English - חירם מרכז שיקומי בהרדוף, בע"מ חל"צ

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Hiram was founded in the summer of 2001 inside Kibbutz Harduf as a rehabilitation center for people going through or following a mental crisis. Being located far from the bustling city allows us to offer people going through the rehabilitation process the help they need in a quiet and protected place, within rural surroundings, far from the stresses of life and the feelings of urban solitude.

At the core of Hiram’s is the view of the human being and the world that believe in the possibility of change and the indomitable human spirit. We offer the challenge of personal development within an enveloping community setting, where suffering and illness pose an opportunity for change, growth and building a new life filled with hope.

The rehabilitation process is a personally customized plan that includes housing, employment, leisure-time, art and enrichment classes, personal support, group guidance and psychiatric therapy. The goal of the rehabilitation is to return the rehabilitant to him/herself and to society in accordance with their individual capabilities.

Hiram operates as part of the Ministry of Health’s rehabilitation program.

About Us

People come to Hiram from a variety of populations: people whose life circumstances have led them to have existential crises, at times to the point of complete dysfunction, despite the fact that some of them have high skills and capabilities Crises such as a traumatic military service, difficult family relationships, sexual abuse, drug abuse and other circumstances that have triggered anxiety, depression and suicide attempts. Young people with personality disorders find their way to us after giving up on other solutions to their situation. The people who come to us are often broken and in despair, with very low self-esteem, but they do have a sincere desire to emerge from the crisis even if it requires hard work.

Daily routines in Hiram consist of four main areas that are implemented, at differing degrees of emphasis, throughout the years of rehabilitation: social life, work, art, and personal support. This is combined with communal life based on genuine sharing and honest interaction and communication. The communal sphere enables us to get to know ourselves and develop relationships of mutual trust in ourselves and in the people around us.

We believe it is important that the circle around the patient's rehabilitation include all aspects of life and coordination between them: housing, employment, leisure-time, personal accompaniment, group guidance and psychiatric support. This makes lively discourse possible between all professional therapists, centered around each rehabilitant's progress and needs at various stages and with his full cooperation.

The Rehabilitation Process

Along the three-year rehabilitation process, the individual is empowered to undergo a journey of reconnecting to himself and to the human community around him. Anyone who arrives at Hiram finds, right away, a warm, supportive and protective familial environment. During the rehabilitation process, the rehabilitant gets stronger and his need for enveloping support lessens. Gradually, the question of their connections to the world return to being central and becomes their mission; each person to the extent of his capabilities. This process begins during their third year in the intensive community (hostel) and continues in the sheltered-living community until they set out to live independent lives. When they become more independent, Harduf opens its door to them as a large community that can offer additional employment opportunities, social ties, professional training etc. At the end of the process, our aspiration is that the rehabilitant will once again be able to integrate back into the world with a growing degree of independence. The rehabilitation process can be divided into three phases: First year – a gradual entry and formation of habits, rhythms and obligations. Second year – inner work on personal questions parallel with meeting all work and therapy requirements. Third year – personal accompaniment in anticipation of leaving the community and encouragement of personal initiatives as a substitute for Hiram’s structured framework. From the fourth year onwards, we offer more relaxed, freer personal support outside of Hiram and Harduf, as part of the sheltered living framework.

The Intake Process

We see mental crises as unique opportunities for growth and maturing, despite the great difficulties they pose. A person coping with a crisis can develop capabilities and strengths of which he was not previously aware, which illuminate the meaning of life in a new light. The greater the scope of the hardships and difficulties, the greater the potential good that may arise from a courageous confrontation with them. Therefore, during the intake process, we examine mainly the candidate’s motivation for change as a prerequisite for admission, and look less at the magnitude of the challenge and the depth of the crisis.

Terms of Admission

Every person with a mental problem who has been referred by the Ministry of Health’s 'rehabilitation basket' committee can turn to us. We find that most of those who come to us are young people (21-35) with high motivation for rehabilitation, with a desire for an intensive social life and some are also interested in the unique aspects of Kibbutz Harduf. We accept these people into full or partial sheltered living accommodation. Additionally, we accept eligible non-residents who fit these criteria and seek to integrate into work and creative arts in the areas mentioned above, during daytime hours only.