About
The Moshe Hess Amuta was founded in 2007 by the Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation to strengthen psychiatric and community-based mental health services in Israel. Its mission is to advance accessible, high-quality care by supporting innovative private initiatives and promoting effective public policy.
The Laszlo N. Tauber Family Foundation was established in 2002 by Ingrid Tauber and Alfred (Fred) Tauber in memory of their father, Dr. Laszlo N. Tauber. From its inception, the Foundation has focused on improving psychiatric rehabilitation within the community – enhancing the quality and accessibility of services, influencing mental-health policy, and promoting systemic reform.
In 2014, following a comprehensive strategic review, the Foundation expanded its focus to include early intervention, alternatives to hospitalization, and prevention programs, reflecting its ongoing commitment to sustainable, community-centered mental-health care.
The Amuta’s work includes:
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Advocating for full rights and access within the health-care system.
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Advancing integrated psychiatric and rehabilitation services.
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Supporting professional development for clinicians in psychiatric rehabilitation.
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Developing and piloting innovative clinical and community-based programs.
Founder
Alfred (Fred) Tauber is the founder of the Hess Amuta and a retired Professor of Medicine and Philosophy at Boston University (https://blogs.bu.edu/ait). Following a distinguished clinical and biochemistry research career, he published extensively on the development of immunology and its theoretical foundations, contemporary science studies, and medical ethics.
Fred has been recognized internationally for his scholarly contributions, receiving the Science Medal of the University of Bologna (2008) and an honorary PhD from the University of Haifa (2011). He continued teaching philosophy at Tel Aviv University until 2015 and later served as Chairman of the Board of Governors at the University of Haifa (2013–2019).
Beyond academia, Fred has been deeply engaged in Israeli civil society. His leadership roles have included chairing Molad: The Center for the Renewal of Israeli Democracy (2014–2018) and the Alliance for Israel’s Future (2016), a fellowship program advancing Jewish-Arab political co-existence. He has also supported innovative initiatives in mental-health care and rehabilitation.
Since making aliyah in 2011, Fred has spent part of each year in Israel with his wife, Professor (emerita) Paula Fredriksen, home to their four children and five grandchildren.
Our Team
Eli Kazhdan - Chairman
Eli Kazhdan is the CEO of CityBook Services, Israel’s leading outsourcing company, employing over 800 English-speaking professionals. Born in Moscow, Russia, Mr. Kazhdan immigrated to the United States as a child and later to Israel. He earned his BA with Honors in Government and International Relations from Harvard University, and his LL.B. from the Hebrew University.
From 1996 to 2002, Mr. Kazhdan served as Chief of Staff in both the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of the Interior and was deeply involved in the formulation and implementation of national economic policies.
Prior to joining CityBook, Mr. Kazhdan served as CEO of StartUp Jerusalem, an economic development initiative aimed at driving investment into Israel’s capital.
Mr. Kazhdan is active in a range of philanthropic endeavors, focused on community development and social impact. He is married to Tamar Perlstein Kazhdan, and is the proud father of Alicia, Yonatan and Amichai. In his personal time, he is an avid cyclist and skier.
Avital Toch Bar-Haim - Board member
Avital was born on a kibbutz in the Yezreel Valley.
She studied General History and Modern/Contemporary Jewish History.
In her adult life, she has worked to promote change and advance of Israeli society through immigration absorption and education.
For the past twenty years, she has been active in bearing daily witness to life in the occupied territories, advocating for peace and coexistence in our shared region.
Hadile Ounallah-Saad - Board member
A skilled professional in the pharmaceutical start-up industry. She graduated from the Technion and holds a PhD in medical sciences (Neurobiology) from the Hebrew University, specializing in Alzheimer's Disease.
She was a post- doctoral fellow (Eshkol laurate) at the Sagol department of Neurobiology (Haifa University), her interdisciplinary study focused on mechanisms of memory consolidation in health, and in disease. She worked in several Israeli biotech companies and is currently the head of innovation for the early-stage pipeline at Clexio Biosciences.
Suzanne Cannon - Board member
Suzanne Cannon is Director of Fundraising and Foundation Relations at Shatil (The New Israel Foundation). Previously she spent 20 years Director of Resource Development at Bizchut, The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities.
Suzanne is an active member of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism. Originally from London, she has lived in Jerusalem since 1988.
Ronit Heyd - Board member
Ronit Heyd, a Jerusalemite and mother of three, is the Vice President of the Shalom Hartman Institute and Director of the Center for Jewish and Israeli Identity. She is an expert in leading social change processes, a mentor and facilitator for the development of adaptive leadership and has spent over two decades building the capacity of civil society to strengthen Israel’s democratic infrastructure.
She previously served as Executive Director of SHATIL – The New Israel Fund’s Support and Consulting Services. Ronit holds a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University as a Wexner Fellow, and a master's degree in social psychology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. For several years, she also wrote and published a children's book series named “The Witch Manyera.”
Aliza Landes - Board member
Aliza moved to Israel from Boston nearly two decades ago. She served in the IDF Spokespersons Unit where she established the social media department and in COGAT dealing with communications and humanitarian aid.
She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School.
She has worked as a fintech executive and strategy consultant. She is an avid hiker and mother of two.
Jonathan J. Price - Board member
Jonathan J. Price is the Fred and Helen Lessing Professor of Ancient History at Tel Aviv University, and the author of books and articles on Greek and Roman history, literature and culture. He has a special interest in the theories and unsolved problems of civil war.
In TAU he has served as Chair of both the History and the Classics Departments, the Director of International Academic Relations, and Humanities Representative on the University Appointments Committee.
Outside of the university, he served two terms as the President of the Israel Society for the Promotion of Classical Studies, and he has also served on the review panels and/or been an evaluator for major research funding sources, such as the Fulbright Foundation, the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies, the European Research Council, the Israel Science Foundation and the Dan David Foundation. He lives in Jerusalem with his wife Naomi.
Inbar Raz - Administrative manager
Inbar Raz has served as the administrative director of the organization for over a decade. She has over 20 years of experience in social engagement within the nonprofit sector, including seven years in public relations and managing photography and production teams.
Inbar is married and the mother of three—two of whom are on the Autism spectrum. She volunteers as a guide and advisor to families of children with special needs. She also teaches alternative communication methods and coping strategies. Her dedication to volunteering began at a young age, and in 1991, at the age of 17, she was awarded the Presidential award for volunteerism for her work with abandoned infants.
Outside of work Inbar is a certified pastry chef as well as a trained stylist and personal image coach. She is a passionate theater lover (both in Israel and abroad), an avid reader and collector of Iranian literature and
contemporary dance performances
HOW TO APPLY
Should you wish to apply for a grant from Moshe Hess Amuta, we kindly ask that you e-mail us and provide us with initial information about your organization and the specific project for which you are seeking funding. This will enable us to assess whether your activities align with the fields in which the Amuta is engaged.
Following this initial review, you will be invited to formally submit your grant request using the official application forms provided by the Moshe Hess Amuta.
You can e-mail us to:
Thank you –
Inbar Raz – Administrative manager
Projects 2025
LISHMA
Who We Are
Lishma was founded by people with lived experience of mental health challenges who wanted to make their voices heard, represent others in similar situations, and push for real change. From day one, we’ve stood for advocacy, inclusion, and practical support for anyone facing mental health difficulties — always led by those who know the journey first-hand.
What Makes Us Unique
We are Israel’s oldest voluntary representative organization run entirely by people with mental health challenges. Our strength lies in turning personal stories into powerful tools for change. Through innovative programs and services, we use lived experience to inspire, guide, and walk alongside others at every stage of recovery.
How We Work
Lishma operates like a social start-up — bold, creative, and ready to challenge the status quo. We design new initiatives and work to bring them into the mainstream, all while fighting stigma head-on. Projects like Peer Experts and Back Home are just some of the ways we’re making a difference.
Spotlight Program
“Lishma for Older Adults with Mental Health Challenges”
This program puts older adults front and center, following the principle “Nothing About Us Without Us.” We train peer supporters to accompany and empower elderly individuals living with mental health difficulties, and we host Zoom sessions on relevant topics — open to both older adults with lived experience and the professionals who support them.
MOSHE – WORDS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Who We Are
Moshe Association is dedicated to saving lives and reducing suicide rates through innovative, community-based interventions. Our vision is simple but urgent: that every person in crisis — regardless of race, religion, or gender — has access to effective, compassionate, community-based suicide prevention. As Israel’s first organization focused on creating a tangible barrier for those at severe risk, we are committed to being at the forefront of life-saving action.
What Makes Us Unique
We bring suicide prevention out of the shadows and into the heart of the community. Using our groundbreaking Roofing model, we provide real-time intervention for people in immediate danger. Our approach blends practical support with empathy, ensuring that no one facing a suicidal crisis has to go through it alone.
How We Work
We operate on three interconnected levels:
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Emergency Intervention – Providing immediate, life-saving support using our innovative Roofing model.
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Education & Awareness – Offering training, conferences, public campaigns, and other initiatives to help communities recognize and respond to suicide risk.
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Community Hubs – Creating safe spaces, both physical and virtual, where people find belonging, acceptance, and hope.
Spotlight Program
“Expanding MOSHE’s Suicide Prevention Efforts”
With this program, we are scaling up our work — reaching more communities, training more responders, and building more spaces of hope. Every expansion means more lives protected, more people supported, and a stronger safety net for those in need.
NEFASHOT
Who We Are
The Nefashot Initiative is dedicated to changing the way society sees and speaks about mental health — bringing it into the open through culture, creativity, and conversation. Our annual flagship event, “Making Souls Week” (Osim Nefashot), is a vibrant community festival that fills public spaces with art, music, theater, and dialogue, all with one shared purpose: to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.
What Makes Us Unique
The heart of Making Souls Week is the people who create it. All main content is developed and presented by individuals with lived experience of mental health challenges — including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, suicidality, borderline personality disorder, and PTSD. Through music, theater, poetry, exhibitions, and open conversation, they share their stories and perspectives: personal, social, familial, and professional. Each event invites the audience to engage directly, fostering connection and understanding.
How We Work
Making Souls Week is built through collaboration. Artists, speakers, cultural institutions, and mental health organizations join forces to create spaces where open dialogue can thrive. The Nefashot team supports each project every step of the way — from shaping an idea, connecting creators with the right venue, and supporting them personally and professionally, to promoting each event as part of the festival. Whether in a theater, café, community center, or gallery, our events reach diverse audiences and spark lasting conversations.
Spotlight Program
“Making Souls Week” (Osim Nefashot)
With this grant, we are expanding the festival to:
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Welcome more mental health survivors into the Nefashot community.
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Increase survivor-led cultural productions infront of live audiences.
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Boost attendance and public engagement in mental health awareness events.
Every new performance, panel, and exhibit helps to replace stigma with empathy, and silence with dialogue.
SOTERIA
Who We Are
Soteria works to build a more inclusive and compassionate Israeli society by providing humane, community-based, and accessible support for people experiencing mental health crises. We believe every person — no matter their circumstances — deserves respect, a true opportunity for recovery, and the chance to live a meaningful life. Our mission is to transform how mental health is perceived in Israel and to offer a caring, community-centered alternative to involuntary psychiatric hospitalization.
What Makes Us Unique
At the heart of Soteria’s work is the creation of “balancing homes” — safe, welcoming spaces in the community where individuals in crisis receive intensive, personalized support. These homes offer a real alternative to traditional psychiatric hospitalization, replacing clinical wards with warm, home-like environments that foster dignity, healing, and hope.
How We Work
In 2016, under the leadership of Professor Pesach Lichtenberg, Soteria opened Israel’s first balancing home — a groundbreaking shift in mental health care. Until then, psychiatric hospitalization was the only option for those in acute distress, often leading to traumatic experiences. Our balancing homes are in residential neighborhoods, allowing residents to remain connected to community life while receiving the support they need to recover and reintegrate.
Spotlight Program
“Balancing Homes”
Our homes embody Soteria’s vision: personalized, respectful, and empowering care for individuals in mental distress, right in the heart of the community. This model not only supports recovery but also challenges and reshapes the broader system, proving that there is a humane and effective alternative to psychiatric hospitalization.
RESPONSIBLE REDUCTION
Who We Are
"Responsible Reduction" (R.A) aims to provide reliable information about psychiatric medications, equip individuals with coping strategies during the reduction process, and create a supportive community accompanied by professionals and informed by personal experience.
Responsible Reduction aims to make research-based information accessible and available, enabling those interested in reducing their medication to make informed and responsible decisions and to utilize proven tools that can assist in the process.
What Makes Us Unique
In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people using psychiatric medications, especially since the events of October 7th. These medications can be beneficial in certain situations and may even save lives, but prolonged use can expose users to a wide range of side effects, physiological dependence, and even risks such as physical illness and reduced life expectancy, irreversible neurological damage, worsening of psychiatric symptoms, and more. In many cases, attempts to discontinue these medications face significant challenges and may lead to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and a deepening of the problem
How We Work
The team behind the establishment of “Responsible Reduction” is a diverse group composed of individuals with self-experience, professionals, and people who, at different points in their lives, have stood on both sides of the therapeutic/psychiatric divide. Over the years, we have organized several conferences, workshops, and training sessions, both for the public and for professionals.
The Amuta works in collaboration with other organizations around the world, including the international organization IIPDW, translates international materials and operates to support groups, provides individual guidance, conducts workshops and conferences and trains professional teams.
Spotlight Program
“Research and Professional Report Writing”
This study, the first of its kind in Israel, aims to examine trends in the use and discontinuation of psychiatric medications in the country, assess patients’ awareness of the risks and of the reduction process. The research's outcomes will include a comprehensive report which will be published in appropriate online platforms and made accessible to the public.
Past Projects Supported - (2007-2024)
In its early years the association initiated and lead a few long-term programs:
Case management program (2007-2013)
The Rehabilitation Case-management Program - a large-scale undertaking to assess whether intensive client services would aid the transition of psychiatric patients into rehabilitation services, help maintain their continued participation and improve service coordination. This collaborative co-funded program between Hess and the Ministry of Health was implemented in two regions and provided case-management to more than 1,700 clients. An in-depth research project by the University of Haifa demonstrated cost savings from reduced hospitalizations and improved quality of life for participants. Based on these findings, the government incorporated case workers into its national health care services.
Outcomes project
In 2011 The Tauber Foundation co-sponsored, Tauber Foundation co-sponsored the National Psychiatric Rehabilitation Outcome Monitoring, Implementation and Research Program (NORM-IRP).
The project analyzed the effectiveness of psychiatric rehabilitation services using Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs).
Results emphasized the importance of dual evaluations (client self-assessments vs. professional assessments) and led to annual mandatory reporting by the Ministry of Health from 2019 onwards.
Academic Scholarships
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The Tauber Foundation supported Master’s degree programs for 204 social workers and occupational therapists across multiple Israeli universities.
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Sponsored 15 PhD students specializing in psychiatric rehabilitation.
Main supported organizations and/or projects
Advocacy and training
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Bizchut – Promoting mental health reform and legal protections.
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Marva – Legal aid for individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
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Lishma – Peer-led advocacy for psychiatric rights, empowering people with mental illnesses.
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Otzma – Family support and advocacy for mental health policy improvements.
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Shatil – Capacity-building for grassroots mental health organizations.
Clinical and Rehabilitation Programs
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Navigate – A comprehensive treatment program for First Episode Psychosis.
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Soteria Houses – Community-based alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization.
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Moshe (words that make a difference) – Community-based suicide prevention initiative.
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Responsible Reduction of psychiatric medication.
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Sahar – Online mental aid.
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ACT - Assertive Community Treatment – a Tauber Foundation pilot bringing mental health staff directly to patients' homes, successfully adopted by Maccabi Health Fund.
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Social Finance Israel - Gesher LeNefesh – A social impact investment project reducing psychiatric hospitalizations through home-based care.
And many others...