Jewish Care

Shalvata is a centre that offers practical and emotional therapeutic support to those who survived the Nazi Holocaust.

Shalvata is a Hebrew word for ‘Peace of Mind’

At Shalvata we are happy to see people individually or in groups – for example, we have a group for children who were hidden during the Holocaust, a group for those who came on the Kindertransporte and a group for the spouses of survivors.

Why is this therapeutic service needed?
Memories of traumatic events from the past can re-emerge as we grow older. The highly qualified specialist workers at Shalvata offer a range of services to address these difficulties, as well as practical assistance to cope with the present.

Our specialist workers
The specialist workers at Shalvata have built up an unrivalled bank of knowledge about war trauma from years of working with Holocaust survivors. Their experience is unique in the UK.

Their expertise is used to train and advise professionals who work with war trauma. All their work with survivors is strictly confidential.

In conjunction with World Jewish Relief, Shalvata also works with a group of Bosnian refugees.

Further information
Shalvata is part of Jewish Care. It is supported by WJR, OSHA and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany. Shalvata’s services are free to users. We welcome donations.

Shalvata is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5.30pm.

Referrals come from Jewish Care, health and social services and other organisations or people can refer themselves directly. Shalvata offers support to Jewish survivors and refugees anywhere in the UK who can benefit from its services.

You are welcome to phone and one of the specialist team will speak to you to discuss how to proceed.

Professionals
Enquiries from professionals who are interested in Shalvata’s work should be made to Judith Hassan, Director of Services for Holocaust Survivors, Refugees and their families, on 020 8203 9033 or by emailing the centre.

For details about this particular therapeutic model see publication of J Hassan’s book “A House Next Door to Trauma – Learning from Holocaust Survivors How to Respond to Atrocity”. Published by Jessica Kingsley – 2003.