Transforming Trauma into Hope
Imagine a space where creativity fuels resilience and healing emerge from the depths of heartbreak.
The Beit Melachah (Center for Arts and Therapy) in Sha’ar HaNegev will be a sanctuary for a community rebuilding after the unimaginable trauma of October 7, 2023. Here, art and therapy will converge to offer a safe space for healing, connection, and renewal.
Honoring a Legacy
Sha’ar HaNegev’s Beit Melachah (Center for Arts and Therapy) was founded by Livnat Kutz Z”L, an artist, educator, and visionary who believed in the power of art to heal. After her community endured the devastation of Operation Protective Edge in 2014, she created the center as a sanctuary where residents could process their pain through creativity. Through painting, sculpture, and other art therapies, Beit Melachah became a refuge for children and adults alike.
Tragically, Livnat and her family were among those lost in the horrific events of October 7, 2023. But her legacy lives on, as Beit Melachah satellite programs sprang up within weeks in many of the evacuated communities. As more residents return home, the center is now insufficient to meet the community’s growing needs. Apart from needing bathrooms, and group and individual therapy rooms, it needs to be shielded from harm.
Why Sha’ar HaNegev?
Sha’ar HaNegev is not just any community—it is San Diego’s sister city in Israel. For decades, we have stood together, forging deep bonds of friendship, support, and resilience.
Through times of peace and crisis, Jewish Federation of San Diego has partnered with Sha’ar HaNegev, investing in education, security, and community-building initiatives. Now, in their time of greatest need, we have an opportunity to stand with the people of Sha’ar HaNegev once again as we help rebuild the Beit Melachah and ensure that Livnat’s vision of healing through art lives on.
A Community in Crisis
Since October 7th, trauma-related stress among Sha’ar HaNegev residents has surged by 700%. The Beit Melachah will serve as a critical lifeline by offering:
✅ Secure therapy spaces
✅ Art-based healing programs
✅ Support for children, teens, and adults
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
Located on Sha’ar HaNegev’s educational campus, the Beit Melachah will integrate art therapy, innovation, and community support to foster healing for the entire region. It will be open to:
🎨 Students during the school day – tying in therapy seamlessly within the curriculum
🌿 Community members after hours – providing individual and group sessions, plus access to creative workshops and therapeutic spaces, giving residents a way to process their trauma in ways that work best for them
A Vision for the Future
The revitalized Beit Melachah will include:
🏠 Individual and Group Therapy Rooms
🍽️ Therapeutic Kitchen
🔨 Carpentry and Ceramics Workshops
🔬 Science and Innovation Center
🛡️ Safe Rooms for Secure Healing
These spaces will serve thousands, offering not just safety, but the strength to rebuild lives.
Sponsor a Space of Healing & Renewal
Your support will help bring the Beit Melachah to life—and your name will be honored on the donor installation in Sha’ar HaNegev upon the center’s completion.
This is your chance to leave a lasting impact on a community in need.
Sponsorship Opportunities
By sponsoring this initiative, you are directly supporting a safe space for art, healing, and renewal.
$1,000 – יְצִירָה (Yetzirah) – Creation
Represents the act of creating—whether through art, woodworking, or ceramics. This level recognizes donors who help lay the foundation for artistic and therapeutic expression.
$5,000 – אוּמָנוּת (Omanut) – Artistry
This reflects the skilled craftsmanship and artistic mastery involved in woodworking, pottery, and other creative endeavors. This level recognizes donors whose generosity nurtures creativity, allowing individuals to develop their artistic skills as a form of healing and self-expression.
$25,000 – תִּקוּן (Tikkun) – Healing/Repair
Derived from Tikkun Olam ("repairing the world"), this name honors donors contributing at a level that actively supports healing from trauma through creative therapies.
$50,000 – מַחְסֶה (Machseh) – Sanctuary
This word means refuge or shelter, symbolizing the center as a safe space for healing, artistic expression, and emotional recovery. This level honors donors who provide a haven of safety and support, ensuring that those in need have a space to heal, create, and rebuild their sense of security.
$100,000+ – בְּרִיאָה (Bri’ah) – Rebirth
Signifying new beginnings and renewal, this highest giving level recognizes those whose generosity enables survivors to rebuild their lives through creativity and counseling.
Join Us in Sha’ar HaNegev in May 2027
Be part of this historic transformation! Our Federation’s next Community Trip to Israel is planned for May 2027. If you are a sponsor who chooses to join us, you will have the opportunity to visit Sha’ar HaNegev and see the new Beit Melachah firsthand, witnessing the impact of your generosity. Your name will also be featured on a special sponsors art installation, serving as a physical reminder of your commitment to our friends in Sha’ar HaNegev.
This is more than a building—it is a promise of renewal, resilience, and community strength.
