Welcome to ERAN

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Those of you living in Israel may have heard the news that ERAN, Emotional Crisis Hotline is under imminent threat of closure.

It is ironic that with Israel’s unemployment rate spiraling, and every day people find themselves jobless, despairing and increasingly desperate, Israel’s best-known hotline for emotional support is in danger of closing.

ERAN’s Israeli National Crisis Intervention Hotline which until recently operated 24/7/365 for all residents of Israel including children and youth, soldiers and the elderly; in 3 languages, Hebrew, Arabic and Russian has had to cut operational staff, close during the night when major numbers of callers turn to us and stopped all training of volunteers.

Funded principally by donations that have decreased dramatically from both Israel and abroad due to the fluctuating currency markets and the global financial crisis, the organiztion is unable to continue as the first responder to those in emotional distress and to those contemplating suicide.

ERAN has turned to the Government of Israel to consider reevaluating its annual support from $150,000 per annum to $1.25 million per annum, 50% of the organization's annual budget.

Some figures:

1,000 calls on an average day
270,000 calls received this past year
800 calls about suicide cases in progress
Hundreds of calls from those suffering from panic and anxiety
Thousands of calls from children, youth and the elderly suffering violence.
Thousands of calls caused by the financial situation in the lower socio-economic strata
Thousands of calls from people already under professional social work care who are unable to access an over burdened mental health system.

In many cases ERAN was able to recognize potentially dangerous cases and refer them to the relevant professional therefore preventing tragedy.

ERAN is now unable to recruit and train crucially needed new volunteers and unable to continue with the training of veteran volunteers in new methods and carry out peer group dynamics to alleviate volunteer burn-out and emotional stress.

We turn to you, the men and women who may have utilized a service similar to ERAN’s in the past, the grandparent whose children and grandchildren live in Israel and who may or may not need this service, the Jewish social workers, psychologists and doctors who acknowledge the need for such a fundamental mental health service, and the readers of this blog who donate what they can, however small, to worthy Israeli charities. Please spread the word and help us gather, $ by $, enough to provide for the future of this essential service.

How to donate:

From the USA PEF is the accredited fiscal sponsor of ERAN in the USA and cheques should be made out to PEF Israel Endowment Fund, 317 Madison Ave. Suite 607, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: 212 599 1260 Fax: 212 599 5981. A note should be included in the envelope stating that ERAN Emotional First Aid by Telephone in Israel is the recipient of the donation.

From the UK NIF is the accredited fiscal sponsor of ERAN in the UK and cheques should be made out to The New Israel Fund of Great Britain 26, Enford Street, London WIH 2DD, Great Britain. Tel: 020 7724 2266 Fax: 020 7724 2299. A note should be included in the envelope stating that ERAN Emotional First Aid by Telephone in Israel is the recipient of the donation.

International online credit card donations can be made through by accessing our www.Jgooders.com accredited online project card at https://www.jgooders.com/ProjectCard.asp?ProjectID=753

To receive fiscal validation in Israel (for Israelis and those residing abroad but paying tax in Israel) please either:

Donate by direct wire transfer to Bank Mizrahi, Branch 422 Netanya Business Center, account number 215087.

OR donate by sending a check to ERAN, POB 7137, Netanya, Israel 42170.

OR send a SMS text message (enter the number 10 in message body) to 1144 to make a 10 ₪ donation to ERAN - Emotional First Aid by Telephone. Donation lines are open from 1^st June 2009 – 31^st August 2009. You will receive a return SMS confirming your donation.

OR call 1201 (ext. 5) from any telephone during regular working hours to speak to the main ERAN office who will be very happy to hear from you.

If you reside in a different part of the world please let me know and I will find the way to allow you to donate to ERAN.

Emotional Support from any telephone or mobile phone:

General Hotline Call 1201 or 09-8891333(Hebrew, Arabic & Russian)

Russian Hotline Call 1-800-24-1201

Soldiers Holtine Call *2201 (Hebrew)

Hotline for the Aged Call *3201 (Hebrew)

Emotional Support via the Internet:

Email info@eran.org.il (Hebrew & English)

Online Chat - direct access through the Hebrew website

ICQ - #12101

An anonymous, 24/7/365 service, providing unconditional, non-judgmental and unrestricted emotional support by telephone & internet for all regardless of age, sex, race, religion or sexual persuasion.

850 volunteers, hand-picked & highly trained over a period of 12 months, empower callers to search for emotional resilience and survivability. ERAN's aim is to answer the call of anyone facing the personal crisis that all face during a full and normative lifetime, such as unemployment, interpersonal relationships, age related stress while growing up or reaching old age, personal tragedies, loneliness, violence, daily stress, anxiety and abuse. The list of topics that ERAN volunteers are faced with, and trained for, covers the full spectrum of personal crisis that individuals experience during a full normative life. In addition, ERAN volunteers are often faced with suicidal callers and must endeavor to recognize the immediate danger, prevent the attempt and when necessary, alert emergency and welfare authorities for further direct action.

For nearly 40 years ERAN has provided a unique support to the community, whenever and wherever the need, as it happens, in real time, especially during times of National Crisis.

ERAN receives approximately 270,000 calls for emotional crisis intervention per year and this number is rising annually. Recent wars, immigration & absorption culture shock, the financial crisis and the wave of mass lay-offs have added to the emotional burdens many Israelis must shoulder. ERAN must fulfill the need of the Israeli public and continue to provide the most highly trained, professional volunteers capable of successfully providing immediate emotional first aid for those in need.

ERAN operates Hotlines specifically tailored to different sectors of the population and trains its volunteers towards these specific sectors. Hotlines in operation; Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Amharic, Children & Youth, Soldiers and the Elderly.

ERAN is in direct contact with local Social Services and the Police to actively intervene where deemed necessary to save lives.

ERAN is a founding member of the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) established in 2002 at the initiative of UJA-Federation of New York in response to escalating and pervasive acts of terrorism in Israel. We are now providing much needed emotional support to our citizens suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as those in the south of the country who continue to live with the daily reality of missiles falling on or near their homes, schools, and kindergartens.

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