Not just therapy, but a home: The new maritime center that will restore hope to combat veterans

A new and unique maritime rehabilitation center for combat veterans and those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder is currently being established at the Shavit Marina in the Kishon. The center, called "Ma'aganat HaBayit" (The Home Marina), is intended to be much more than a therapeutic facility; it seeks to become a second home for fighters dealing with the mental wounds of war and to provide long-term rehabilitation support for their families as well.

The center will operate within the framework of the "Choosing Life" program, which has been recognized by the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Defense. It offers a holistic rehabilitation model that combines therapeutic and challenging sailing, professional group therapy, workshops, creative activities, and community meetings to strengthen personal and family resilience. The program was initiated by Shlomi Forman and Erez Yanai and has become one of the most innovative rehabilitation initiatives in Israel in recent years.

Forman, a businessman and former president of Rotary Haifa, teamed up with Erez Yanai, a combat veteran of the Second Lebanon War who underwent a significant rehabilitation process, out of a shared vision to help fighters find hope and meaning again. "I know how a person feels who has lost hope," says Yanai. "My rehabilitation began when I realized that I was not alone. From that place, the dream of creating a real home for combat veterans was born."

"It is a place you don't just come to for therapy, but to belong, to grow, and to build a new life. We learned that it is impossible to rehabilitate a combat veteran without rehabilitating the entire family, and therefore our support system is built on a holistic view of the individual, their family members, and the community around them."

In "Ma'aganat HaBayit," dedicated spaces for art and creation, physical activity complexes, treatment rooms, a community lounge, and meeting areas will be established. One of the central principles of the program is that the therapeutic model must provide tools for all members of the household to strengthen family ties and rebuild a healthy routine.

The program is accompanied by research and evaluation in collaboration with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Haifa, led by Prof. Zvi Eisikovits, the author of the program's clinical plan. The research examines the model's impact on participants and their families, and its results are used to improve processes within the program.

Shlomi Forman, chairman of the "Choosing Life" steering committee, said: "Our vision is to be an anchor of stability, healing, and hope for fighters who were injured in the war. "Ma'aganat HaBayit" is an integral part of the therapeutic journey, and we intend to expand the program to every city in Israel where there is a marina and where challenging and therapeutic sailing can be conducted."