A COMMUNITY REFUGE FOR WIDOWS, ORPHANS, AND FAMILIES IN NEED

In late 2025, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Defense and Head of Bereaved Families and Commemorations invited Ark of Israel to conceive and prepare a network of ten Community Refuge locations to help address the grief, family trauma, counseling, PTSD, and bereavement needs of post-war Israel.

These 2,000–3,000 sq. ft. Local Ark Community Refuge Centers will provide professional grief counseling, PTSD support, family therapy, community gathering spaces, and culturally essential ceremonies that promote healing and resilience. The initial funding goal of $2.5 million will build, staff, and operate the first location, serving as a model for national expansion.

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ARK OF ISRAEL HAS BEEN ASKED TO BUILD AND OPERATE REFUGE CENTERS IN ISRAEL TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS.

The impact of war has created widespread emotional and psychological trauma across Israel. Bereaved families of fallen soldiers, widows, orphans, and communities are all dealing with post-war trauma. Many face PTSD, long-term grief, and have limited access to professional mental health support. Dedicated, trauma-informed community spaces are urgently needed to address severe emotional distress, provide counseling resources, and restore community stability.

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  • In collaboration with IDFWO and the Ministry of Defense, Ark of Israel will build or renovate ten Community Centers across Israel. Each 2,000–3,000 sq. ft. center will include counseling rooms, gathering spaces, a kosher kitchen, and designated areas for religious and cultural ceremonies. These centers offer structured, compassionate environments for healing and resilience.

  • Impact will be measured through professional counselor-managed case files, intake assessments, program tracking, and population impact reports. Metrics will include families served, types of services delivered, and progress toward community healing.

  • Trauma across Israeli communities is deepening, and without immediate action, long-term harm will increase. Ark of Israel offers a timely, structured, and culturally grounded response to national grief and psychological distress.

““I deeply value The Ark of Israel’s efforts on behalf of the State of Israel and for the bereaved families that so desperately need this partnership and the services of these community centers.””
— Aryeh Muallem, Deputy Director General with the Ministry of Defense and Head of Bereaved Families and Commemorations

Renovation of Existing Building 2,000-3,000 Sq. Ft Facility
$634,741 - $952,112

New Build 2,000-3,000 Sq. Ft Facility
$865,557 - $1,298,335

Annual Facility Operations (Staffing, Utilities, Maintenance, Insurance, Taxes and Programming)
$207,325 - $250,650

Administration, Travel, Site Selection $951,000

(all estimates in USD)

Projected Expenses for One Community Refuge Center: Jerusalem

Mike Pompeo, 70th Secretary of State

"The work that is being done for the IDF Widows and orphans is powerful and it’s important — and that’s why what the Ark of Israel is doing matters so much."

A man in a suit and tie speaking at a podium with a sign that reads 'Ark of Israel Hearts of Courage Gala' on stage, with microphones and teleprompters around him.

Shlomi Nahumson, CEO of Israeli Defense Forces Widows and Orphans

“With tremendous gratitude & appreciation, we are proud to call Scott & Heidi Cunningham and Ark of Israel, IDFWO Ambassadors, and we recognize their dedication, initiative, enthusiasm, and support for our widows and orphans.”

Group of seven people posing together indoors in a room with wood panels, some with uniforms and others in business attire. Scott Cunningham

“Even though we never move on, we have to move forward TOGETHER, united in pain and united in HOPE.”

Watch the stories of Ben & Uri, two young men who have benefited from the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization.

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heidi cunningham and scott cunningham and ark of israel and the local ark

Scott & Heidi Cunningham

After 45+ years in the service industry, we know first hand the sacrifice of those who serve on the frontlines.

Scott & Heidi Cunningham and The Ark of Israel are proud to be the United States Ambassadors of the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization. We’re working publicly and behind the scenes to highlight vital issues facing those left behind after the loss of a service member.

We stand with the IDFWO in their core message to the widow and orphan:

They are not alone and we, along with the entire Israeli public, remember and respect the inconceivable price they have paid.

At our recent Hearts of Courage Gala, we had the honor of hosting Secretary Mike Pompeo, Kim Walker-Smith, Netanel Hershtik, Anat Sulton-Dadon, Jay Sekulow, Steve Berger, and more! It was a historic evening in Nashville, honoring the IDF Widows & Orphans Organization. Watch the video to hear beautiful statements of support for the great alliance of the USA and Israel, and the IDF Widows & Orphans.

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  • Group of people standing in front of a memorial wall with plaques and flags, honoring a fallen soldier, with a portrait of the soldier on an easel.

  • A memorial setup with a portrait of a young man in a military uniform, floral arrangement at the base, and several flags including Israeli, American, and Israeli flags behind the portrait.

  • Two men in formal attire posing for a photo at an indoor event. One is in a military uniform, and the other is in a suit holding a book titled 'A Night of Heroes'.

  • Two people standing in front of an Israeli ambulance, wearing orange emergency responder vests, smiling at the camera.

  • Two women sitting on an orange EMS scooter with a large storage box, parked outside a building with a sign reading United Hatzalah.

  • Two men grilling meat outdoors, smiling and cooking on a barbecue.

  • Three professionals standing together outside a building, smiling for the camera.

  • Five people standing together outdoors in front of a historical stone building, posing for a group photo and smiling.

  • Five people, including two men in chef uniforms and a woman and man in business attire, standing together in a commercial kitchen, smiling at the camera.

  • Four people smiling and standing together in an indoor space with stone walls and arched ceilings, including a woman with brown hair, a man with white hair, a young man, and a woman with long dark hair.

  • Four people standing together in front of a rustic indoor wall with a stone feature and vintage decor.

  • Four people in an office or clinic, two men and two women, engaged in conversation with a plate of cake and an apple on the desk. One man is seated, gesturing with his hands; the other man is standing behind the desk, while the women are standing and listening. The office has bookshelves, certificates, and framed pictures on the wall.

  • Group of six people, including a man in a gray suit, a woman in a light blue shirt, two men in white chef jackets, a woman in a pink blazer, and a man in a black and white shirt, standing in a commercial kitchen near a large stainless steel pot and industrial equipment, engaged in conversation.

  • A man in a gray suit standing in front of an Israeli flag and a coat of arms with a menorah, with the word "Havnat" written in Hebrew below the coat of arms.

  • Group of fifteen people standing on a rooftop terrace with a cityscape and mountains in the background, smiling at the camera.

  • Group of seven diverse people dressed in formal and military attire standing together in a room with wooden cabinets and a kitchen counter.

  • A speaker on stage addressing a large audience seated in a theater or auditorium, with most people wearing face masks.

  • Close-up of an elderly person's hands holding crumpled small pieces of paper.

  • A group of people, including men wearing kippahs and a man with gray hair, standing in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem. One person is touching the wall, which is made of large, weathered limestone blocks.

  • Two smiling people, a man and a woman, standing on a stone platform with a cityscape, including the Dome of the Rock, in the background.