Dr. Keren Or-Chen of Haifa • An inspiration to all who believe in the ability of man to shape a better reality

The Journey from the Depths of Memory to the Peaks of Academia: The Story of Dr. Keren Or-Chen

Dr. Keren Or-Chen's story is a story about identity, willpower, coping, and flourishing. It is a story that begins in Haifa in the 1960s, passes through stations of pain, renewal, and self-realization, and ends – or perhaps just continues – with the leadership of an interdisciplinary clinical center at the University of Haifa, with a tremendous contribution to Israeli society. It is a testament to a woman who chose to touch the souls of others, precisely because she had first touched her own soul.

The 'I Live Here Too' Section: Dr. Keren Or-Chen's Home Is Actually Her Office

Typically, the 'I Live Here Too' section opens windows and doors to Haifa homes and brings readers a rare glimpse into the inner and outer worlds of fascinating characters, living right here with us in this city that carries a colorful and diverse human mosaic on its shoulders. This is the heart of 'I Live Here Too' – a section that examines Haifa through the homes of its residents, through the personal stories, emotional baggage and unique angles they offer to the world.

But this time – things are different.

The reception took place far from a warm living room or a balcony overlooking the sea. It was held in an office. In the office of Dr. Keren Or-Chen. Why there? "Because I live here," she says with a smile... "In the office and in the lecture halls..."

And the truth? It doesn't take more than one quick glance at her diary ('old school', regular, not digital) to understand: This is a woman who is constantly on the move. She rushes between lecture and workshop, between a conference in Haifa and a lecture in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, and hardly ever visits her home – except for the brief hours of the night dedicated to a quick rest.

And within this tireless engine, lies the figure of an impressive, elegant woman with a captivating presence – a kind of human 'promptus leading lady', unstoppable, who does not succumb to fatigue or routine.

Dr. Keren Or Chen ► Watch

Childhood in Haifa: Home, Neighborhood, and a Sense of Belonging

Keren Or-Chen was born in Haifa in 1968. Until the age of six, she lived with her family in Ramot Remez, but most of her childhood was spent in the Western Carmel neighborhood.

She remembers her childhood as a particularly positive time: streets filled with the sounds of children playing, close social ties with the neighborhood children, and a deep affiliation with the Boy Scouts movement.

She completed her elementary education at the "Ilanot" school, where she stood out socially and was very active - in dance classes, gymnastics, and even playing the piano, which she began at the age of five and continued until the age of 16. Along with all this, she was an accepted and present child, who knew how to express her thoughts and build a significant place for herself in society.

Deep Roots: A Family That Survived and Won

Keren's story is deeply rooted in 20th-century Jewish history. Her parents are Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel separately in 1957 as part of the "Gomulka Aliyah" – the wave of Polish immigration that followed the liberalization of immigration policy.

Her father, Yoram Orhan, was born in 1940 in Poland and fled to Ukraine. When he immigrated to Israel, he served in the navy, and after his release, he studied electrical engineering at the Technion. Keren proudly says that he worked until the age of 85 and even volunteered at the Technion during those years. Her Hebrew name, "Or-Chen," is derived from the change that occurred in her father's family name.

Her mother, Carmela née Korkochanski, was born in 1942 in the Lodz ghetto. Carmela studied nursing, worked at the "Bnei Zion" hospital, and since 1976 has been a public health nurse and her role was as responsible for all the "Tipat Halav" stations throughout Haifa.

Her paternal grandmother, Rosa, is a key figure in her life. Grandma Rosa lived near her family in the Ramot Remez neighborhood. She was an accountant and manager of the "Everything for the Tailor" store in the lower city. She managed the store until the age of 84 and left a deep mark on her granddaughter's life.

Female presence versus a male majority: teenage experiences in high school

In the seventh grade, Keren transferred to the Reali School, one of the quality and oldest institutions in Haifa. She studied in the Reali-Physics major, a class with 36 boys and only four girls. This period strengthened her sense of uniqueness and the ability to stand out even in distinctly male spaces.

Alongside her challenging studies, her creative interests were maintained. She continued to express herself through the performing arts, music, and social life, while maintaining an active presence in the Scouting movement – ​​an identity anchor that would accompany her throughout her life.

A silent struggle in a noisy body: the anorexia that speaks beneath the surface

When she was a teenager (13-14 years old), she suffered from anorexia, to the point where her weight was unreasonably low. She did begin her military service and was even scheduled for an officer's course, but this illness overcame her and, weighing just over 30 kilograms, she was hospitalized in the psychiatric ward at Rambam Hospital.

The term "anorexia" derives its roots from the Greek language and means simply - "lack of appetite." But behind the innocent definition lies a much more painful and complex truth. It is not a natural loss of appetite, but a willful, determined and sometimes destructive suppression of the desire to eat. It is an internal war, consistent, quiet on the outside - but loud and violent within the soul.

Alongside physical hunger, there is also another kind of deep hunger: a hunger for acceptance, for control, for inner peace. Some people with anorexia walk around the world trapped in a body they are unable to see in the right light – they look in the mirror and see fat, even when their bodies are already thin and fragile. The fear of food sometimes becomes a companion of life. The feeling of fullness is perceived as a threat, almost as a failure.

This disorder goes far beyond the physical dimension. It creates a close, almost inextricable connection between a person's value and their weight. As the weight decreases, it seems that control increases. But this is an illusion – because what appears to be control is often a complex and deep defense mechanism, a desperate attempt to ward off emotional pain, to compensate for emptiness, fears, and wounds from the past.

Psychologist Dr. Keren Or-Chen, who herself has dealt with the disorder, puts it painfully simply: "It's a disease that doesn't go away. It's always there – but you can learn to control it, not let it run your life."

Behind the cliché of "dieting disease" lies a real, ongoing distress, one that can be lived with, but is very difficult to completely recover from. Anorexia may be a disease of the body – but first and foremost it is a battle of the mind.

Change of direction: from engineering to psychology

Towards the age of 20, when she recovered, she decided to focus on studying psychology with the aim of understanding the mental processes in human life.

Despite her impressive academic achievements and the clear scientific-technological direction her father had intended for her, Keren chose to distance herself from the trends that dictated her high school studies, the real-physical trend, and turn to the worlds of the mind. After recovering from the serious illness she suffered in her youth – which she speaks about simply and without sensationalism – she decided to study psychology, out of a desire to understand what goes on in the human psyche.

The decision to study psychology was accompanied by a trip to the 'big world': she traveled to Paris, where she learned French and even experienced a different culture. After returning to Israel, she enrolled at the University of Haifa, where she completed her undergraduate studies in two fields: psychology and art history.

A single mother and student: a daring life maneuver

In 1993, Keren gave birth to her first son, Omar. She did not continue the relationship with the father and chose to raise Omar on her own. Moreover, just ten days after the birth, which was on October 7, she plunged into her master's degree in social psychology.

The path was challenging, but her parents stood by her side throughout the entire journey. She cites them not only as supporters, but as the foundation of the mental fortitude that allowed her to move forward and achieve impressive achievements. Today, Omar is a man in the Air Force, an impressive man in his essence and values.

A Prosperous Academic Career: From Teaching to Research and Educational and Social Leadership

In 2000, Keren began her career as a senior lecturer at the University of Haifa. She joined the School of Social Work and has since served as a faculty member in the departments of Psychology, Communication, and Natural Resources and the Environment. In 2003, she was awarded a PhD in the field of 'Decision Making Under Uncertainty' – a complex and particularly relevant field in today's reality.

Her areas of expertise are diverse: game theory, body language, coping with stressful situations, decision-making, growth from crises, positive psychology, and the sciences of happiness. She is not only a researcher and lecturer, but also the founder of the Center for Positive Psychology and a sought-after lecturer in Israel and internationally.

Lecture in game theory ► Watch

A mature relationship is fruitful and inclusive: a partnership based on dialogue and sharing.

At the age of 39, after many years of devoting most of her time and energy to her professional career and academic mission, Keren met the love of her life – Erez Boaron. Erez, four years her junior, brought with him into the relationship two sons from his previous marriage – Sean and Tal.

A warm and deep bond soon developed between them, transcending biology and formal boundaries. Keren did not see these two boys as "her partner's children" but rather adopted them into her heart and home, and has treated them ever since as if they were her own children - with complete love, daily devotion, and complete parental responsibility. 

Over time, the family expanded. Keren and Erez gave birth to a son together – Elad. Today, Elad is an 11th grade student at the Reali School in Haifa, a choice that is not accidental for him, as his mother sees education as a supreme value. Elad is a young man with values ​​and is inspiring: he is an active volunteer in the community, donating his time for others out of a true sense of mission, and no less important – he is a scoutmaster in the Scouts, a position that requires responsibility, leadership, personal example, and the ability to lead a group of youth younger than him. 

Or-Chen describes her partner as "a quiet and calm person," someone who includes her and supports her on a daily basis, including transportation, since she does not have a driver's license. Their relationship is based on mutual respect and joint decision-making processes, which she says create depth in the relationship. Keren believes that "the greatest fear in a relationship is the loss of identity." This understanding is also the essence of her therapeutic and educational approach.

Keren describes her relationship with Erez as a space that contains, listens, and enables. According to her, Erez, with his quiet and calm nature, is the perfect balance to her pulsating energy. He even accompanies her everywhere, literally as a private taxi driver, since, as mentioned, she herself does not drive – a small detail that actually indicates reciprocity and empathy in their relationship.

"The biggest fear in a relationship is loss of identity"

A deep and complex approach to the issue of relationships is reflected in her words: "If both partners sit down and bring their decision-making process to the table and share it with each other, then it can be possible to make decisions as a couple that is based on both individuals."

She argues that sharing, listening, and emotional openness are key to a healthy, enduring relationship. She doesn’t gloss over the difficulty—she emphasizes the importance of maintaining an identity within the relationship. These insights aren’t just theory—they come from a lifetime of choice, effort, and love.

The small room from which a great news comes out

In the heart of the interdisciplinary clinical center at the University of Haifa, in a maze of corridors in the Eshkol building, among students, researchers, and therapists – there is one special room that is very much worth not missing. The door to this room is simple, the sign is small, and the space does not catch the eye. This is the room of Dr. Keren Or-Chen, the head of the center – and perhaps this is the last place where one would expect anything real to happen.

It has no window. It has no view. Nor shelves laden with books or designer furniture. But as you step inside, something in the air changes. Its simplicity is not cold – it is focused. efficient. precise. Her office room doesn’t seek to impress, it seeks to function… and it does so well.

From this modest space, Dr. Or-Chen manages the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center, a leading academic and therapeutic center in its field. She does this without show, without 'paperwork' - but with professional calm and a leadership ability that is clearly felt. Everyone who enters this room, whether for a business meeting, a consultation, or even a short visit, feels welcomed.

Her broad smile, which appears from the very first moment, not only warms the atmosphere – it creates confidence. It is a kind of quiet light, which almost seems impossible. A smile that does not ask for attention, but it is impossible not to notice it. This is perhaps the simple explanation for how from such a small, quiet, unpretentious room – a great message can come out. Because what determines is not the size of the room, but the depth of what is done in it.

Leading the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center: An Educational and Social Mission

In 2023, Dr. Keren Or-Chen was appointed to head the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center at the University of Haifa, after Prof. Rivka Yahav passed the baton to her.

The center is a unique institution that works to provide a response to a wide range of developmental, health, and emotional needs of the community, including in times of emergency.

The center operates from a systemic, multidisciplinary perspective and cultural sensitivity. It provides diagnostic, treatment and guidance services for all ages and in different languages, and serves diverse populations – individually, as a couple, in a family or in a group.

The beating heart of well-being and health: The new clinical center born from vision and hope

At the heart of the Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, a unique initiative was born - the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center, which has set itself an exciting and inspiring goal: to make professional, up-to-date, and sensitive care accessible to the needs of the community, while serving as an incubator for training the next generation of professionals.

This is no longer a treatment center – but a social mission. Behind the center’s open doors, senior academics and experienced therapists from the field work shoulder to shoulder, combining contemporary research knowledge with a deep understanding of the realities of life. Every encounter here is conducted with an interdisciplinary approach, with a culturally sensitive perspective, encompassing the person on all levels – from childhood to old age.

The center is also a vibrant and lively space for learning and innovation. Interdisciplinary workshops, experiential activities, and diverse interventions are held at the university and in the community – all designed to bring theoretical knowledge closer to everyday life, and make it accessible, useful, and empowering.

And recently, a new and exciting layer has been added to this fabric of activity: the Happiness Sciences Studies Unit. This unit will join the center's activities and offer the general public an extraordinary opportunity to look deeply into their lives, to explore mechanisms of resilience, meaning and satisfaction - and most importantly, to awaken what is sometimes obscured in the daily routine: the feeling of happiness, fulfillment and wholeness.

In times of uncertainty and a changing reality, the new clinical center is a beacon of hope – a place that connects knowledge and engagement, academia and community, science and heart.

Game Theory – Bargaining Game ► Watch

Multidisciplinary team of experts: a clinic that is a community

The center's staff includes first-class professionals. Among the staff members we can find: speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers, art therapists, psychotherapists and group facilitators. The diversity of the team allows for precise adjustment to the needs of each person who comes for treatment.

The center operates four dedicated institutes:

• The Psychotherapy Institute, managed by Ofer Castel, offers a variety of psychological treatments.
• The Institute for Communication Disorders, directed by Dr. Dafna Ben-Zion, specializes in treating language and speech disorders.
• The Audiological Institute, under the academic guidance of Mr. Eyal Goel, deals with hearing diagnostics (without commercial interests).
• The Occupational Therapy Institute, managed by Ms. Dafna Berkowitz, focuses on treating a wide range of developmental disabilities.

In addition to the excellent staff, Keren emphasizes that when talking about the clinical center, we should also mention Rachel, the administrator, and Moran, the head of community relations, who are truly "the heart of the place."

It is also worth noting and praising the support of the faculty, headed by Dean Professor Isi Doron, as well as Rachel, the faculty administrator.

One woman, to the heart of social action

Dr. Keren Or-Chen's story is one of survival, growth, and self-fulfillment - and it is also primarily a story of contribution. She was never satisfied with personal achievements - but with the help of education, determination, and deep humanity, she managed to build a groundbreaking career, raise exemplary sons, and influence the lives of many.

Today, at the Interdisciplinary Clinical Center, which is managed by Dr. Or Chen, there is educational and therapeutic work. Keren serves as an example not only to patients and students - but also to anyone who struggles with internal difficulties. She teaches us that it is possible to rise from the fracture, lead from the wound, and turn pain into meaning.

Dr. Keren Or-Chen is much more than a title or position. She is a woman who grew out of a complex reality, overcame obstacles, and dedicated her life to public service, academia, and family. Her life story is an inspiration not only to those interested in psychology or academia - but also to anyone who believes in a person's ability to rebuild themselves, touch others, and shape reality to be better.