Our Story, Our Heart

Who we are

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety. He is my God and I trust Him.”

Psalm 91:2

Our name ‘Machaseh’ is the Hebrew word for ‘refuge’ used in Psalm 91. Machaseh is a non-profit charity association. Our vision is to help the ones most marginalized in Israeli society today, those who have nowhere else to turn. We want to represent a refuge and a safe place for people who are suffering, a place where they are met with God’s unconditional love and mercy.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

Machaseh came into being in 2005, with the aim of aiding believing women who suffered due to domestic violence. Over the years since then our work has grown according to the needs we have seen in our society. We are now also working with couples and families who are in a crisis in their relationships, Holocaust survivors, women who are victims of human trafficking, refugees, homeless, poor, Ethiopian single mothers and their children, people struggling with addictions, and people who are traumatized through experiences in their lives.

We receive people from all different groups in Israel, without regard to ethnicity or religion as we believe in God’s unconditional love to all. We work to give people in crisis situations help on all levels. To do this we have a team of professionals and volunteers who provide humanitarian aid, counseling and therapy in different ways according to the needs of the person seeking help. We also partner with numerous organizations in Israel and abroad.

Code of Ethics

We affirm and promote the value, dignity and worth of each person we encounter in our ministry. In considering our core values and beliefs we:

• meet people on their own faith journeys rather than imposing specific religious traditions.
• demonstrate grace and compassion to all seeking help, therapy and counseling.
• affirm faith responses and provide spiritual support in proportion to people’s receptivity and spiritual hunger.
• relate with people in a manner that affirms their values.
• provide services considering each person’s uniqueness and individuality along with the role they may fulfill in church, society and their respective community.
• promote dialogue rather than monologue, understanding that our services are done with people rather than to people.
• invite engagement instead of passive receptivity.
• demonstrate a holistic respect of people and their cultural background.
• give people the freedom to ignore or reject the help offered.
• keep all given information strictly confidential.

Services are provided regardless of race, creed, religion, nationality or gender of recipients, and without adverse distinction of any kind.

Team

Our team works to assist people on all levels of need. In order to do this, it is important for us to use an interdisciplinary approach. The Machaseh team consists of a Therapist, Pastoral Counselor, a Clinical Psychologist, a Social Worker, and a Child Welfare Worker.

In addition to our permanent team, we have a number of volunteers who come to work with us. Some of these are professionals in the fields of counseling and social work. Others come to help out with practical service. We also work closely with our lawyers in cases that require legal assistance. Just as in Israeli society, the Machaseh team is multicultural, made up of Israelis and international workers with different backgrounds.