Helping Israelis heal during wartime with biblical counseling

The “Inside the Epicenter” podcasts, hosted by Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of The Joshua Fund, are designed to engage and educate listeners about Israel, its spiritual and geopolitical challenge, and the ministry work in the land.

In a recent episode, Rosenberg and his wife Lynn spoke with Sasha and Lilian Granovsky, Israeli immigrants from the former Soviet Union, who are biblical counselors and founders of a ministry dedicated to special needs adults in Israel.

The episode opened with a candid discussion about the sobering reality of living through the “terrible, traumatic war” that Israel is currently facing against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, shortly after Hamas terrorists stormed Israel’s southern border, brutally killing at least 1,200 men, women and children and abducting over 250 hostages.

More than 10 months later, Israel continues to fight to dismantle Hamas in Gaza and faces the threat of a multi-front war against the Iranian regime and its terror proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon on the northern border, in addition to other regional players.

Lilian highlighted the unprecedented emotional strain and spiritual warfare that individuals, families and communities are experiencing across Israel. She emphasized the urgent need for spiritual, emotional and psychological care for those who are suffering.

As Israelis grapple with more profound spiritual questions and wavering faith amid the instability around them, the Granovskys have stepped in as counselors, encouraging believers and non-believers to seek answers in scripture and to understand that trust in God must remain steadfast, even in times of uncertainty.

Lilian explained the societal norm of placing too much trust in institutions – a trust that has been shattered for many Israelis.

“Trust was broken on October 7th. We trusted the government, now we don’t. We trusted the IDF and police, now we don’t. We trusted our leaders, now we don’t,” she said.

She also acknowledged the emotional toll the war has taken on families with spouses who are called to the frontlines, including young mothers left to care for multiple children on their own and who are dealing with anxiety, panic attacks and burnout. Lilian also explained that husbands who return home from war for short visits often feel distant and find it difficult to reintegrate into their family’s daily routine.

Lynn shared how she and others reached out to support struggling mothers.

“We immediately were having some of these moms and their kids over for meals and just trying to just be with them, just listen to them, just trying to play with the kids and give the moms chances to even be on the phones with their husbands, privately but quickly,” she recalled. Lynn eventually suggested hosting Zoom calls to address the concerns of mothers, such as, "How do I talk to my kids?” Lilian embraced the idea and said: “Yes, let’s do it! It doesn’t need to be high-tech. It doesn’t need to be fancy. We just need to help these moms.”

They contacted women in their congregations, messianic schools, and prayer groups and hosted Zoom calls in both Hebrew and English.

During the podcast, Lynn recalled a conversation with Lilian during those first days.

“You said to me, ‘It feels like there's this huge cloud over the whole country and that we can't see the edges of it, and we wake up every morning with just this sort of feeling like we're just under this dark pressure, and we don't know when it's going to end.’”

Sasha is a co-elder of his Messianic congregation and shared his experiences guiding members through the emotional toll of the war in Gaza.

The ministry he leads is not just about meeting physical needs but also about addressing the deep spiritual questions that arise during times of crisis. This message of hope and spiritual grounding is at the core of their counseling, offering comfort to those grappling with the uncertainties of war.

"The sermons were mostly out of Psalms, you know, just to comfort the people," Sasha explained. He said they also gleaned insights from the book of Habakkuk, a controversial but relevant text given the circumstances

Sasha and another leader eventually decided to take a more personal approach with their discipleship group, which became a safe space for men to openly express their feelings about the war.

Leading by example, Sasha began by sharing his own feelings. He said one by one, the others began to open up and share the depth of their suffering.

One confessed: "I'm frustrated, I don't have patience, I don't…I'm, you know, raging by this devastation."

Sasha emphasized that providing a safe space for such honest emotions to be expressed, rather than suppressed, is essential for the healing process.

During the podcast, the Granovskys also spoke about their pioneering work with special needs adults, a largely overlooked community within Israel.

Lilian said that the idea for this ministry, "Makom BaLev" (A place in the heart), was born out of their experience raising their daughter Liel, who has autism and is nonverbal. Liel's presence in their lives opened their eyes to the broader requirements of special needs adults in Israel, particularly within the Messianic community.

Makom BaLev provides a safe and nurturing environment for adults with disabilities, many of whom have outgrown their childhood homes and need continued care.

The Granovskys explained that parents of special needs children often feel isolated, believing that they are the only ones who can adequately care for their children. Yet, as these children grow older and their parents age, the need for a supportive community becomes increasingly urgent.

“We need to know that even if we are gone – or if we are weak, if we are sick, if we are tired – there is a community that not only will take care of those adults but would be blessed by them,” Lilian said.

Makom BaLev has become a bridge for special needs individuals to connect to the local body of believers in Israel. Their unique vision is to integrate these adults into society, ensuring that they not only receive care but also contribute to the community in meaningful ways.

They emphasized the biblical principle that every person is created in the image of God and has a purpose, regardless of their abilities.

“I think that’s what gives us enthusiasm. It’s not ‘we are alone,’ but ‘we, as the body of Messiah, can provide it and be blessed,’” Lilian said.

As the podcast drew to a close, Joel urged listeners to continue praying for Israeli ministries whose goal is the help strengthen to body of Messiah during this time.

While the challenges are great, the opportunities to bring healing and hope to those in need are greater.

“This is a couple, obviously, that needs a lot of prayer because the people they're caring for need a lot of prayer, and the Lord's mercies and blessings,” Joel added.

Listen to the full episode here.

For more information about how to support this ministry, visit The Joshua Fund website.

Listen to more Inside the Epicenter podcasts here.