When the world shattered for Israel on Oct. 7, Shira Berkovitch, like so many others, was thrust into uncertainty. Her husband, Yair, was called back into reserve duty—a call he’s now answered for over 400 days in the past 18 months. Shira, a suburban Jerusalem mother of two, a PhD student in immunotherapy and a former IDF soldier, found herself navigating war on the home front: holding her young family together in the face of prolonged absence, stress and national trauma.

But from this place of pain and upheaval, something extraordinary began to grow.

“In those first few weeks after October 7,” Shira recalled, “I started thinking about what truly mattered most to us. The answer was clear: our children. I was looking for a daycare for our 3-year-old and couldn’t find anything that felt right. Everything felt too temporary, too shallow for what these times demand.”

A friend connected her with other mothers in a similar situation—each of them trying to anchor their children’s lives while their husbands served on the front lines. “We started meeting weekly,” Shira said. “We didn’t just want to send our kids to a program that was a glorified babysitting service. We wanted a place that could nurture resilience, help kids process their environment, and give them the foundations to grow into compassionate, courageous leaders.”

What began as informal conversations soon grew into a vision and then a movement. Today, that vision is becoming Gan Dror, a new educational initiative for 3- and 4-year-olds, grounded in what experts call post-traumatic growth (PTG): the idea that individuals and communities can grow stronger through adversity.

Gan Dror has already received approval from Israel’s Ministry of Education and is set to open its doors this September in the Adumim region, just outside Jerusalem in the Judean Hills overlooking the beautiful landscape surrounding Ein Prat. The program is designed for children ages 3-5 and already has 24 children enrolled with a waitlist of over 30. The need is urgent, and the interest is overwhelming. In Hebrew, a “gan” is a formal preschool program with certified staff.

Gan Dror isn’t a typical preschool. It’s built on the theory of attachment-style pedagogy—placing children at the center of a warm, emotionally secure environment. “A child who has a strong connection to a responsive adult learns that the world is a safe place,” explained Shira. “Even if they don’t yet express their trauma, this kind of care can shape their emotional world in ways that will help them thrive.”

The initiative is being guided by experienced pedagogical leaders, including experts from another successful educational model launched by a partner family. Together, they’ve crafted a framework that prioritizes stability, emotional intelligence and leadership development from the earliest years.

“Ages 0 to 6 are the most crucial in shaping who we become,” Shira emphasized. “If we start here, we can change the trajectory not just of individual children, but of entire communities.”

Honoring a Fallen Hero:
The Heart Behind the Name

As the community behind Gan Dror grew, one parent shared a powerful story. A soldier named Dror had saved his life during an IDF military operation in early 2023. Tragically, Dror was killed on Oct. 7, 2023. At the time, Dror was a new father.

“We reached out to Dror’s family, and they were deeply moved,” said Shira. “No public memorial had been created yet. When his widow visited and saw what we were building, she fell in love with it. Naming the Gan after Dror felt right—it turned this project into something larger than us. It gave it a soul.”

Though Gan Dror is launching as a preschool, the dream doesn’t end there. “We see this as the seed of something bigger,” Shira shared. “We want to build a center that serves not only young children but also older kids, parents and families. A place for healing, growth and leadership training—for everyone impacted by trauma.”

Located in the heart of the Adumim region—home to some of Israel’s most committed IDF reservists and Zionist families—Gan Dror is more than a school. It’s a response to crisis, a model for resilience, and a beacon of hope.

While Gan Dror has received initial approvals, it now needs critical financial support to bring this dream fully to life. Ongoing operational costs will be covered in part by the Ministry of Education and partially by tuition from families. But the launch depends on the generosity of donors who believe in what this program represents. The one-time startup cost for the upcoming school year is about $400,000, which will cover the cost of renting and outfitting the facility, equipping classrooms and outdoor areas, and training teachers to implement the specialized curriculum.

“Our children deserve more than to just ‘get through’ this time. They deserve to grow, to lead and to heal,” said a very emotional Shira. “And that means building something bold and beautiful—something like Gan Dror.”

“This project began with a few tired, overwhelmed parents sitting in a living room,” Shira said, smiling. “Now we have over 50 families waiting to be a part of it. That tells me this isn’t just about my family—it’s about something the whole country is feeling.”

Gan Dror is built on a simple but powerful belief: that even in the darkest times, we can plant seeds of light. And from those seeds, a new generation of leaders will rise.

Donations are being accepted through a dedicated CauseMatch campaign, with fiscal sponsorship from Keren Maleh HaYad. To learn more or to give, visit: https://causematch.com/gan-dror-english-page/512820

Shira will be in New York and New Jersey June 8-12 to share her story and invite others to join the journey. To schedule a parlor meeting or to learn more, please contact Shira Berkovitch at [email protected].

Arnie Draiman is a philanthropic consultant, helping people and foundations give their tzedaka money away wisely, efficiently, and effectively for over 25 years. In addition, he consults to hi-tech startups, and is an expert in social media marketing and promotion. He can be reached at: [email protected]