Beit Issie Shapiro ’s Newsletter | Spring 2007

Published courtesy of BankHapoalim

HAPPYPASSOVER

Elisheva, (aged 6 years) star of her class in Beit Issie Shapiro’s Special Education

“Reflections”Dear Friend,With Jean Judes settled in so well as Executive Director - and doing a great job - I am now able to focus on strengthening our international base of support.Beit Issie Shapiro is only as strong as the caring people who support it. We are blessed with donors and friends who care about helping us build an

enlightened and humane community for all its special citizens here, in Israel. It is this strong bond that we seek to harness to benefit those of us with special needs. Our dream is of a society in which the rights of all of our people are enshrined in law and upheld by the common man, a society

Dear Friend,The year 2007 is already under way. At Beit Issie Shapiro we look forward to this year with optimism. We reflect on 2006 and know that we can never rest on our laurels. It is our responsibility to maintain the best services for the people that need them. 2006 was a very successful year in many ways.∞ We made a serious breakthrough in

the field of Early Intervention. As a result of determined efforts by the Forum of organizations and parents working to change the law entitling young children to therapeutic daycare, a number of revisions have been made to the law and its regulations: • The number of children entitled to therapeutic daycare has been increased - an additional 130 children with severe disabilities will receive daycare services in 2007.• The minimum number of children with special needs required to open a daycare center was lowered - hence more children living in the periphery of the country will have access to this vital facility. • Transportation of the children to daycare centers was regularized: the government and local authorities agreed to provide funding for transportation according to each child’s individual needs, and to allow for the presence of an escort. • A Supreme Court ruling obliged the State to provide extra services for children with special medical needs. • After a long struggle, the health insurance agencies are now

Achievements in 2006obliged by regulation to cover the costs of auxiliary treatments (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, etc).∞ We initiated a groundbreaking project of individual inclusion of our kindergarten children into nursery schools in their home neighborhoods. Meeting “the kids on the block” has proved to be very successful, in promoting new friendships and togetherness.∞ Beit Issie Shapiro subsidized many financially stressed families needing our services, to the sum of NIS180,000∞ The Kalansua Early Intervention Center extended the age of children eligible for treatment from 4 to 6.∞ We initiated a national outreach program to replicate our innovative, fully accessible playground, “Park Chaverim”. The successful launch of the integrated park has peaked interest in the development of similar parks throughout Israel.∞ Our 4th International Conference on Developmental Disabilities was extremely successful, with participants from all over the world.

We need you - our friends and supporters, more than ever before. In order to meet our goals, we need your help to bring new donors, friends and volunteers into our special Beit Issie Shapiro community. Thank you for helping turn our dreams into reality. It is also a good opportunity for me to thank the amazing team of Beit Issie Shapiro for their devoted and professional work.

Jean JudesExecutive Director

that is accessible to those with special needs and in which they are included and valued; which provides the best possible treatment, education and recreational services to ensure their fullest development and adaptation. A lofty dream, perhaps, but well worth dreaming! And I invite you to share this vision. Become a stakeholder in the fulfillment of this mission. Beit Issie Shapiro represents the very best Jewish values and aspirations. In supporting our work you play a role in shaping a society in Israel in which you can feel justifiably proud.

My best wishes

Naomi Stuchiner President, CEO International

Number of people Beit Issie Shapiro impacted in 2006: 17,160

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International News from Beit Issie Shapiro NEW YORK: A quartet of events in the New York metropolitan area helped bring 2006 to a rousing conclusion. The biggest was a new offering, “Cirque de Sol,” which attracted over 325 young professionals, many of them new donors, to an evening of mystery and amazement.

The evening, which featured aerialists and contortionists who performed at strategic points inside the nightclub, was beautifully coordinated by a pair of dedicated co-chairs: Lizzy and Josh Trump & Gaby and Michael Muller. Bravo!An aerialist of a different kind was utilized for this year’s

“Voices for Ahava” event. “Mary Poppins” was the choice for our annual Broadway outing (yes, she flies!) and attracted over 280 attendees to this well-received family show. Shelley and Ruvan Cohen, our event co-chairs, deserve credit for helping to guide this year’s gala to another healthy bottom line.The other two events were parlor meetings. Both Isaac Levy (Rockland County) and AFOBIS Co-Chairs Eileen and Jerry Lieberman, Manhattan (with assistance from the aforementioned Cohens, who invited their friends, too) opened up their respective homes for guests to learn more about Beit Issie Shapiro and its ground-breaking initiatives. The new DVD that spotlights Park Chaverim was shown and Naomi Stuchiner was present to answer questions from the two audiences.We look forward to a high-flying 2007, and continuing to raise needed dollars and awareness for the children of Beit Issie Shapiro.

Steve Becker, NY Regional Director, AFOBIS

FLORIDA: The Florida Major Gift Event, held at the fabulous “Il Mulino” restaurant at the exclusive Aqualina Resort and Spa, was an evening to remember. Surrounded by the beautiful faces of the children of Beit Issie Shapiro, almost eighty people joined together to hear personal thoughts from Norman Braman, event co-chair, about the important role the Miami community plays in supporting our special children. Stephanie Trump, event co-chair, also spoke about her family’s commitment to our children. Special guest Naomi

Stuchiner shared her thoughts about the year’s events in Israel, how Beit Issie Shapiro was impacted by the way and the need for all of us to serve as the voice for our children at all times. Attendees were moved beyond words and showed this in their expanded financial commitment to the work being done at Beit Issie Shapiro. We are grateful for the continued support and love the Miami Jewish community expresses to the Beit Issie Shapiro family.

Joy Siegel, Former FL Regional Director, AFOBIS

CALIFORNIA: Extract from a letter from Joni Weiss and Miriam Vargas,teachers at the Stephen S. Weiss Temple School:“We wanted to let you know that we won ‘first place’ in a contest through the Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education for our Mitzvah Tree project (to support Shira at Beit Issie Shapiro). Some teachers had tears in their eyes when they heard about Shira and the empathy that our students developed for her. We were very touched to be able to enlighten more people about the wonderful work that you do.”

FINAL - Amy’s picture collage

Josh and Lizzy Trump - Cirque de Sol

Dion Friedland, Jules and Stephanie Trump, Norman Braman and Michael Scheck

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Naama enjoys her hydrotherapy sessions

Shulamit and Naama, January 2007

“When we decided to send Naama, our daughter with Down syndrome, to a regular preschool, we took a leap of faith” admits Shulamit, her mother. “On the one hand she’d get more specialized treatment at Beit Issie Shapiro, on the other there would surely be other benefits from going to a regular school. Edna, her teacher, encouraged us. She’s ready, she said, she can do it.”

So we decided to give Naama the best of both worlds: the opportunity to be taught in a regular school while continuing to receive special treatment in Beit Issie Shapiro’s ambulatory programs.”

“No doubt about it - she had a good grounding at Beit Issie. For several years the team worked intensively to improve her communication skills. Despite the odds, she learned to speak, which of course made her transition easier.”

“I remember when she learned to walk. Looking at her now, you wouldn’t believe how hard we all worked to get her mobile. We made it our goal for the year, working as a team to encourage her. And then the miracle happened; she began to walk. Today? She runs, climbs stairs, jumps - like everyone else. They were like angels, lifting our baby to her feet and setting her free.”

“At first we were very anxious in the new school. But she always had a special aide at her

THEY LIFTED HER TO HERFEET AND SET HER FREE

side to help her cope,» says Shulamit, smiling, «Naama is learning normative behavior from the children in her class - they have made her one of their own.»

«Look, it’s not easy,» she adds with a fragile smile, «Naama will always have special needs. Beit Issie Shapiro continues to be there for us. She comes for hydrotherapy and last year even participated in a swimming competition. She has her dental treatment at the clinic. Whatever she needs, they are there for us. Our daughter’s years in Beit Issie Shapiro’s therapeutic nursery were the most meaningful in her life. They made Naama strong, they taught her to cope - they established a solid foundation that will last her whole life.»

Specially adapted facilities cater to different levels of ability

Inclusion in Society WhereDifferences are Embraced

Beit Issie Shapiro’s vision is to create a society that includes all people - that accepts differences and respects diversity.

We implement this principle directly and indirectly. Our philosophy is to bring the community to our center and take children and adults with special needs out into the community. This is the backbone of our volunteer program. It is also one reason for operating ambulatory treatment services for people of all ages and special needs. Our baby swimming program also brings the community to Beit Issie Shapiro.

Beit Issie Shapiro has made great strides in implementing its policy of inclusion. From our early years, our community workers went into schools to sensitize children to their peers with special needs and teach them to accept and include them. Today this is accomplished through extensive youth education and leadership training. All our educational programs include elements of inclusion: bringing children from other schools to our school for various activities and taking our children to share social and educational activities with them.

Our accessible Park Chaverim - Friendship Park - with its organized play programs, is unique in bringing children together in an atmosphere of acceptance and friendship.

In pursuing the goal of inclusion, Beit Issie Shapiro confronts our most humane and moral values - insisting that we be aware of and acknowledge the existence of those who are different. We are challenged to care for one another and to change the social and physical environment, so that people with special needs can be part of it.

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Menachem Tzemach accepts his graduation certificate from Dr Benny Hozmi, Director (Trump International Institute)

“One of my dreams is to promote the development of a college to teach people with special needs…”

Benny Hozmi, Director - Trump International Institute, Beit Issie Shapiro

Beit Issie Shapiro is all about making dreams come true - and that includes ensuring and facilitating the right to education for people with special needs.

“I knew I’d never go to college, not a chance,” says Gali, 23. “I find it difficult to concentrate and I’m uncoordinated. But here I am at university. I’m so proud…”

Since 2001, Beit Issie Shapiro’s Trump International Institute for Continuing Education has (in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University) devised a 240-hour academic program for young adults with learning difficulties. To date, 140 people have graduated from the “Art of Living” Program.

The course aims are to provide access to academic life for this special group of students and to equip them with tools to deal with their unique challenges. The course is modular and tackles issues such as:

∞ The Cognitive Approach in Psychology∞ Communication and Assertiveness∞ Conflict Resolution∞ Crisis and Adaptation∞ Decision Making∞ Self Esteem and Body Image∞ Handling One’s Personal Finance

EDUCATION - EQUAL ACCESSFollowing the extraordinary success of the program at Bar Ilan University, a new course (Introduction to Theatre - Life as a Stage) was launched this year, in collaboration with Seminar Hakibutzim. Encouraged by the exceptionally enthusiastic response, we are developing an arts studies course in partnership with Beit Berl College.

Says Gali - ‘We’re learning so much! I feel that we have a great responsibility to make this course a success so that more courses like it will be opened. It’s a great opportunity. I come to the university as an equal. And if I can, others can, too…”

The modules vary in length and intensity: hence, students are able to choose courses suited to their individual abilities.

The aims of these Special University Programs are to:∞ promote the principles of equal access to academic studies ∞ encourage independence (empowering and assisting students to develop an internal locus of control)∞ facilitate integration with other students∞ promote self acceptance

Acknowledgement: We thank Gabi Weisfeld for adopting the “Art of Living” program and for enabling us to keep our costs to the students as low as possible. Many earn low salaries or are unemployed.

Excited participants in the Art of Living Program

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DREAM AND A GOAL IS A TIMELINE, A WELL DEFINED

OBJECTIVE AND ACTION!

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Over the past few months many events have been held in Israel, to raise funds for the various programs supporting the growth and development of Beit Issie Shapiro’s special children:

∞ Shoshana Ben-Zur’s Fashion Show at the Dan Panorama Hotel attracted friends and donors. It was particularly gratifying to have the support of the wives of the diplomatic corps.

∞ Brighton Beach Memoirs (sponsored by Isracard) was shown at the Kameri Theater. The hall was full - some 900 people supported this effort.

∞ Naomi, a brilliant portrayal of a Bedouin woman in conflict with her traditions, was presented on a volunteer basis, by Rubi Porat Shuval.

∞ The Isradixyband Jazz Concert was organized by the parents of the Aaron De Lowe Early Intervention Center, to raise funds to support integrated social and educational activities for their children.

∞ A Chanukka Party was given to our special children, by Elinor Druker of the Elivera Dance School and Assaf Keinan of the School for Football.

Chazanut Concert in Memory of Malcolm Zaidel ז«לAn emotional evening of Jewish music took place in the Wohl Center, with volunteer performances by Cantors Dudu Fisher, Naftali Herstik, Colin Schachat and Ralph Levitan. The rousing

Local News from Beit Issie Shapirovoices of the Ramatayim Men’s Choir from Jerusalem and the Eitz Chaim Choir supported the performances. The concert was held in memory of Malcolm Zaidel ז«ל, a cantor and dentist by profession, a man of extraordinary talent, a valued member of the community and a dear friend. Beit Issie Shapiro was proud to launch the Malcolm Zaidel Music Therapy Program to promote music as a medium

of bringing children together, allowing them to express themselves through a variety of therapy and enrichment programs. All proceeds from this and future events were earmarked towards the establishment of this exciting new program.

Extract from a speech by Pam Zaidel, wife of the late Malcolm Zaidel ז«ל :Malcolm always had a very close feeling for Beit Issie and I know that the Music Therapy Program will blossom into something magnificent, that will provide opportunities for the saplings of Beit Issie to grow strong, thrive and stand upright and proud in society. I thank Naomi - it is an honor to work with you. May the Malcolm Zaidel Music Therapy Center become a reality - where his life is continually celebrated to the sounds of drums, cymbals, and bells together with beautiful, rich voices singing the praises of Hashem”.

Cantors Dudu Fisher, Colin Schachat, Naftali Herstik and Ralph Levitan, supported by the Ramatayim Men’s Choir

Dudu Fisher with the Ramatayim Men’s Choir

Pam Zaidel, with her son Adam and daughter, Heidi

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INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO - October to date:∞ Marie & Gerard Guez - France ∞ Jonathan Wiener and family - USA ∞ Ilana and Mervyn (USA) & Carol Nemo - USA, with Jack De Lowe ∞ Shifra, Batya & Yocheved Aronovitz - Israel/South Africa, with Terry Mowszowski ∞ Anne & Lee Samson - USA ∞ Pratt Foundation (Peter Adler - Director) - Australia ∞ Mayor of Opsterland - Holland, with Municipality of Raanana representatives ∞ Dr. & Mrs. Emanuel Gottlieb - USA ∞ Jocelyn Gorewitz & daughter - USA ∞ Morris Mansour - UK ∞ Marc Green (Jewish National Fund, UK) & Suzi Epstein - UK ∞ Ann Pollack, Jennifer, Oliver & Sasha - USA ∞ Rina Shkolnik - Jewish Community Center (JCC NY) - USA ∞ Stuart, Joan and Max Schapiro - USA ∞ Roger Adelman - Life Line 4 Kids - UK ∞ Rachel, Aaron & Yosef Weinstock, Aviad & baby - Canada ∞ Jewish Community Center Miami (Hydrotherapy Seminar) - USA ∞ Ralph & Pyan Posener - Sweden, with Loulou Press ∞ Ariel, Jonathan, Evie, Aliza and Alvin Broome - USA ∞ Reuben Gittelman group, 40 students, 10 adults - USA

A tribute to Tuvia Stuchiner, Head of the Hydrotherapy Course:

Excerpt from a letter from Julie, a Jewish Community Center participant in the Hydrotherapy Seminar held at Beit Issie Shapiro:“I finally feel like I can sit down and express the incredible experience I had at Beit Issie Shapiro. Tuvia is an outstanding and knowledgeable educator. He loves learning and sharing what he has learned. It was a pleasure to share experiences, successes, failures, and all that is important when touching these tender lives. Tuvia was unashamed to share his emotions. He laughed and cried with us! His desire to enrich the lives of the children and adults at Beit Issie is infectious and most definitely unbiased. He is a determined individual and believes that we must constantly enhance and change the therapies that we offer special need populations, whether it is a child with Cerebral Palsy, an adult recovering from a stroke, an autistic child without language, or the victim of a car accident. It could break your heart with some of the stories and histories of the kids at Beit Issie, but to give a child one moment of happiness is an experience that I can’t put into words. I hope we can offer these moments to our community!”

Toda Raba! Julie

His name was Guy, and he was a dashingly handsome 4 year old Israeli boy. We met at Beit Issie Shapiro, where I was volunteering for the summer… My special nap time ritual for Guy was to dress him in his clean clothes and then give him ‘raspberries’ - you bare the tummy and blow on it to make that bubbly sound. It was impossible not to play with him and listen to him giggle. Eventually, Guy began to lift his own shirt to indicate that he wanted more… After tucking him in, I always said, “Ani ohev otcha” (I love you) and left to go for lunch. On one particular day, after our raspberries and my nap time Guy said it back, “AAAnniii.. OheeVVV..OtaaCCHHH”, broken syllables and all. At that moment, my eyes welled up and my heart melted, and I realized what I was there to do. I

had thought that traveling to Israel by myself, living with a family I hadn’t known, working at Beit Issie and adapting to the surrounding culture would be a maturing experience, but it was Guy’s three heartfelt little words that changed me forever.I was there to love. I really could make a difference in the children’s lives, and they in turn made a difference in me. Guy and the other children at Beit Issie made me see the world differently. There are little pleasures and subtle humors in life everyday, like raspberries. Guy helped me learn to love the life I have and the world I live in. He showed me how to appreciate even the smallest things in life and never take it for granted…”.

Excerpt from a letter from Sarah Nyeste, a 17 year old volunteer from overseas who spent the summer at Beit Issie Shapiro:

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ISRAEL: Issie Shapiro St. P.O. Box 29, Ra'anana 43100, IsraelTel: +972 9 770 1222 Fax: +972 9 771 0465 E-mail: bismail@beitissie.org.il Website: www.beitissie.org.il

President, CEO International: Naomi Stuchiner Executive Director: Jean Judes Ministry of Interior Non-Profit Organization #: 58-007-185-0

USA: National Office – New York American Friends Of Beit Issie Shapiro 200 West 57th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10019 Tel: +1 (212) 586-2464 Fax: +1 (212) 246-4914 E-mail: info@afobis.org Registration #: 13-3434-781

California - Los AngelesAmerican Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro c/o JCC, 5870 West Olympic Blvd. Suite 107, Los Angeles CA 90036 Tel/Fax: +1 (323) 938-9851 E-mail: laoffice@afobis.org

San FranciscoBay Area American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro c/o Amy Slater-Ovadia, 224 Hillcrest Circle, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523

Tel: +1 (925) 609-6360 E-mail: slaterovadia@comcast.net

FloridaMichael-Ann Russell JCC, 18900 NE 25th Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33180

Tel: +1 (305) 933-0774, +1 (305) 933-0823 E-mail: stevefrd@bellsouth.net

ChicagoChicago Friends of Children with Developmental Disabilities

c/o Shelly Shannon, 25 East Washington Street, Ste 1735, Chicago, IL 60606Tel: +1 (312) 863-6200 E-mail: shellyrshannon@yahoo.com

CANADACanadian Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro 5 Gladiola Court, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5X5 Canada Tel: +1 (416) 633-4995 Fax: +1 (416) 633-2746 E-mail: cfobis@rogers.com Registration #: 89056 - 1848 - RR0001

UNITED KINGDOMFriends of Beit Issie Shapiro, UK JNF House, Spring Villa Park, Edgware, Middx HA8 7ED England Tel: +44 208-732-6100 Fax: +44 208-732-6111 E-mail: marc@jnf.co.uk Charity #: 225910

SOUTH AFRICA South African Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro, c/o Raelene Tradonsky, P.O. Box 1636 Houghton, Johannesburg 2041

Tel: +27 11-728-3586, +27 11-575-0480 E-mail: raelene.tradonsky@is.co.za

YOUR EMAIL PLEASE!! In order to support financial and environmental conservation offerts, kindly take the time toforward your current email address (indicating your full name and/or organization in the subject) to:

esther@beitissie.org.il (International)wendyd@beitissie.org.il (Local - Israel)

Thank you

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

“Looking beyond the disability” - PR donation by Og ProductionsA short film “Looking beyond Handicaps” was prepared for broadcast on the commercial television channels to highlight the experience of being disabled. The ad, prepared by Gilad and Limor Schneider (owners of Og Productions) and their staff, was filmed in the Negev and projected the spirit of our organization and its central message - to see the person and not the handicap.

Harel Insurance Calendar DonationHarel Insurance published 300,000 beautifully colored annual calendars and distributed them to all their clients and agents. Every month of the year features a painting from our special children. Through Harel’s generosity, we also received a large number of calendars which were snapped up, hot off the press!

Special thanks to Rita Bachar and Gayle Rinot for their contributions to the newsletter.

A W o r l d o f F r i e n d s