OUR MISSION
To provide expressive arts programming that supports emotional and psychological healing for women who have experienced sexual trauma.
WHAT WE DO
HaGomel builds a healing community for women through creative programs. Our trained facilitators interweave:
– Visual art
– Writing and poetry
– Music
– Movement and dance
– Theater
Each art discipline offers a unique sensory experience or modality that can be led online or in-person. We provide all the supplies, and the programs are customizable for our community partners per the need of each group or event.
HaGomel has also partnered with various nonprofits that offer essential and healing services to women survivors of sexual trauma. Our contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic enabled many organizations to offer more expressive arts programs, and, in some cases, launch custom-designed experiences for their communities.
Does your organization or support group want HaGomel to lead free expressive arts workshops for your participants?
“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing
process arise from a single source. When you are an artist,
you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is
the foundation of your work and its integrity.”
Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.
Why “HaGomel”?
HaGomel comes from the Birkat HaGomel, a Jewish prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude to be said by an individual in community after one has survived a traumatic, potentially life-threatening experience.
Our Founder and President, Elya Braden, was drawn to this prayer as a name for this nonprofit when she read an article about the healing properties of this prayer for sexual abuse survivors, and the value of their being seen and embraced in community.
Although the HaGomel prayer has its origins in Judaism, HaGomel is a non-religious organization.
