Professor of Clinical Psychology, was one of the founders of SAHAR and a member of the executive board. Prof. Orbach was among the world's leading researchers on the subject of suicide and gained international recognition in this field.

In his work, Prof. Orbach researched and taught the unbearable mental pain experienced by suicidal individuals. He dealt with the great importance of being with a person in their pain and listening to the dark thoughts that lead to loneliness and feelings of despair. Prof. Orbach was deeply convinced of the importance of actively helping in situations of distress and volunteered extensively in order to make an impact in his professional way.

Prof. Orbach paved the way for SAHAR's professional team and contributed from his experience and knowledge in training volunteers, and was an integral part of SAHAR's daily life in its early years.
SAHAR's volunteers follow in the path of Israel Orbach and they apply the approach he laid out daily: to be with those who reach out and write in their pain, to look directly at the despair and unbearable pain, and to try to extend a hand to every mental distress. His contribution and presence accompany us along our journey.

Prof. Azi Barak, a psychologist specializing in the psychology of cyberspace, researcher and lecturer at the University of Haifa, was one of the founders of SAHAR. Prof. Barak's primary focus in researching the psychological aspects of the internet began in 1995 and centered on two aspects: the impact of internet use on individuals, and the utilization of the internet for psychological and educational purposes (mental support, diagnosis, therapy, online learning, and more).

Prof. Barak's research focuses on the topics of online relationships, emotions that develop virtually, characteristics of online behavior, and more.

The first donation that enabled the establishment of SAHAR was raised by Dr. Avshalom Aderet, a social activist who lost his son, Eran Aderet RIP, who passed away by suicide. You can read Eran's story here..