RAY OF LIGHT

Israel’s THERAPy & rehabilitation HAVEN

RAY OF LIGHT is Israel’s leading treatment center for Oct 7th survivors, victoms and berieved families coping with trauma and loss, through evidence-based Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP).

Founded by Keren-Or Solomon, in memory of Hilly, Keren-Or’s sister who was brutally murdered at the Nova Festival on Oct 7th 2023.

Hilly Solomon

1996-2023

Keren-Or Solomon

Founder

oCT 7th AFTERMATH

Israel - A NATION IN TRAUMA & GRIEF

  • 3m Israeli’s dealing with PTSD ,100% increase post Oct 7th
  • 600,000 with severe symptoms in wake of Oct 7th directly
  • Depression & Anxiety rates nearly 1 in 2 Israelis – 40% increase
  • Nova Festival massacre – Israel’s most deadly terror attack in history
Israel - Highest global PTSD per capita rate
For comparison, post 9/11 NYC PTSD rates
were 7.5% vs Israel at 29.8%
RAY OF LIGHT

FOR OCT 7thsurvivors & bereaved families

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Therapy sessions
Given to Nova survivors & bereaved family members.
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Dyadic treaments
Emotional regulation , trauma processing through relationships.
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Sqm Facility
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Rescued Animals
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Volunteers & Caregivers
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Years operating

Unique Treatment Methodology

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Mutual Rehabilitation Model

Both animals and humans are trauma survivors – Bidirectional care and parallel healing journeys create powerful therapeutic metaphor

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Post-October 7 Expertise

Deep understanding of mass-casualty
event trauma – Culturally specific to Israel.
Nova survivors’ programs, soldier wartime PTSD specialization & family bereavement

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Relational Psychotherapy

Evidence-based Human-Animal Relational Theory (HART). Professional therapists with AAP certification

Focus on the deep, emotional bond between humans and animals & groundbreaking psychotherapy using interspecies connection.
Consistent with neurobiology of human-animal interaction, leveraging “Significant Human-Animal Relational Moments” (SHARMs)

Group Therapy

Processing trauma with animals present
- Discussing animal behavior as metaphor
- Sharing rescue stories

Family & Dyadic Treatment sessions

Animal based interactions for real-time work on trust, regulation, and relationship repair

Trauma informed Therapy - EMDR

Using eye-movement sets to dismantle trauma and support grounding, safety, and co-regulation during memory processing

Post Traumatic Growth Paths

Helping survivors & family member find new life meaning through trauma while facilitating personalized formats

Behavorial Modeling & Projections

Observing animal self-regulation Learn to self-regulate "What is the horse feeling?" (processing own emotions)

Keren - Or Solomon

Founder & CEO of Ray of Light

Dr. Shiri Raz

Head of “Hili Solomon” Center

Lior Edri

Head of Medical Services

Lior Harish

Head Legal Counsil

Erga Palmach

Head of Volunteers

Angela Tepilski

Head Animal Therapist

Elinor Shapira

Head of Special Needs Services

RAY OF LIGHT facility

The Central Building:
  • A welcoming lobby and main hall with seating areas and a central memorial wall
  • Private therapy rooms, creative studios, and workshop spaces
  • A communal kitchen for shared cooking experiences as part of the healing journey
  • Children & youth areas with play zones, hangout rooms, age-appropriate activities
Outdoor Areas:
  • Tranquillity garden with shaded seating, floral gardens, meditative walking path
  • A memorial plaza for personal or group ceremonies
  • Playground and open lawn for children’s activities and outdoor workshops
  • therapeutic animal sanctuary, where rescued animals assist in emotional healing