The older division high school counselors at the year Opening Seminar. Courtesy: Gili Meidan

By Deborah Fuchs

The past few years have tested the strength of Israelis everywhere. After the isolation of the pandemic, the political turmoil, and the devastating war, many Israeli families who recently moved to Austin carried not only their suitcases but also the emotional weight of what they had lived through. Their children are still processing years marked by fear, uncertainty, and loss.

In Austin, these families discovered a welcoming Jewish home, eager to connect. Local synagogues, schools, and organizations reached out with genuine warmth, inviting families to join programs and celebrations. Israeli and American Jews have found common ground in their concern for Israel and a shared desire to strengthen Jewish life together.

Within that spirit of togetherness, the Israeli Scouts, the Tzofim, have become one of the places where these connections come to life. Every Sunday at the Dell Jewish Community Center, the Tzofim add a burst of Israeli ruach (spirit) to campus activities, bringing laughter, Hebrew songs and familiarity. For many families, these gatherings offer a sense of belonging and a taste of home.

“Through the Tzofim, new Israeli families and those who have been here for years, together with American Jewish families, have a chance to really meet and connect,” says Ariela Hadelsberg, a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who recently moved to Austin with her husband, Ehud, and their three children. “Sometimes it’s not easy, especially with different backgrounds and expectations, but that’s also where the growth happens. We start to understand each other better and realize that we’re all deeply connected, and that connection helps us make space for our kids and for ourselves.”

Hadelsberg knows how powerful these connections can be. In Israel, she worked for more than a decade in mental health, supporting children, parents, and new mothers. In recent years, she has helped families prepare for relocation, focusing on the resilience children need amid uncertainty. “After these difficult years,” she says, “what helps most is human closeness. When families come together, whether at Scouts, school events, or community gatherings, something inside begins to settle. We remember that we are not alone.”

Through shared experiences and celebrations, the Tzofim have become part of the wider fabric that makes Austin’s Jewish life so special. New Israeli families find comfort and understanding, while those who have been here for years, both Israelis and Americans, find meaning in welcoming others.

“In a world that feels increasingly digital and disconnected,” Hadelsberg says, “real healing happens face to face, when we look each other in the eye, listen, and simply show up.”

As a therapist, Hadelsberg offers a few gentle tips to help families care for their emotional well-being while adjusting to life in a new country:

Welcome all emotions. Joy, excitement, fear, and doubt can coexist. Every feeling has its place.

Take it one step at a time. Adjustment takes patience for both parents and children.

See each child’s story. Every move feels different depending on age, personality, and what is being left behind.

Keep a thread of familiarity. Involve kids in packing and planning to help them feel connected.

Lead with calm and curiosity. Children learn from our example that change can be safe and full of possibility.

“The beauty of what is happening here in Austin,” Hadelsberg reflects, “is that new families, Israeli families who have been here for years, and American Jews are all finding ways to show up for one another. The Tzofim are one small but meaningful part of that bigger story of connection. Together we are building a community where our children can feel proud, supported, and safe, and where all of us can begin to heal.”