About
“When the Strong Emerge” is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting wounded IDF soldiers, men and women alike, who were injured during their service, whether in combat operations or wars. The organization was founded in response to a profound need observed in the field: many soldiers suffering physical or psychological wounds experience loneliness, receive insufficient systemic support, struggle with reintegration into civilian life, and often feel a diminished sense of self-worth and direction. The founders, some of whom are wounded veterans or former combatants themselves, understood that these warriors need a different kind of space: one that is supportive, nurturing, and empowering, where they can process their trauma, reconnect with their body and soul, and rediscover purpose and inspiration for the path ahead.
Our Mission
- Assistance with Disability Recognition
In addition to offering emotional and community support, “When the Strong Emerge” provides personal and dedicated assistance in navigating bureaucratic processes with the Ministry of Defense. We help wounded veterans get recognition for their injuries, secure their disability percentages, and obtain entitled compensation. We understand how frustrating and draining this process can be, especially for those also dealing with physical or psychological trauma—so we ensure compassionate, patient, and personalized support throughout, including connecting them with appropriate professionals, until they receive a fair and complete resolution. - Healing and Empowerment
The organization delivers emotional, physical, and social support to combatants grappling with psychological or physical injuries, post-combat crises, or post-traumatic experiences. We create safe spaces for processing trauma, rebuilding a sense of value, and reconstructing personal identity. - Building Community as Part of Rehabilitation
We believe that belonging to a supportive, inclusive, and authentic group is essential to the healing journey. Our programs foster meaningful, community-based experiences where every participant feels equal, without the need to explain or justify themselves. - Developing Emotional Resilience and Coping Tools
Through experiential, therapeutic, and physical activities, we equip participants with life tools for breathing, managing challenges, building healthy routines, and strengthening a sense of control and choice.
Our Story: Born from Battle and Service
The organization was born out of pain, resourcefulness, and a deep sense of purpose. One of its founders, Lt. Col. (res.) Udi Tena was wounded during Operation Protective Edge on July 26, 2014, in intense combat near Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Udi and his team faced heavy fire after encountering five fallen soldiers from their unit, whom militants attempted to drag toward a tunnel shaft for abduction into Gaza. In a life-threatening confrontation, Udi and his fellow soldier ambushed the militants and managed to retrieve the bodies, with help from God and their team, all amidst heavy gunfire, and Udi himself was wounded in the process.
After enduring a long journey of physical and emotional recovery and navigating burdensome bureaucracy, Udi made a resolute decision: he would embark on his life’s mission, reaching out to wounded warriors, especially those invisible to others, “quiet” soldiers carrying deep, silent pain.
Thus, “When the Strong Emerge” was born, fueled by a sense of mission to touch, heal, and accompany those who have given much. Through therapeutic journeys abroad, workshops, rehabilitation activities in Israel, and renewed integration into community and society, the organization works so that every combatant can rediscover meaning, hope, and a grip on life. All of this is rooted in one simple belief: true strength is revealed through brokenness.
