At Magen Eli, we believe in the power of resilience and the strength within every individual to overcome life's greatest challenges. Rooted in the meaning of our name, God's Shield or Protection of God, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to equipping people with the mental and physical tools they need to rise above trauma, stress, and adversity.
Our mission is simple yet profound: To empower and protect individuals and communities, particularly women, children, first responders, and Jewish organizations, with specialized programs that build mental toughness, physical resilience, and enhanced safety. Together, we’re creating a world where courage and compassion prevail.
Our Services
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Children
Children deserve to grow in a safe, nurturing environment where their confidence can flourish. At Magen Eli, we help young minds overcome the scars of trauma, bullying, and abuse through our mental and physical resilience training. We provide tools to build self-esteem, manage emotions, and handle challenges with strength and courage.
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Law Enforcement and First Responders
The heroes who protect us often face unimaginable stress and danger. Our tailored training programs for law enforcement and first responders focus on mental toughness and stress management while enhancing their protection skills. Together, we help these everyday heroes maintain their well-being while staying mission-ready.
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Women
Empowerment starts with safety. Our self-defense and recovery programs support women who have experienced physical or emotional attacks, offering effective strategies to prevent future harm and process past trauma. We believe every woman has the strength to reclaim her life and thrive.
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Jewish Organizations and Communities
Safety is a cornerstone of thriving communities. Magen Eli works with synagogues, schools, and other religious organizations to implement security measures and educate leaders on preventing violence. By protecting these sacred spaces, we ensure peace and resilience for generations to come.
About Us:
Magen Eli is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 2023 as an initiative to support individuals and organizations with mental and physical resilience and personal and organizational safety programs. Our mission is to provide services and raise funds through a variety of charity events and fundraising campaigns. Organizations and projects sponsored by Magen Eli are carefully selected, ensuring that funds raised have an optimal impact and go towards projects with no administrative fees, keeping the process optimally transparent between donors and recipients.
Founder: Lt. Chanan Smith
Why is this important to me?
As a kid growing up in North Jerusalem, I remember hearing knocking on our front door, but when we opened the door there was no one there, only boxes of food and groceries to help my single mother feed the family. Whoever gave us those groceries (and they did this on a regular basis), knew we needed help, but did not want us to feel ashamed or embarrassed if we should ever pass them on the street. Each time, I tried running down the stairs after the knocking to see who the person was, to thank them, but with no success. A few years later, someone donated my entire high school tuition and boarding expenses so I could graduate.
During my senior year in high school, I began giving back to our community, volunteering to help younger kids by being a “big brother” role model. After seeing the impact I had on them, my heart told me I wanted to be a leader in the Israeli Defense Forces.
A few years later, my wish became reality; I served as an Israel Defense Forces lieutenant commanding missions and training soldiers in mental toughness, physical resilience, inner leadership, discipline, and a powerful mindset to navigate through change and challenges and to overcome adversity. I was committed to helping them in their everyday challenges even if it wasn’t a military responsibility, such as helping their family with what they needed – food, appliances, rent, and other things. I believed in the power of leading by caring for them rather than due to my authority as their lieutenant.
I trained and fought along with over 200 soldiers under my command and never lost a soldier in combat. I was voted best lieutenant leader among 18 other lieutenants. I believe in giving back and am actively involved in helping people through challenges and adversity, from kids, teens, women, to law enforcement officers and community organizations.
“My inspiration for founding Magen Eli came after I lost people close to me who played a big role in mentoring me, who were truly exemplary community role models who emphasized the importance of giving back and helping those in need - I am grateful and honored to have had them in my life and to continue their mission.”
Nominate
We help people in our community as well as organizations. Contact us to nominate a person or an organization that needs our services but can’t afford it; we will be honored to help, and you will be a major part of it.
Make a donation.
We are passioned about helping people and saving lives while supporting and positively impacting our community. Your donation will enable us to help women, children, first responders and secure synagogues, schools, and other Jewish organizations. Magen Eli, Inc., is an IRS-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are fully tax-deductible with no administrative fees, keeping processes optimally transparent between donors and recipients. 100% of your donation goes to the charity!
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN DONATE TO MAGEN ELI. Online Giving is fast, easy and secure.
