Olympic Committee of Israel Partners with Ze BeNafshi for Mental Health Awareness

The Olympic Committee of Israel joined forces with Ze BeNafshi (“It’s in My Soul” in Hebrew) to host a remarkable Olympic Day for teenagers from psychiatric wards and their families. The event, held at Olympic House in Tel Aviv, combined sports, inspiration, and awareness to help break down stigma surrounding mental health.

The day began with a keynote address by former world-class windsurfer Nimrod Mashiah, a 2009 World Championship silver medalist. In his lecture, Surfer Against the Wind, Mashiah shared how the challenges of elite competition shaped his perspective on life, offering the audience practical tools to face their own struggles with strength and determination.

Following the talk, participants enjoyed hands-on activities led by Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Raz Hershko, Olympic judo medalist, introduced teens to the discipline of judo; Yuval Freilich, an Olympic fencer, taught the art of fencing; and Moran Samuel, Paralympic rowing champion and former basketball player, led an engaging session of wheelchair basketball.

Yael Arad, Chair of the Olympic Committee of Israel, highlighted the significance of the project. “About two years ago, my personal meeting with Irit Gluskinos, the founder of Ze BeNafshi, opened a window into a shadow world that Israeli society barely knows. It made us partners in a journey to empower teenagers who deeply need recognition and support in their recovery.”

“The Olympic Committee of Israel is committed to excellence, social responsibility, and education through sport. I’m proud of this meaningful work, led by our education department and embraced by our athletes.”

Over the past two years, the partnership has allowed young people to meet some of Israel’s finest athletes, including Neta Rivkin, Yakov Toumarkin, Nofar Edelman, Nitai Hasson, Yuval Filo, and Inbar Ronen. These encounters explored the highs and lows of sport victories, setbacks, and the mental resilience required offering youth both perspective and encouragement.

For Irit Gluskinos-Barkan, CEO and founder of Ze BeNafshi, the collaboration is about dignity and hope. “Children and teens facing mental health challenges and their families deserve lives full of hope, free from stigma and shame. This is their basic right, to live in a healthy society that embraces them with love. The partnership with the Olympic Committee gives our kids the extraordinary opportunity to meet outstanding Olympic athletes and to realize that dreams really can come true.”

This initiative reflects Israel’s unique spirit where sport, education, and compassion meet to build a healthier and stronger society. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more inspiring stories from Israel.