Israeli Tech Leaders Fund Surf Therapy for Trauma Victims

When trauma threatens to overwhelm entire communities, sometimes the answer comes from the most unexpected place: the ocean.

Israel's technology and business leaders recently gathered at Jerusalem's Tower of David for a benefit concert supporting HaGal Sheli ("My Wave"), a nonprofit that uses surfing as therapy for trauma survivors. The event raised critical funds for programs serving people affected by the ongoing war, including former hostages, survivors of the Nova music festival attack, Gaza Envelope residents, and security forces members.

The initiative came from Idan Nurick, founder and CEO of Paragon Solutions, and quickly attracted support from across Israel's tech sector. Among the attendees were venture capitalists, startup founders, and executives from major financial institutions, all united around a simple but powerful idea: healing can happen in the waves.

Founded in 2013 by Yaron Waksman and Omer Tulchinsky, HaGal Sheli has been quietly transforming lives for over a decade. The organization combines professional therapy with surfing instruction, helping participants develop coping skills and emotional resilience. "Just as in the sea, so too in life," they say, teaching people to navigate uncertainty and regain control.

Since the October 7 attacks, the organization has dramatically expanded its reach. More than 20,000 people have now completed their programs, with 500 group sessions running annually across 12 surfing centers along Israel's coast.

"Since the outbreak of the war, we have witnessed an unprecedented surge in requests for mental health support," said Waksman. The benefit enables the organization to expand trauma care and provide "hope, resilience and tools to thousands of people of all ages."

The approach has earned international recognition. Former world surfing champion Shaun Tomson visited Israel in February 2024 to lead therapeutic sessions for children evacuated from attacked communities. He shared his "Surfer's Code," a philosophy built on resilience and purpose.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one entrepreneur's idea to help has become a movement within Israel's tech community. The benefit featured performances by Israeli artists and brought together people from different sectors, all focused on addressing the country's mounting mental health crisis.

HaGal Sheli received the President's Volunteer Award in 2024 for "strengthening national resilience in routine and emergency situations." The recognition reflects how therapeutic surfing has moved from alternative treatment to essential community resource.

The organization now employs over 500 professionals in therapy, education, and surfing instruction. They work with at-risk youth, trauma survivors, and people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, proving that the healing power of the ocean extends far beyond war trauma.

When entire communities face overwhelming challenges, grassroots organizations backed by private sector support are stepping up to ensure no one gets left behind in the waves.