Israeli Organizer Hosts 'Cuddle Parties' Offering Safe, Non-Sexual Touch for Healing
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
First reported by N12 · Aug 13, 2026
What happened
Avishag Maya Zaluf has been organizing "cuddle parties" in Israel for 12 years, creating safe, non-sexual spaces for platonic touch and emotional healing. These events attract diverse participants, including post-traumatic reservists, and emphasize consent and communication to help reset the nervous system. Despite stigma, the parties provide vital relief from loneliness and foster authentic human connection.
- 01Avishag Maya Zaluf organizes non-sexual "cuddle parties" in Israel for 12 years, promoting healing through platonic touch.
- 02Events attract diverse groups, including tech workers and post-traumatic reservists, with tripled attendance since the war.
- 03Strict consent rules prohibit nudity, sexual contact, and require clear communication of boundaries.
- 04Workshops teach participants to say "no," initiate touch, and accept refusals, resetting the nervous system.
- 05Participants report improved emotional openness and reduced isolation without threatening monogamous relationships.
- 06Zaluf warns against untrained facilitators and highlights social stigma despite the parties' therapeutic benefits.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.
