Charity


Shalva

Run With the Children of SHALVA at the Jerusalem Half Marathon

This is a great opportunity for your children to participate in a memorable Jerusalem event this month. The Jerusalem Half Marathon on March 18, 2010 will include a special 400m track for the children of SHALVA with mental and physical disabilities. This is the first time in the 18 year history of the marathon that there will be a special track.

SHALVA has invited your children and teens to partner with a SHALVA child, give them a chance to get to know the child at the Har Nof campus in advance and then to run with them on the 400m track.  Help spread the SHALVA message that disabled children should have an equal place in society.

Run hand-in-hand with a SHALVA child and help them achieve their goals. SHALVA is expecting to have over 60 children running on the special track. The event begins at 8:30am and there will be a special end of the race ceremony as well.

SHALVA is a wonderful organization based in Har Nof. To get a full understanding of what they do you only need to walk around their campus. The building is filled with love and joy and you will see children of all ages from babies to teenagers enjoying the facilities. They have special facilities for physically and mentally challenged children including

  • Music room
  • Sensory room
  • Special integrated Gan (which has a long waiting list)
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Indoor Pool for hydrotherapy
  • Me & Mommy Classes
  • Support groups for families
  • Specially designed park
  • Kitchen where children can learn to cook
  • Bedrooms for sleepovers 

Children come to the center to enjoy the facilities, have therapy and spend time with friends, counselors and volunteers  in the afternoon.

The most special room in the building is the Beit Knesset where children with special needs can celebrate their Bar Mitzva. SHALVA often receives requests from families abroad requesting to use their Beit Knesset for their spacial needs Bar Mitzvas. For information about Volunteer opportunities for teens at SHALVA please call Talia Simantov 02-651-9555.

Contact marathon@shalva.org and let them know you would like your child to partner with a SHALVA runner. Please make sure to send us your pictures of the race!

Preparing for Purim with Your Kids in Jerusalem

Although Purim is technically a one day holiday, in Jerusalem the Purim fever lasts for a few weeks. Stores have begun to sell Oznei Haman (special Purim cookies), costumes and mishloach manot. It is hard to imagine as the rain continues to fall and the temperatures drop, that we are about to enter the month of Adar.

The following posts will include resources that local Jerusalemites can use, to make their Purim preparation easier. We hope to post new resources each week. We are excited to offer you some great discounts. Make sure to print your coupons. 

Please share your good ideas with us either by adding a comment or emailing us directly at info@funinjerusalem.com

COSTUMES

Rentals: Renting costumes in Israel is not easy. In fact when we researched Costume Rental places in Jerusalem we were very disappointed. 

Tel Aviv: Machsanei Lev is the place to go. They specialize in adult and teen costume rentals and they do have some kids sizes as well. Customers are asked to come into the shop on Rechov Ben Yehuda to take measurements and the costumes range from 100 NIS to 500 NIS for a 3 day rental. Call early because Costumes sell out quickly before Purim. Make sure to tell them you heard about them on Fun In Jerusalem.

Costume Stores: The “Hidden” Gems Revealed

Har Nof: Efronit has been in the costume business for over 25 years. They are an art supply/toy store in Har Nof but as of Monday February 8th their shop transforms into a costume warehouse. They have one of the best selection of infant, child, teen and adult costumes.

Hours: 9:30am-1:30pm, 4:00pm-7:00pm (9:30am-7:00pm Purim Week) 
Phone: 02-651-8273
Address:15 Chai Taib, Har Nof
Coupon: Click here for 5% off all Purim Costumes

Efrat: Anfei Dekel has created a special costume room next to their art/toy store. They have a large selection of masks, hats, children’s costumes, butterfly wings, makeup, swords, crowns, wigs, baby costumes and more. If you are looking for a one stop shop for costumes, then it is worth the drive to Efrat. The store is located in the Dekel shopping arcade.

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8:30am-7:00pm, Friday 8:30am-1:00pm
Phone: 02-993-3131
Address:Dekel Shopping Mall, Efrat
Coupon: Click here for 10% off all Purim Costumes

Geula: Sifrei Geula has a good selection of Purim Costume Accesories. They have very nice masks, hats, wigs, swords, guns, makeup etc.
         Hours: 9am-8pm
         Phone: 02-537-0485
         Address: Malchei Israel 10, Geula

Emek Refaaim Friday Street Fair: Limonero sells handmade costumes for babies-4 yrs. Costumes include superman, minnie mouse, frogs etc. Costs range between 120 NIS-220 NIS.

         Hours: Friday Mornings
         Phone:1-700-50-57-67
         Address: ICCC 12 Emek Refaaim, German Colony 

The Shuk: We are currently looking into specific shops to recommend in this area.

After Purim

A new Purim Costume Gemach has opened in Ramat Beit Shemesh and they are looking for new costumes. If you would like to donate your costumes to the gemach after Purim then please call Etti at 02-999-7780.

The Maale Adumim Purim Gemach is also accepting costumes after Purim. Please contact Andrea Brownstein at andrea2709@gmail.com

Posts Coming Soon on Fun In Jerusalem…

Top Thirteen Places for Teens to Volunteer in Jerusalem this Summer: By a&a

Shalva

6 Ibn Denan st.
02-651-9555
info@shalva.org

Shalva provides services to more than 500 participants with special needs, including infants, children, adolescents and young adults via a plethora of tailored programs and round-the-clock therapies, seven days a week. Shalva accompanies the child and his/her family from birth to adulthood. Individual programs are designed so that each participant reaches his/her full potential. By placing an emphasis on social interaction, the special needs child can better integrate into the community.

יד אליעזר  Yad Eliezer

Polansky14,Jerusalem.
02-581-3370
 
This organization helps families and individuals suffering from financial hardship, by providing material assistance in the form of loans, grants, counseling and monthly distribution of the basic food items.

חזון ישעיה  Hazon Yeshaya

Rashi 60,Jerusalem
02-538-1411
Sunday to Thursday 8:30am-13:30pm
volunteers@hazonyeshaya.org

Hazon Yeshaya is a leading humanitarian organization that is fighting poverty and hunger by encouraging and supporting Hazon Yeshaya Soup Kitchens in Israel. Hazon yeshaya is an organization dedicated to providing daily, hot, nourishing meals to people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds, immigrants and locals, healthy and ill, as well as children from broken or abusive homes, battered women fleeing abusive relationships, Holocaust survivors, and victims of terror and their families. The volunteers cook, peel, bake and set the tables and also serve the food.

מאיר פנים    Meir Panim  

Yirmiyahu 78, Jerusalem
02-501-1444
office@mifalchaim.org

Meir Panim’s food and social service programs help to alleviate the harmful realities of poverty in the short-term and provide long-term, proactive solutions to assist needy Israelis to break out of the cycle of poverty and become active, self-sufficient members of Israeli society.

שכן טוב  Shachen Tov(“The good neighbor association”)

shachentov.org@yahoo.com
052-5389991

The “Good Neighbor Association” provides food to approximately 1000 families around the country. Each week, the volunteers collect closed food packages from grocery stores and schools, and bring it to a distribution center. The volunteers then organize the food in boxes and drive them to the families’ houses. Coffee shops “on wheels”. The “Good Neighbor Association” operates coffee shops for those who are unable to leave their home by themselves, and for those who are unable to leave the institution which they reside in.

The volunteers come to these locations and operate a coffee shop for the benefit of the tenants in the home. The volunteers function as waiters and serve hot/cold beverages and pastry, which a local coffee shop donates each week. Usually, some sort of social activity is integrated into the coffee shop, such as singing, games, or arts and crafts. The coffee shops are located in Jerusalem, Beit She’an and Be’er Sheva.

Coffee Shop for youth at risk: The “Good Neighbor Association” operates a regular coffee shop in Jerusalem’s in a neighborhood which is mainly populated by lower-income families and by immigrants from Ethiopia, and the Former Soviet Union. The coffee shop provides food and hot/cold beverages at low prices and the volunteers, function as waiters. The volunteers serve as a sympathetic ear for the youth. The goal of this activity is to provide the teenagers in this neighborhood with a friendly, safe and affordable place to relax, to mediate between the teenagers and social services workers and to take them off of the street and keep them out of trouble.

 

יד שרה   Yad Sarah

Department of Volunteer Coordination at 02-644-4411 (Fax 02-644-4496).
volunteering@yadsarah.org.il
Arnonam@yadsarah.org.il

Yad Sarah gives its volunteers ongoing training, guidance and a feeling of belonging to one big, warm family. There are also special social and cultural activities for volunteers. Thousands of people find challenge, satisfaction and pleasure in volunteering at Yad Sarah. If you want to volunteer: Walk into the Yad Sarah branch nearest your home, or call.

Tourists who want to volunteer:
If you are here for an extended period and would like to volunteer, Call Yad Sarah and talk about the possibilities. Be aware that the minimal commitment required for overseas volunteers is three months, elementary Hebrew skills are essential, and that Yad Sarah does not provide accommodation.

 

איל”ן  ILAN

מרכז איל”ן ILAN Center:
רח’ י.ל. גורדון 9 תל-אביב 63458
03-5248141 
ilan@ilan-israel.co.il

ILAN, Israel’s Foundation for the Handicapped, cares for thousands of physically impaired adults and children suffering from diseases that affect the muscles and nerves such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular diseases. ILAN enables those it cares for to enjoy cultural activities, such as wheelchair dance, ‘youth encounters’, and theatre.  Focusing on providing solutions for those special needs which are not catered for by the official authorities, ILAN arranges grants to the disabled and their families for the purchase of essential rehabilitative and educational equipment. To volunteer for ILAN, apply to ILAN Center and you will be directed to the branch or area of activity in your own community that is most suited to you.

 

Kav Lachayim

15 Gonen St. Petach tikva.
03-9250500

“Kav Lachayim” was established in 1989 and persists ever since in assisting disabled children who suffer cancer, muscular dystrophy, cerebral paralysis, and other chronic diseases. Thousands of members and volunteers of this organization are involved in improving the social quality of life of the sick children and their families, trying to respond to a variety of special needs. “Kav Lachayim’s” motto is “A slight smile of happiness will conquer a huge disease”.”kav Lachayim” activates thousands of healthy young people volunteering with sick people of similar ages, developing social responsibility among young people and fortifying Israel’s social strength.

Amit

15 Yad Harutzim,Jerusalem
02-673-8360
joffice@amit.org.il

AMIT enables Israel’s youth to realize their potential and strengthens Israeli society by educating and nurturing children from diverse backgrounds within a framework of academic excellence, religious values and Zionist ideals. Founded in 1925, AMIT operates more than 70 schools, youth villages, surrogate family residences and other programs, constituting Israel’s only government-recognized network of religious Jewish education incorporating academic and technological studies.

משפחה אחת One Family

28 Rachel Imenu, Jerusalem
02-539-9000
info@onefamilyfund.org
OneFamily collects not only money, but all human resources – bringing together people who have suffered through terror attacks, along with caring people who thankfully haven’t. Onefamily connects people in Israel with people in almost every country around the world. Onefamily responds just as any loving family member should.

Ezrat Avot

7 Tarmab Street

Tamara: 052-479-9839

Ezrat Avot is looking for volunteers on most afternoons throughout the summer from approx. 2:30-4:30pm to help package hot meals for our Senior-to-Senior program. The meals are delivered for free to sick, homebound, and financially strained elderly throughout Jerusalem. Please call Tamara: 052-479-9839 or e-mail: tamara@ezratavot.org if you can help.

 

Yad LaKashish

Located behind Safra Square (14 Shivtei Yisrael St.)

(02) 628-7829

Yad LaKashish is a non-profit organization that provides creative work opportunities and support services to over 300 needy elderly and disabled Jerusalem residents. VOLUNTEER IN OUR CARPENTRY WORKSHOP where you will have the opportunity to use your woodworking skills and be a part of Yad LaKashish’s tzedakah and chesed activities. Come in one day a week or every day! Sunday-Thursday, 8:30 am-12 pm. For more information, please contact Elana: (02) 628-7829 or lifeline@netvision.net.il

 

Melabev

Plugat Hatankim 4, Jerusalem

Volunteer Coordinator: Naomi Edelman: 052-7203039

melabev1@gmail.com
Melabev provides day care and home care for elders in Jerusalem ( and Beit Shemesh) who have some form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease. In one of Melabev’s 9 day care centers volunteers of all ages can socialize with the elders and help out during some of the specialized activities such as art therapy,dance therapy, pet therapy, gardening therapy, or computer therapy. They can also come to share a specific talent of theirs such as playing an instrument. Melabev runs groups in English, Hebrew or Russian. It’s a great place to practice Hebrew by talking to the elders. At Melabev we concentrate on what the elders are able to do and try to give them a fun, exciting , meaningful day. Giving them an opportunity to share their lives with others such as teenagers letting them teach about history of this country helps give meaning to their lives.

Last week in Tel Aviv in honor of Zichron Menachem’s 18th year, famous artists and celebrities came out to the Tel Aviv Port to paint 180 benches. Together they created the longest bench in the world at over 300 meters. The event was a huge success and celebrities inlcuding Bar Rafaeli (Israeli Super Model), Ivri Lider (Israeli Singer), and Miki Haimovich(News Anchor) worked together with the kids of Zichron Menachem to paint the benches.

Zichron Menachem, based in Jerusalem, is an organization that emotionally supports children with cancer and their families. The organization was named after מנחם אורנטל who was sick with cancer for 14 years. Zichron Menachem offers a refuge for children with cancer and their families in their amazing Day Center in Jerusalem.

The benches are on their way to Jerusalem and will arrive in the Alrov Mamilla Mall on Sunday June 28. In honor of their arrival there will be a celebration at Mamilla on Sunday from 5pm-9pm including remarks from the Mayor, an Oif Simchas Concert and fireworks. An additional 18 benches will be painted by local Jerusalem artists using a Jerusalem theme at Mamilla on Sunday. The benches will be available for sale and range between 1800 NIS- 3600 NIS. All proceeds go to Zichron Menachem. For more event information or to purchase please call 03-641-1971.

For a great video of the Tel Aviv event visit Ynet. For a gallery of bench pictures visit “Paint the Future” and click on גלריה.

See you at Mamilla!

Alrov Mamilla Mall (across from the David Citadel Hotel at the corner of King David St and Agron) Free parking is available.

 

Zichron Menachem

23 Harav Frank

02-643-3001

www.zichron.org