They Were There in Israel’s Darkest Hour – Now They Need Our Support.

On October 7th, 2023, Israel faced an unimaginable tragedy. As Hamas terrorists stormed homes, massacred families, and tore lives apart, Tomer Peretz, a renowned Israeli American artist, was visiting his homeland. Without hesitation, he joined a group of ZAKA volunteers in the sacred task of recovering the victims’ remains, giving dignity to the fallen and bearing witness to horrors no one should ever have to endure. In doing so, they carried the weight of a nation’s grief so that others would not have to.

Now, through The 8 Project, Tomer is bringing his brothers from ZAKA — the brave men who stood by his side in Israel’s darkest hour — to a transformative retreat aimed at helping them recover. These men, who have experienced unimaginable pain, now need the support and care they so deeply deserve.

The 8 Retreat is officially set—and we’re proud to share the full schedule of this transformative two-week therapeutic journey with our supporters.

This intensive retreat includes:

• Brainspotting therapy, Brainspotting is a psychotherapy technique that utilizes specific eye positions, called "brainspots," to help individuals process and release emotional and physical distress associated with trauma or other unresolved experiences.

• EMDR sessions, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured psychotherapy technique that uses bilateral stimulation, typically eye movements, to help individuals process and

• Art therapy workshops, where participants will express their healing through creative work.

• Phototherapy, which began months ago in Israel and is now featured in the Art Will S8T You Free exhibition by Kalia Gisele Littman.

• Daily integration with a dedicated therapist guiding each participant through their healing journey.

• Yoga and meditation, to support emotional and physical balance.

• Museum of Tolerance volunteer work, including a first-time encounter with Kalia’s moving installation.

• Private transportation, with a 7-seater vehicle to ensure full mobility around the city.

• Full housing and meals, to provide a safe, supportive environment throughout the retreat.

• Ongoing incubation and documentation of the entire process as part of The 8 Project’s healing work.

In the coming days, we’ll introduce the expert therapists behind this retreat—each handpicked by The 8 Project for their deep experience with trauma and global healing work.

Healing after Horror: Retreat for Our ZAKA Heroes

By Peretz Foundation

Healing after Horror: Retreat for Our ZAKA Heroes

Giving Back to Those Who Have Given Everything