Social Workers for Democracy
Social work and mental health professionals for democracy, equality, human rights, and social justice.
About Us
Social Workers for Democracy is a movement of social workers, students, and care and welfare professionals, founded during the 2023 protests against the judicial overhaul.
We are a community of care, welfare, and mental health professionals who View standing up for democratic values as a core part of our professional duty.
We know that when democracy, human rights, the courts, and the right to protest are harmed, the first to suffer are the vulnerable communities we support. It also deeply wounds trauma-affected communities and the ability of professionals to act and serve the public good.
Guided by our Social Work professional code of ethics, we are committed to protecting democracy, human rights, equality, and social justice. We truly believe that a democratic, inclusive, and fair society is the only foundation that guarantees the well-being, safety, and dignity of everyone living within it.
Social work does not take place in a vacuum: well-being, personal safety, mental health, and a life of dignity depend on the existence of a democratic, equitable, and nonviolent society.
As professionals who work every day with recovery from personal and collective trauma, strengthening individual and community resilience, and addressing social crises, we understand that rebuilding Israeli society requires not only political and social change, but also processes of healing, repair, and trust-building among groups and communities.
What Do Social Work and Democracy Have to Do with Each Other?
Social work is founded on human dignity, equality, social justice, solidarity, and the protection of vulnerable populations. When democracy weakens, the first to be harmed are the groups that depend on strong, fair, and accessible public systems.
For us, therefore, the struggle for democracy is also a professional, therapeutic, and social struggle.
The professional values on which social work is based — human dignity, human rights, social responsibility, distributive justice, and the protection of vulnerable populations — require us to be involved in the public sphere as well. We cannot separate an individual’s well-being from the social, economic, and political reality in which they live. When democracy weakens, communities and disadvantaged populations are also less able to access protection, representation, and essential services.
Leadership of Social Workers for Democracy –
The Disruptors
Dr. Ruthi Sofer-Alankowa
PhD in Social Work | Founder
PhD in Social Work and faculty member in the Department of Social Work at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, USA. Her research examines the social work profession in times of conflict and crisis, with an emphasis on the intersections between the professional, social, and political spheres. She is a co-founder of Social Workers for Democracy and works to advance social work’s engagement and responsibility in the public sphere.
Goni Sarid
Social Worker | Solidarity Team | Social Workers for Democracy Representative at "Disrupt"
A social worker in the fields of rehabilitation and mental health, currently in the final year of studies in mindfulness-based body–mind psychotherapy. She believes in collaboration, working as equals, and taking a broad view of both the individual and the social environment in which they live. Her work is rooted in a deep connection to the country and its people and in a desire to promote a better, fairer, and more equitable reality.
Dr. Talia Meital Schwartz
PhD | Outreach Team
A faculty member in the Spitzer Department of Social Work at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, head of the BGU AI4SW Lab, and CEO of T.BEAR. Talia has been active in Social Workers for Democracy since its founding, as well as in peace movements. For more than a decade, she has researched welfare services and their impact on individual well-being.
Yael Wimmer
MSW | Organizing Team
A clinical social worker (MSW) and psychotherapist specializing in trauma, mental health, and community rehabilitation. Since October 7, she has supported individuals and families affected by the war and its consequences. She is active in Social Workers for Democracy out of the belief that commitment to human rights, social justice, equality, and democracy is an inseparable part of social work’s professional responsibility.
Yael Reiter
BSW | Solidarity Team
A social worker working with children, youth at risk, and their families. She works in a secure residential facility under the Youth Protection Authority and supports young people facing risk and crisis. She is active in Social Workers for Democracy out of a commitment to human rights, social justice, and a democratic society.
Mira Zellermayer
Social Worker | Outreach
A social worker and attorney, and a member of the Social Workers for Democracy outreach team. Her work combines social and legal perspectives with a commitment to human rights, social justice, and democratic values.
Dr. Manal Shalabi
PhD in Social Work | Solidarity Team
She holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Haifa and is a researcher, lecturer, feminist activist, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Ad’ar — a forum of professionals working to combat femicide. She has more than two decades of experience advancing women’s rights, combating gender-based violence, strengthening civil society, and building peace, and has also helped advance implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Her work has received numerous awards and honors, including the JDC-Sussman Award and the Sami Michael Award for Equality and Social Justice.
נועה רגב
טייטל
טקסט
Noa Shai
MSW | Writing & Social Media
A clinical social worker (MSW) and group facilitator working in domestic violence prevention and in individual and group therapy with women and men. She views social work as a profession practiced both in the therapy room and in the social and political sphere, based on the understanding that social realities directly affect individual well-being. She is active in Social Workers for Democracy out of a commitment to human rights, social justice, equality, and a free democratic society.
Nili Savzaro
MSW | Social Media Team
A clinical social worker and psychotherapist with experience in health and mental health. She supports and treats individuals and families facing crisis, trauma, and loss, and is also involved in supervision and professional leadership. Her activity in Social Workers for Democracy is grounded in the view that social realities and public policy directly affect clients’ lives, and that protecting democracy, human rights, equality, and solidarity is part of the professional commitment of social workers.
Adi Romach Sarbanitzky
Social Worker | Communications
A social worker in the field of law and a social activist, and a representative in the People’s Peace Summit, “It’s Time.” She led protests against the government in Ramla and took part in public actions in support of democracy. As part of the campaign for the return of the hostages, she went on a hunger strike calling for their return.
Irit Levanon
MSW | Partnerships
I am a social worker (MSW), director and founder of Ruach Gabit, a nonprofit that makes leisure activities accessible to people with disabilities, and a community organizer in the Sharon Triangle region with the Jewish-Arab movement Standing Together.
I have been active in Social Workers for Democracy since the days of the regime-overhaul protests, and I believe social workers have an important and unique role in shaping society and the change we want to see in it.
Ronit Haimov Zilberman
MSW | Organizing & Social Media Team
A social worker (MSW) and individual, couples, and family psychotherapist, founder of a center for integrative psychotherapy studies focused on trauma, injury, and illness, and a representative of the Peace Partnership. She treats people affected by war, sexual violence, and complex trauma, and is an approved provider for Israel’s National Insurance Institute and Ministry of Defense. She is active in Social Workers for Democracy out of a belief in equal opportunity for every person, social justice, the sanctity of human life, and peace as the foundation of a society that enables well-being, security, and dignity for all.
Ruti Tal
MA | Organizing Team
A social worker with many years of experience strengthening personal and employment resilience, removing barriers, and promoting participation in society and community. She serves as Vice President for Professional Affairs at Gal College – the Social College, and works to advance participation, inclusion, and social change. She believes in human dignity, equal rights and opportunities, social justice, solidarity, and mutual responsibility, and views welfare policy and active communities as foundations of a democratic and inclusive society.
Timor Tal
Social Worker | Social Media & Content Writing
A social worker specializing in policy practice and a content editor at Berla. She works to advance social policy grounded in human rights, equality, and access to essential services. Through her work with Physicians for Human Rights, she promotes every person’s right to receive medical care regardless of status, citizenship, or place of residence.
Our Vision
We strive to promote a democratic, liberal, equitable, and just society that respects all who live in it and enables every person to live with dignity, security, and freedom.
We believe that social work does not end in the therapy room. Our professional responsibility requires us to act in the public sphere as well: to influence policy, protect human rights, and work to reduce social injustice.
We see democracy not only as a system of government, but as a framework for life that enables individuals and communities to thrive, participate, make their voices heard, and shape their future. A strong democratic society is one that can embrace diverse identities, address disagreements without violence, and act with mutual responsibility.
A democratic, equitable, safe, connected, and nonviolent society in which every person and community has the right to a life of dignity, security, freedom, care, well-being, and protection.
Protecting freedom of expression, protest, and association
Jewish-Arab
Solidarity
Social and distributive justice
Protecting welfare and mental health systems
Combating violence, racism, exclusion, and occupation
Empowering marginalized communities
Democracy and human rights
Our Six Principles
Rebuilding and Healing Society
We believe that social workers have a central role in rebuilding Israeli society and advancing its healing.
We act both in therapeutic and community settings and in the public and policy arenas, based on the understanding that a person’s well-being is also shaped by the social and political systems in which they live.
In recent years, Israeli society has faced personal, community, and national traumas that affect every area of life. As social workers, we bring professional knowledge in healing processes, resilience-building, and community recovery. We believe that genuine healing requires combining care for the individual with repairing the social systems in which they live.
Advancing Human Rights and Equality
We work to advance human rights for every person, regardless of religion, nationality, gender, identity, origin, status, or worldview.
We are committed to advancing the rights of disadvantaged and marginalized populations, protecting vulnerable groups, and combating every form of discrimination, exclusion, racism, or violation of human dignity.
Human rights are the foundation of a healthy, safe, and just society. We work to advance equal opportunities, reduce discrimination, and ensure access to resources, services, and social protection for every person. This commitment guides us both in our professional work and in our public activity.
Protecting Democracy
We work to protect democratic institutions, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and the right to protest.
We believe that a strong, independent, and balanced democratic system is essential to protecting human rights, advancing social justice, and safeguarding vulnerable populations.
Democracy is essential to the existence of welfare services, an independent judicial system, and the protection of vulnerable populations. We work to strengthen democratic institutions and safeguard freedom of expression, association, and protest. From our professional experience, we know that the erosion of democratic safeguards harms the most disadvantaged groups first and foremost.
Peace, Security, and the Sanctity of Life
We are a peace-seeking movement working to promote an equitable and just society.
We believe in the sanctity of life and in the right of all people in the region to live in security, well-being, and freedom. We work to advance sustainable solutions based on mutual recognition, equality, justice, and an end to cycles of violence and oppression.
We believe that genuine security rests on protecting human life, justice, mutual recognition, and hope for a shared future. Out of a commitment to the sanctity of life, we work to reduce violence, advance sustainable solutions, and build spaces for dialogue and partnership.
Our vision is a reality in which all people in the region can live in security, dignity, and well-being.
Protecting the Profession and Social Services
We believe that harm to democracy also undermines social workers’ ability to fulfill their professional role.
Protecting an independent judicial system and democratic institutions safeguards human rights, public services, and the ability to advance social policies that benefit the public as a whole.
Public welfare, health, and education systems are central to the resilience of a democratic society. We work to strengthen the standing of professionals and safeguard their professional independence. Protecting social services also means protecting citizens’ right to receive assistance, care, and support in times of crisis.
Person-in-Environment
We are guided by the social work code of ethics and by the principle of “person-in-environment.”
We view the individual as part of broader systems of life: family, community, society, culture, the political system, and the history in which they live. Therefore, advancing individual well-being also requires action toward collective well-being and social change.
The “person-in-environment” principle is one of the pillars of social work. We understand that personal distress is also shaped by social, economic, cultural, and political conditions.
Our activity therefore combines support for the individual with efforts toward broader social change.
Our Areas of Activity
1
Advancing Social Policy
Influencing decision-making and legislation on welfare, human rights, and democracy, both in the Knesset and beyond.
We work to influence public policy in the fields of welfare, health, education, and human rights. Through position papers, meetings with decision-makers, and partnerships with civil society organizations, we bring professional knowledge from the field into centers of decision-making.
2
Social Media, Writing, Education, Public Outreach, and Professional Conferences
Professional knowledge is a tool for social change. We publish articles, position papers, educational content, and informational materials that make complex social issues accessible to the wider public.
We create public campaigns to make professional knowledge accessible, and we organize lectures, conferences, and professional study days.
3
Professional Conferences
We organize conferences and learning forums that raise awareness, help identify and recognize social injustice, foster discussion aimed at developing practical responses to these issues, and seek to support the recovery of society across all its dimensions.
Our conferences bring together academic knowledge, professional experience, and social activism. They address topics such as collective trauma, peacebuilding, democracy, human rights, and social justice.
Our Recent Conferences
Book Launch Event for Professors Idit and Johnny Gal – May 4, 2026
Collective Trauma and Peacebuilding Conference – Nazareth, October 3, 2025
Collective Trauma and Peacebuilding Conference – Tel Aviv, February 23, 2025
Voices of War – January 7, 2025
Peace Partnership Conference – October 2024
Emergency Conference on Food Security – 2023
4
Combating Violence and Oppression – Professionally Grounded Public Protest
Participating in demonstrations, rallies, and protest actions while bringing a professional welfare and mental health perspective.
Acting against all forms of violence, racism, discrimination, and human rights violations, regardless of the identity of those harmed or those responsible. Our work combines a professional voice grounded in welfare and mental health expertise with civic and public engagement.
5
Intercommunity Solidarity and Partnerships
Strengthening cooperation among different communities in Israeli society and promoting a shared society.
Building connections with civil society organizations, professionals, Jewish and Arab groups, and social-change initiatives.
Members of the Peace Partnership organizing team.
Social change cannot take place without partnership among different groups in society. For us, solidarity is a central tool for building a democratic, inclusive, and equitable society.
6
Supporting Professionals
Creating an active professional community for social workers committed to the values of democracy and social justice.
Social Workers for Democracy is also a professional home for social workers seeking a values-based, supportive community. We create spaces for knowledge-sharing, professional consultation, joint thinking, and public action.
Join Us
If democracy, human rights, equality, and social justice matter to you too, we would be glad to welcome you to the growing Social Workers for Democracy community. Together, we can advance a society that is more just, more equitable, safer, and more democratic — for all of us. If you are a social worker, social work student, therapist, educator, mental health professional, or citizen who believes that welfare and democracy go hand in hand, we would be happy to have you join us.
Join Our WhatsApp Groups
Want to join, collaborate, invite us to give a lecture, propose an initiative, or take part in our activities?
We’d love to hear from you.
You can join one of our teams: writing and public outreach, conferences, protest, field activity, outreach, and partnerships.
Together, we can advance a society that is more just, more equitable, safer, and more democratic – for the well-being of us all.
Activities - 2026
Conferences
Social Workers for Democracy at the European International Conference.
Marking World Social Work Day, led by Social Workers for Democracy, with an emphasis on the critical role of social workers since the outbreak of the war — March 18, 2026, on social media.
Campaigns and Protest Actions
A Social Workers for Democracy campaign in collaboration with Looking the Occupation in the Eye, opposing the use of minors — Hilltop Youth children — as instruments of violence, and advocating for the rehabilitation of youth at risk — August 2026, on social media.
An independent Social Workers for Democracy initiative titled “The Roar of the Invisible,” addressing the impact of the war with Iran on Israeli society — June 2026, on social media.
A public petition initiated by Social Workers for Democracy calling for the preservation of civics studies and the civics matriculation exam, as part of a campaign to strengthen democratic education — April 2026, on social media.
Jewish-Arab solidarity for life and for the basic right to security and well-being.
Marking World Social Work Day, led by Social Workers for Democracy, with an emphasis on the critical role of social workers since the outbreak of the war — March 18, 2026, on social media.