Navah - Begining to Continue
About Navah
How It All Began
Founded in 2003, Navah Organization is dedicated to providing emotional, psychological, and communal support to families in Israel who have lost loved ones due to acts of terror. At the heart of Navah’s mission is a commitment to walk alongside bereaved families—not just at the moment of loss, but in the weeks, months, and years that follow.
Our programs are designed to meet people where they are, emotionally and culturally, offering immediate and long-term, trauma-informed care grounded in dignity, empathy, and respect for each family's unique experience.
In the wake of the October 7 attacks, our mission has expanded to meet an unprecedented level of trauma. We have launched an emergency response initiative that includes therapy, family support, and three-day Rosh Hashanah and Pesach retreats, in addition to ongoing nationwide programs such as support groups, The Empty Chair Project, holiday care packages, and Stones with a Human Heart.
A core value of Navah is inclusion. We are especially committed to reaching populations that are often underserved by state systems and other organizations, including ultra-Orthodox families and Russian-speaking immigrants, and we aim to expand our services to Ethiopian Israelis as well.
Navah’s mission is not only to offer services but to create a sense of belonging and dignity for every family affected by terror. We strive to build a living network of care that sustains families through pain, honors the memory of the lost, and helps survivors reclaim meaning and connection in their lives. We believe that by supporting those who carry the deepest wounds, we strengthen the moral and emotional fabric of Israeli society as a whole.
Supporting Bereaved Families
Thousands of clients responded to the call, sending messages of love, solidarity, and wishes for recovery. Their responses included heartfelt messages, gift baskets, and financial donations, which were instrumental in acquiring crucial equipment and specialized devices for the wounded. Additionally, these contributions funded therapy sessions and provided financial support to families enduring the loss of their primary income source. The funds also facilitated the creation of a dedicated hotline, home visits, group support meetings, and the organization of a central Passover Seder for bereaved families.
All these efforts were unified under the umbrella of a single organization called "Navah,” a tribute to Tehila's grandmother, Mrs. Navah Shean, who passed away during this period. Mrs. Shean, a Holocaust survivor turned actress, had performed at the Cameri and HaBima Theaters.
Navah – In Memory of Navah Shean
Navah Shean, an actress who performed at the Cameri and HaBima Theaters, was one of the founders of the Haifa Municipal Theater and Zavit Theater. Born in 1919 in Czechoslovakia as Vlasta Schönová, she began performing at the municipal theater in Prague at the age of 8. By the age of 20, she had forged a promising career in Prague’s children and youth theater.
In 1941, however, she was deported to the Terezin concentration camp. Despite the harsh conditions in the camp, Navah immersed herself in intensive artistic activity there, organizing shows, directing, and producing plays for both children and adults. Evenings were dedicated to rehearsals after grueling days of physical labor. Within the camp, she founded a children’s theater, directing adaptations such as Kipling’s "Mowgli" and the Czech children’s story "Fireflies.”
Upon arriving in Israel in 1948, she adopted the name Navah Shean, mastered Hebrew, and began performing at several Israeli theaters. Navah was instrumental in founding Kibbutz Yad Mordechai and contributed to the establishment of the Haifa Municipal Theater in 1961. Pnina Gary, who shared the stage with Shean at Zavit Theater, fondly remembers her as "one of the most free-spirited, bravest women in Israel," noting her resilience in overcoming challenges and advocating for justice and truth.
Navah Shean z"l, 1919-2001
The Team
Tehila Friedman
Founder and Manager, Navah
Tehila has been the founder and pro-bono manager of Navah since 2002.
Tehila is a dynamic entrepreneur who has developed several programs and founded businesses in Israel. She has experience managing large-scale teams and projects. Among her ventures, she is the owner of Kosherbookings, which specializes in providing kosher accommodations outside of Israel. Tehila resides in Kiryat Yearim with her husband and six children.
Chavi Ehrenfeld
Co-Manager
Chavi dedicates her time to coordinating the Seder night project, the Empty Chair, for bereaved families on a voluntary basis. In her professional capacity, Chavi oversees her own company: Chavi Ehrenfeld – Academic Education for Ultra-Orthodox Women.
She lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with her husband and three children.