In Israel, where diverse cultures intersect, it’s easy for certain communities to feel misunderstood by the mental health system. For the Ethiopian Israeli community, this gap has been especially glaring. That’s where Wuste Tsega comes in.
:uste Tsega, meaning “grace from within” in Amharic, is a center for culturally adapted psychotherapy, founded to provide mental health care that respects and integrates the cultural and spiritual background of its patients.
As Avraham Leader, the chair of Wuste Tsega, puts it, “When providing mental health care to a community, we must consider that community’s cultural and spiritual background. This seems obvious, but unfortunately, it is often overlooked by the mental health establishment in Israel and other places.” This principle is at the heart of Wuste Tsega’s work with the Ethiopian Israeli community, where culture and spirituality are not seen as separate from healing but as central to it.
The Story Behind "Grace from Within"
The name "Wuste Tsega" was chosen with deep intention. It comes from a story passed down from Ethiopian Jews who lived in the Simien Mountains in the 17th century. Faced with an ultimatum to either convert to Christianity or die, they chose to jump off a cliff rather than abandon their faith. The legend says that the place where they fell transformed into a spring, symbolizing "grace from within," a profound metaphor for the resilience that marks the Ethiopian Jewish community.
This story speaks to the spirit of Wuste Tsega’s approach. It’s about transforming trauma into strength—taking something painful and using it as a source of healing. The Ethiopian Israeli community has faced many hardships, from the dangerous journey to Israel to the challenges of integration in a society that doesn’t always understand their ways. And yet, they remain resilient, their faith intact, their spirituality a core part of their identity.
A Different Kind of Mental Health Care
One of the key issues Wuste Tsega addresses is the cultural disconnect that can arise when Ethiopian Israelis interact with the traditional mental health system. As Leader explains, “One of our biggest challenges is the cultural misunderstanding that arises when Ethiopians face a mental health crisis. For example, in Ethiopian culture, it’s considered disrespectful to look someone older than you directly in the eyes. However, in Western culture, making eye contact is expected. So when an Ethiopian patient avoids eye contact with a psychologist, it might be misinterpreted as a symptom of a mental health issue rather than a cultural norm.”
This misunderstanding can lead to serious consequences. In some cases, Ethiopian patients are unnecessarily hospitalized or heavily medicated because their behavior is misinterpreted. At Wuste Tsega, they work to bridge this gap by ensuring mental health professionals understand these cultural nuances. “We’ve seen many cases where, without our intervention, patients might have been hospitalized or heavily medicated unnecessarily,” says Leader.
Bridging Gaps in the Community
But cultural misunderstandings are only part of the challenge. The Ethiopian community also traditionally avoids therapy and social services, viewing them with suspicion or as unnecessary. Yeshitu Shmuel, Wuste Tsega’s founder and director, has been working tirelessly to change this mindset. “We have to work hard to promote these options and show the community that they are useful and positive,” Shmuel explains.
In recent years, the need for mental health services in the Ethiopian community has grown dramatically, particularly after the war that began on October 7th, 2023. Many Ethiopians serve as combat soldiers, and the toll on the community has been heavy, with many casualties and a surge in trauma. "The situation has significantly worsened," says Shmuel. "The need for our services has skyrocketed, and institutions are now approaching us for help more than ever."
A Holistic Approach to Healing
Wuste Tsega’s solution to these challenges is comprehensive. They operate clinics across the country, offering psychotherapy that blends Western psychological practices with traditional Ethiopian healing methods. The organization also runs an emergency hotline, provides psychiatric assessments for governmental agencies, and offers training programs for mental health professionals on how to deliver culturally adapted therapy.
This holistic approach, rooted in both psychological and spiritual understanding, has proven highly effective. In many traditional Ethiopian communities, mental health crises are seen as involving spiritual elements. “Healing often involves negotiating a balance with the 'spirits' that occupy one's psychological space,” Leader notes. While this might sound unusual in a Western context, Wuste Tsega treats it as a legitimate and essential part of the healing process. “We believe this understanding is just as valid as Western mental health frameworks. Our goal is to use both approaches to help individuals heal.”
Meeting a Growing Need
The impact of Wuste Tsega’s work is undeniable, but the demand for their services continues to grow. As trauma increases in the community, the center is working hard to scale its operations. They’ve trained mental health professionals across Israel to use culturally adapted methods, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond their own clinics.
Shmuel is confident that the work they do is more critical now than ever. “The Ethiopian community needs us, and we’re doing everything we can to meet that need,” she says. “But we also hope that by training other professionals, we can make sure that this approach is available to more people, even outside our immediate reach.”
Moving Forward with Grace
At its core, Wuste Tsega is about one thing: healing with dignity and respect. By acknowledging the cultural and spiritual dimensions of mental health, they’ve created a model of care that not only treats symptoms, but also honors the identity and history of those they serve. For the Ethiopian Israeli community, and for others in Israel who come from different cultural backgrounds, this approach can be life-changing.
As Wuste Tsega continues to grow and evolve, the message of "grace from within" resonates more deeply than ever. It’s a reminder that even in the face of trauma, communities can find strength, healing, and grace—if given the right tools and the right understanding.
In the words of Leader, “Healing is not just about the mind or the body. It’s about the soul. And when we honor a person’s soul, we give them the grace to heal from within.”
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