C.M.R Institute for Research and Development

Our Vision

The C.M.R Institute – Community. Meaning. Recovery – is an innovative research and implementation institute grounded in the understanding that personal and societal resilience in Israel depends on cultivating a sense of belonging, meaning, and community. The institute was established in response to a reality of prolonged national trauma, aiming to connect theoretical knowledge with action on the ground, utilizing advanced research modalities and leading restorative initiatives.
The C.M.R Institute was founded with the aspiration of building bridges between theoretical knowledge, empirical insights, and practical applications, in order to foster new understandings and infrastructures for community recovery, post-traumatic growth, and sustainable resilience. The institute’s uniqueness lies in its systemic and multidisciplinary approach, alongside a focus on the individual, examining the broader contexts in which coping occurs—community, educational, cultural, and political contexts

Head of Institute

Prof. Pninit Russo-Netzer

Contact Us

[email protected]

The institute operates in several main channels:

Conducting up-to-date research (Basic Science) using a variety of methodologies

Applied research combining field and academic activity (eco-system)

Development of unique assessment tools

Research evaluation of internal and external innovation initiatives

Disseminating knowledge to policymakers, professionals, and the general public

Academic Publications

PTSD, Distress and Substance Use in the Aftermath of October 7th, 2023, Terror Attacks in Southern Israel

Social support as a resilience factor in the aftermath of October 7th terror attack in Israel

Combat Veterans' Experiences of Moral Injury, Cannabis Use Disorder and the Process of Meaning-making: A Mixed Methods Study

Traumatic stress, active engagement and resilience in first responders and civilians in the outbreak of war

Teachers Supporting Bereaved Students During a Time of Widespread Loss – From a COVID-19 Case Study to Application in the Iron Swords War

Who Should Support Students Who Have Experienced Loss? A Research-Based Opinion Article from a Winnicottian Perspective

Intergenerational Motherhood in the Gaza Envelope: Coping, Resilience, and Community Boundaries in a Conflict Zone

Jewish and Arab Youth Facing War: Salutary Resources Promoting Post-Traumatic Growth

Navigating Ambiguous Loss and Frozen Time for Hostages’ Families and Their Helpers

The Challenge of Integrating Individual and Social Self-Identities Among Combat Veterans

Resilience and Loss During the Iron Swords War: The Importance of Coping Strategies

Fragmented Memories in the Fog of War: Impaired Associative Memory Under Ongoing Traumatic Stress

Inhibitory Control Impairments Underlie Associative Memory Deficits in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Digital Death Education to Promote Pre-Service Teachers’ Grief Literacy Regarding Childhood Bereavement: A Qualitative Case Study

Grief-Education to Support Jewish and Bedouin Communities During the Iron Swords War

Beyond Meaning: Hope and Secondary Trauma in Israeli Therapists After October 7th Massacre

Watch Out!: Exploring the Role of Social Media Exposure to Political Violence

A Dual Debrief-Based Co-Autoethnography of a Humanitarian Delegation Member: Supporting Ukraine Refugee Mothers Through Ambiguous Loss

Positive Anxiety: Existential Authenticity as a Pathway to Well-Being

Pathways to Meaning and Meaning Maintenance in an Ever-Changing, Complex World

Meaning Interventions: Working with Meaning in Life in Psychological Therapies

Search for Meaning in Times of Crisis: Factors Promoting Resilience in War-Affected Population

Forging Unity in Crisis: Exploring Resilience, Volunteering and Individual Differences in War-Affected Population

You Can’t Always Get What You Need: How Meaning in Life Mediates the Relationship Between Need Satisfaction and Depression

Communities as a Source of Meaning and Resilience: An In-Depth Look into the Role of Communities in Times of Collective Trauma and Crisis

In the Wake of Terror: Dreams as Windows into Collective Trauma and Existential Meaning

Institute Researchers

Prof. Pninit Russo-Netzer - Head of the Institute

Senior lecturer, researcher, author and editor of eight books on subjects ranging from meaning in life, resilience, mental well-being, and processes of change and growth; Head of the Lab for Mental Resilience and Optimal Development Across the Lifespan at Achva Academic College; Head of the Logotherapy training program at Tel Aviv University; Head of the “Matzpen” Institute for Research, Development, and Implementation of Meaning in Life. Developer of prevention, intervention, and training programs in collaboration with scientific and public bodies in Israel and internationally. Recipient of recognition awards from the Division for Meaning and Spirituality, International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), and the International Society for Existential Psychology (ISSEP). Host of the podcast Talking Meaning.

Prof. Yoni Gaz

Co-founder and current head of the Culturally Sensitive Clinical Psychology Program at Achva College. In his diverse clinical work, he has specialized in work with trauma survivors (in the current war he served in the combat response unit), and in working with severe disorders as a department psychologist at the Be’er Sheva Mental Health Center. His research focuses on memory and stress, memory and aging, and memory inthe context of various psychopathologies. In recent years, his work has expanded into identity and culture.

Dr. Daniel Feingold

Head of the Rehabilitation Psychology Program at Achva Academic College. Researches risk factors for substance abuse, misuse and addiction. Has published over 60 academic articles and chapters in professional books. Advisor to the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), and board member of ILSAM– The Israeli Society for Addiction Medicine. Received a PhD from Bar-Ilan University and Postdoc from Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.

Dr. Bella Pariente

Senior lecturer in the Psychology faculty at Achva College and deputy head of the MA program in Educational Psychology. Dr. Pariente specializes in research on parental and child coping with stress and challenges. Her research focuses on how parents and children manage stressful situations and cope with life difficulties. Her areas of study include emotional and behavioral reactions of parents and children to stress.

Dr. Rivi Frei

Rehabilitation psychologist specializing in child rehabilitation. Senior lecturer and co-founder of the Rehabilitation Psychology Program at Achva College; Former head of the Department of Special Education. Head of the “Lab for the Study of Loss, Disability, and Resilience from a Multicultural Perspective”; Member of the professional committee of the "Sunflowers" Association. Chief psychologist in the "Continuing Life" unit, training war-injured IDF veterans to support war-injured soldiers. Completed postdoctoral work with the NCSCB (National Center for School Crisis & Bereavement, USA) in the field of bereavement.

Advisory Committee to the Institute

Prof. Yifat Bitton – President of Achva Academic College | Prof. Pninit Russo-Netzer – Head of C.M.R Institute
Prof. Gabi Shefler – Dean, Faculty of Psychology, Society and Humanities | Prof. Yoni Gaz – Head of MA Program in Clinical Psychology
Prof. Gabi Shreiber – Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Health and Sustainability | Dr. Maayan Pereg – Head of BA Program in Psychology
Adi Moran – Head of Marketing, Sales and Business Development | Hodaya Shaked – President’s Chief of Staff