Throughout my decades of partnering with philanthropists to bolster Israeli society, especially during times of crisis, the question of rebuilding and rehabilitation inevitably surfaces. For many, the crux of giving takes place during the crisis, while for others, the notion of co-authoring the next chapter in Israel’s future invites a compelling prospect.
Yes, the war in northern Israel is seemingly over, and yet 68,000 displaced residents face an agonizing choice: return to damaged communities without the support systems they desperately need, or abandon the places they’ve called home for generations.
At University of Haifa, we believe there’s a third option: ensuring Israelis return to northern communities equipped with key human services, economic opportunities, and the social infrastructure needed for long-term resilience and prosperity.
Following 21 months of relentless attacks, northern Israel needs more than reconstruction; it needs comprehensive recovery that addresses both immediate trauma and long-term resilience. The recent direct missile strikes on Haifa and the surrounding areas have left deep scars – damaged infrastructure, ignited refineries, and lives lost. Even as conflicts continue across multiple fronts, northern communities are confronting a critical challenge: how to transform this moment of crisis into lasting renewal.
Today, less than half of the displaced residents have returned home. PTSD has surged 33% among residents, with children and parents bearing profound emotional wounds. Unemployment has spiked to nearly 50% in some areas.
An existential imperative for Israel’s national resilience strategy
What was already a cascading crisis that began on October 7 has become an existential imperative for Israel’s national resilience strategy. The path to renewal begins with investing in people and community institutions, giving them the skills, knowledge, and mentoring to rebuild and emerge stronger than before.
At University of Haifa, we believe waiting for all conflict and strife to cease may minimize an already-limited window of opportunity. The future of the North depends on what we build now, even amid ongoing uncertainty. We build with science and innovation, while mobilizing data-driven research, rooted in community priorities, and focused on real-world outcomes.
That’s why we’ve launched Home Again, a bold $60 million initiative to restore and revitalize the North through measurable programs that address the region’s most pressing needs.
As the leading academic institution in the region – and one deeply embedded in its cities, towns, and social fabric – University of Haifa is uniquely positioned for this work.
Unlike external organizations, we are not visitors to these communities. Our 18,000 students come from across the North. Our faculty conduct research in partnership with local hospitals, schools, and municipalities. Our graduates become the teachers, social workers, and healthcare professionals who serve the region. This deep integration means our recovery efforts are designed by and for the people who call this place home.
THE HOME AGAIN campaign offers a coordinated, data-informed strategy across three core pillars that directly address the region’s greatest challenges.
First, we’re tackling the emotional and physical rehabilitation crisis. PTSD has dramatically surged among residents, with children and parents bearing some of the deepest scars. Our mental health teams have launched rapid-response networks, including 24/7 hotlines and mobile therapeutic units. The Cheryl Spencer Institute of Nursing Research is training frontline responders to assess and manage trauma. Most significantly, we’re developing Israel’s first Center for Community Rehabilitation and Research, which will merge academic research with hands-on clinical care.
Second, we’re focused on restoring economic stability. With unemployment in the North spiking nearly 50%, we’re launching targeted workforce initiatives for nurses, educators, trauma specialists, and environmental rehabilitation professionals. Discharged soldiers are being offered re-skilling opportunities in sustainable marine industries, connecting economic recovery to national resilience.
Third, we’re investing in community futures. Through legal aid clinics, AI-assisted social service platforms, and coexistence-building initiatives that bring Jewish and Arab residents together, we are working to restore both public trust and strategic cohesion. Our researchers are partnering with kibbutzim, regional councils, and national ministries to revitalize schools, renew cultural life, and strengthen the social fabric.
This community-building mission has been strengthened by a transformative $5 million commitment from the Boston-based Frieze Family Foundation to create a Center for Shared Society at University of Haifa. This dedicated center will focus on learning, research, and engagement initiatives that bring Jewish, Arab, and other residents together, directly supporting our mission to restore social cohesion across the North.
This work is already underway, not in theory, but in classrooms, clinics, and town halls. Our faculty and students live in these communities. They’re not outsiders stepping in; they are part of the story of recovery and renewal.
Rebuilding the North isn’t just about infrastructure or returning to what was. It’s about a family’s ability to deeply believe that the North can become a thriving part of Israel’s national life. The stakes extend beyond individual communities to the character of the country itself and our long-term resilience strategy.
These northern towns and cities represent something essential about Israeli society: the determination to build vibrant communities even in challenging circumstances. Their recovery demonstrates that Israel can respond to crises not just with military strength, but with social innovation, academic excellence, and community resilience. The longer recovery is delayed, the harder it becomes to restore what made these places home.
The Home Again campaign represents more than regional recovery; it’s the blueprint for Israel’s long-term rebuilding strategy. This vision requires partners who understand that investing in northern Israel’s recovery is investing in the country’s future.
What will it take to make the North Home Again? Join us to find out.
The writer is Vice President for Transformational Philanthropy and Global Resource Development at University of Haifa and can be reached at gherscher@univ.haifa.ac.il.