Balfurya, Israel — In the heart of northern Israel, a passionate movement is taking root on a small farm in Balfurya. Two lifelong friends, have reunited to build Matanya farms, a PTSD recovery farm for those who suffered immense trauma and loss.
With the help of the American non profit, Israel Friends, they have the grassroots initiative. On May 14, Israel Friends came with its first delegation to visit the farm with its’ ambassadors.
The farm seeks to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where individuals recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are finding hope—and purpose—through farming.
Through agriculture, therapy, and community, the farm offers a path to recovery. It’s a living tribute to their fallen brothers and a place where pain is met with understanding, and silence is replaced with hope and growth. Their mission is healing.
The innovative program, led by local communities and local Sendi Ben Zaken seeks to combine agriculture with critical social impact. Matanya and Israel Friends bring in professional therapists and doctors to help the participants living with PTSD work on the farm in a restorative and beautiful setting, gaining not only emotional stability but also practical skills that help them reintegrate into society.
In a powerful demonstration of circular support, the farm’s produce and goods are donated to a local food bank, helping to nourish vulnerable families across the region.
Matanya Farm was founded by two veteran Israeli soldiers who served together in the Golani Brigade, specifically in Jenin. After losing their five closest friends in battle, they were left with deep emotional scars. Yet, instead of retreating into silence, they chose a path of healing. United by grief and resilience, they created Matanya Farm as a sanctuary for others carrying the burden of trauma, particularly those living with PTSD.
As mental health challenges grow across Israel, and over 300,000 reservists alone in need of support affected by the war, Israel Friends enables Matanya Farm to be a beacon of hope. It’s a place where trauma is met with compassion, where the soil becomes a tool for recovery, and where a new model for healing is being sown—one seed, one harvest, and one human connection at a time.
