For callers from Germany
0800-0001642
Activity time:
Every day of the week 20:00-22:00
For callers from Germany
0800-0001642
Activity time:
Every day of the week 20:00-22:00
‘Matan’ emotional support hotline, is a grassroots project that emerged from the Hebrew-speaking community in Germany and initiated by Zusammen Berlin (ICE e. V.) for the community itself. ‘Matan’ is a new project of the counselling center ‘OFEK’ e. V. and the Central Welfare Office of Jews in Germany (ZWST). The aim of the project is to offer telephone support in Hebrew to Hebrew-speaking people in Germany who are in difficulty or distress. The project was founded following many calls from Hebrew-speaking people in need in Germany. These made it clear that support for Israeli migrants in times of need and in Hebrew is necessary. Since October 2023, the helpline has also been available to Hebrew speakers across Europe.
The project operates in professional partnership with KTS, the German emotional support line (Kirchliche TelefonSeelsorge), and offers initial support in times of distress through empathic listening. In addition, the project aims to make local services in Germany more accessible to Hebrew speakers.
To achieve these goals, the project carefully selects and thoroughly trains its volunteers through a professional and in-depth training program. A professional team of seven psychologists and social workers works alongside Nitzan, the project coordinator.
The project is headed by Nitzan Meilin, who holds a master’s degree in Social Work as a Human Rights Profession from Alice Salomon University in Berlin. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and History of the Jewish People and another master’s degree in Israel Studies (with honors) from the University of Haifa.
Nitzan is responsible for managing the staff and volunteers, recruiting and training, networking and collaborations with various organizations, building a strategy and managing the budget. She believes that grass-roots initiatives make it possible to provide a precise and necessary response for the community and that the essence of the project lies in its connection to the field and its changing needs. Nitzan has led ‘Matan’ – an attention and support line in Hebrew, from its inception, starting with the process of identifying the needs in the community, through the establishment process, searching for partners and mobilizing resources to the actual opening of the line.
The project team began volunteering in June 2019, coming together to deeply understand the needs emerging from the field and to design an appropriate response.
This team played a key role in shaping the project’s foundation: identifying needs, defining standards, and building the helpline’s structure.
Today, the team continues to take part in volunteer recruitment and training, coordinates helpline shifts, and provides ongoing professional guidance and support to the volunteers.
The project and its team are supported by selected representatives from OFEK, as well as the German support organization KTS, to ensure high standards of training and professionalism.