americans and other Anglos who spend a year studying in Israel.  The Eye Squad provides a confidential, independent 24-hour hotline for students who are experiencing any type of distress.

The phone number to reach the Eye Squad in Israel is *9111, which can be dialed from any phone throughout Israel, 24/7 (including on Shabbat if there is an emergency).  Parents and others in the United States and Canada can reach the Eye Squad in Israel by dialing toll-free 866-550-4EYE.

The Eye Squad is under the auspices of the Council of Young Israel Rabbis in Israel, and is provided as a joint project with the National Council of Young Israel and the Jewish Agency for Israel.  The founder and director of the Eye Squad is Rabbi Aaron S. Tirschwell, whose work with Jewish communities and young adults has spanned the globe. He also serves as National Council of Young Israel’s Director of Israel Operations.

Tirschwell noted that approximately 7,500 North American and other Anglo young men and women elect to spend one or two years post-high program in Israel and enrich their Judaism by living and studying in the land of our people.  According to Tirschwell, there is a disturbing crisis that threatens to mar the “year in Israel” phenomenon.

“We are talking about young men and women who are experiencing living away from their home for the first time,” said Tirschwell.  “The conservative estimate is that approximately 10% of these students suffer from some sort of psychological or emotional issue, including eating disorders, alcohol and drug use and abuse, and suicidal thoughts.  This is a staggering number of young adults who are at risk and who desperately need help.”

While a number of education based programs in Israel have a dorm counselor, a rabbinic figure or even a therapist that students can approach for guidance, a young man or woman with concerns and issues will not automatically turn towards any person in an official capacity for fear of being dismissed from the school or program in which they are enrolled. In addition, the counselor and rabbinic figure are not necessarily trained to identify that an issue exists or to counsel the student on the specific issue itself.

Tirschwell said that similar to an emergency medical technician who has enough training to stabilize the patient for transport to a hospital and be treated by a fully trained medical professional, Eye Squad members will be able to “stabilize” a client in terms of his or her particular immediate distress and, once able to discuss the matter in a calm fashion, talk about the options available, such as counseling or rehabilitation, in order to confront the issue in a logical and realistic manner.

“The overall goal of this initiative is to provide the young adult with a number of different solutions to explore that address the specific distress he or she is experiencing,” said Tirschwell.  “The uniqueness of the Eye Squad members initiating the process of assessing needs and providing options for treatment is what sets it apart from any other program or service available to this demographic group.  In some cases, the Eye Squad is the only option available.”

“Members of the Eye Squad engage a young adult to communicate that he or she is not alone, and that there is a non-judgmental, impartial person who exists outside the school or program who will listen, empathize and give constructive advice,” continued Tirschwell.

According to Tirschwell, young adults in distress themselves will be encouraged to call the Eye Squad as a primary source of information and intervention.  In addition, by raising awareness and offering this service, roommates, friends, and even teachers will contact the Eye Squad to perform an intervention when they perceive something is wrong with a friend or student.  Tirschwell also said that the Eye Squad expects that the largest group of calls will come from parents who are concerned that something is “just not right” with their son or daughter.

The Eye Squad team members are all North American/Anglo Olim who have had significant experience in counseling teens both in Israel and in the United States and Canada.  In addition, regularly scheduled meetings and training workshops allow Eye Squad members to hone their skills, learn from experts in the field, and ensure that there is follow-up and follow-through with those who contact them.

Therapists, Social Workers, Mental Health Professionals, and Drop-in Centers throughout Israel serve as the Eye Squad’s partners.  These partners serve as the therapist/doctor/program that treats those who require a longer term solution.

In order to get the message out about the Eye Squad, Tirschwell said that posters advertising the Eye Squad have been hung on billboards all over Jerusalem and on school information boards.  In addition, on Saturday night, March 1st, the Eye Squad will take over the Jerusalem branch of Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and offer each student who registers a free gourmet coffee drink and a chance to win some great prizes.  The staff of the Eye Squad will be mingling with the students, introducing themselves and handing out magnets, pens and other giveaways with the Eye Squad contact information.

In addition, the Eye Squad has begun meeting with the administrators and staff of the various post-high school programs in Israel that cater to post high school teens from North America and other Anglo countries in order to make them aware of the Eye Squad’s presence and to engage in an ongoing dialogue about the initiative.