Answering the Call: Teaching, Healing, and Building a Life in Israel

My name is Rachel Garfield, and I am a special education teacher in the United States. I hold two licenses: one in special education (Pre-K through Grade 2) and one in general education (Pre-K through Grade 2). I graduated from the University of Hartford in 2016 with a degree in communications, and I am currently working toward my master’s degree in special education.

After October 7th, I felt compelled to come to Israel to support the country’s rehabilitation in any way I could. I knew that my skills in behavior management, trauma-informed teaching, and de-escalation could be highly relevant and impactful in this context. My background has prepared me to support students with emotional and behavioral needs, particularly those who have experienced trauma, by creating structured, safe, and predictable learning environments. I am trained in implementing individualized supports, using data-informed strategies, and fostering emotional regulation and resilience in students. I wanted to use these methods to support Israeli students in their recovery following October 7th.

With this goal in mind, I began searching for opportunities to make this possible. Through this process, I found TALMA and learned about their summer program in Kfar Aza. I applied, was accepted, and spent the summer working with students in a therapeutic capacity. In this role, I applied my skills to help students process emotions, build coping strategies, and re-engage in learning. It was during this experience that I fell in love with Israel. I also developed a deep connection to the Kfar Aza community and realized that I wanted to make Israel my home.

I returned to the United States for the school year, as I had already signed a contract prior to leaving for Israel. During that time, I researched the process of making Aliyah and later applied. I also applied to the full-year TALMA program with the specific intention of continuing to work with the Kfar Aza community in a therapeutic capacity. I was accepted and joined the program in August.

This program gave me the opportunity to make Aliyah and build a meaningful life in Israel. I am deeply grateful to TALMA for supporting me and helping set me up for success in this significant transition. I am proud to use my skills to support students, families, and communities in Israel during a time when trauma-informed, compassionate, and structured educational support is especially important. My TALMA experience has reinforced my belief in the power of education to help students heal, grow, and re-establish their sense of safety. I am grateful to be part of this program and look forward to continuing to support and learn from the communities I serve.

 

Rachel Garfield is originally from Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA. Rachel came to Israel in August 2025 and made Aliyah 2 months later in October. This is her first year as a TALMA full-year teacher!