“…no more pencils, no more books”

“We find in the midrash that the Jewish people left the mountain of G-d [Har Sinai] with joy, like a child running away from school” (Ramban on Bamidbar 10:35)

Ever since there were schools, most children have longed for school to be out.

Then there are the few who can’t wait to get to school, the children who dread going home.

For these children, home is not a place where their mother puts out cookies and milk for them after a long day in the fourth grade. Maybe, because when they come home, both their mother and father are out working… and still not making enough to raise their family above the poverty line. Maybe because this week there wasn’t enough to buy neither milk nor antibiotics for your brother’s strep throat. Maybe because their mother is suffering from a physical or mental illness, and if they want milk and cookies, lunch or supper… they’re going to have to make it themselves.

It is for these children that we at Tzedakah V’Chesed open our door – and our hearts.

Nearly all of our 120 students in grades 1-8 come from homes significantly below the poverty line. Their difficult socio-economic situation, coupled with one or both parents grappling with illness or mental dysfunction, combined with issues the students themselves face, like ADD, behavioral disorders, or emotional problems, puts these students on track for failure.

At Tzedakah V’Chesed, we give many of them a last chance at a successful life. We give them a loving, supportive home… at school.

Our team of 25 staff members includes teachers, psychologists and social workers. Our staff forms deep, warm relationships with the students, with plenty of personal attention. Class sizes are small, with dedicated staff members who work one-on-one with children who need individual help. Many children do need individual help, like the fifth grader who still doesn’t know how to read, because there’s no one at home making sure she’s understanding.

We look after every child, to assess what they need scholastically, emotionally and physically; and then make sure they get it.

The joy of childhood comes to our students with extra-curricular activities: amusement parks, hiking, field trips, parties and more.

Story of Sara

Sara is six and a half years old and in the first grade. She is the youngest of 12 children. Her mother was a convert who came from the United States and settled in Israel. She ran a beautiful Torah household and raised happy children… until she was diagnosed with cancer. Sara’s mother died 3½ years ago when Sara was only three years old. Sara’s father was broken and overwhelmed by the loss of his wife. He became unable to function and could not take care of his children or their home.

At Tzedakah V’Chesed, we have been there for Sara and her family in their darkest hours, extending emotional and financial support. With her father’s consent, we found a foster family for Sara. Both Sara and the foster family maintain a warm relationship with Sara’s father.

Today Sara receives the love, warmth and care that every child deserves. We have arranged for tutoring in order to help her catch up in reading and other skills and she is making wonderful progress.

 

 

Preschool is a young child’s introduction to the world of socialization. Their first real friends, the very beginning of formalized learning.

Our students have many things in their lives that make it hard to focus on the world that surrounds them in preschool.

They might be dealing with extreme stress, with fighting and yelling at home. They might have fears or wishes, but have no reliable adult at home to share them with.

Our preschool consists of a nursery for 3 year olds, nursery for 4 year olds and a kindergarten, which has 75 children. A team of 10 educators are there to provide a happy, loving environment, with lots of individual attention.

The Story of Simcha

Simcha’s parents waited many years to become parents, and were thrilled when Simcha was born. Three years later, they made Aliyah to raise their only daughter in Israel. Simcha’s father was trained as a lawyer, but he was unable to find a job in Israel. Their economic situation deteriorated to the point where they didn’t always have food in the house. There was certainly no money to give Simcha the Jewish education her parents dreamed of. Simcha’s father heard about Tzedakah V’Chesed and asked us to accept his daughter. Today Simcha receives transportation to our nursery school free of charge, and a beautiful Jewish education from our devoted staff.

 

The age between 1 and 3 years old is a formative phase.

Much of the time child can’t even talk – but they absorb everything. Their experiences form the foundation of their personality and their outlook on life.

Is that foundation going to be shaky – or rock-solid?

At Tzedakah V’Chesed, we operate a daycare center for 25 children between the hours of 7AM and 4PM. These children come from impoverished homes with no adult capable of caring for them during the day.

We provide for a strong physical foundation: with three nutritious meals a day.

We also provide for a strong developmental foundation: with games, dolls, crafts, riding toys and a playground with a sandbox and play equipment.

The children receive a strong emotional foundation: with 5 dedicated, warm and loving staff members.

The Triplets’ Story

Boaz, Yehudah and Yaakov are triplets. Several years ago their father suffered a stroke and is now unable to work and support his family. Their mother stays at home to care for them and her 6 other children. With no income, they sink deeper into debts and financial distress.

When the triplets were 2 years old, their mother was not managing to care for them at home, and wanted to put them in daycare. Without the ability to pay, however, no daycare center would accept them.

At Tzedakah V’Chesed, we opened our arms to Boaz, Yehudah and Yaakov. We ensure that all their needs were met: from three solid meals a day to love and warmth. The cost to their parents? Nothing.

Today Boaz, Yehudah and Yaakov are in our kindergarten: three happy, well-adjusted children.

 

 

Our after school program is intended for our students whose parents both work full-time, students from broken or dysfunctional homes. Without this program, these children would be latchkey kids; at home alone or watching younger siblings; spending the afternoon in a stressful family environment.

The program is held at our school from 1:30PM to 4PM and starts with a nutritious hot lunch.

The program offers a variety of special activities: art, crochet and embroidery. Staff members help with homework and give workshops in improving basic life skills including communication and socialization.

Our aim is to provide relevant social activities that combine enrichment, creativity, developing social skills and instilling good habits; all in a relaxed atmosphere while providing reassurance and encouragement.

 

The Story of Orit

Orit is 5 years old. Her mother is severely depressed – to the point where she is unable to leave her bed and take care of her household and children. Orit’s father works long hours as a maintenance man to make ends meet. If Orit would go home after school, there would be no lunch waiting for her and no one available to care for her until the evening when her exhausted father returns home from work.

Orit stays at the Tzedakah V’Chesed after-school program. She receives a hot, nutritious lunch, help with her homework, and fun extra-curricular activities. Orit also participates in the special after-school life skills workshops, which help her to acquire the basic social, communication and self-care skills she needs to succeed in life.

We Care For The Whole Family: A top Jewish charity organization.

A home doesn’t just take care of its children scholastically; a home cares about every aspect of a child’s well-being.

A quality Jewish charity organization, Tzedakah V’Chesed takes the responsibility of not only being our students’ home away from home, but their home, period.

Healthy parents don’t charge their children for providing them with food, clothing and the ability to get to school. Neither do we.

The School’s Vision

 

Food:

For Israeli families, lunch is the main meal of the day. Many of our children, however, won’t have a hot, satisfying lunch at home, either due to expense or because no parent is available to cook it.

We run a kitchen on the school premises which cooks lunch for 100 children each day. Our menus are created by a certified nutritionist to ensure the children get healthy, tasty and high-quality food.

Clothing:

The holidays are a time to wear beautiful, festive clothing. We want our students to have that happiness as well. Every year for Pesach and Sukkot, all children educated at Tzedakah V’Chesed receive new, quality clothing for the holiday. Truly a top Jewish charity organization.

 

Transportation:

In Israel, there is generally no school busing paid for by the schools. Children walk to school or pay for transportation. At Tzedakah V’Chesed, we take the financial burden off the parents (while ensuring our students aren’t walking for hours). We have 6 buses and 7 minibusses picking up and dropping off children all around the district.

 

The Story of Racheli

Racheli comes from a family in extreme economic distress. Her mother suffers from severe chronic mental problems. Racheli’s two adolescent sisters have dropped out of school and spend most of their day hanging around the house.

When Racheli first came to the Jewish charity organization Tzedakah V’Chesed, her clothing was ragged and dirty. She looked neglected. She was unable to concentrate on her studies, and had difficulties reading and writing. Her backpack was empty, as family had no money to buy schoolbooks.

The first thing we did for Racheli was to give her new, ironed clothing that she could be proud to wear to school. Then we bought her textbooks. Racheli now receives tutoring at Tzedakah V’Chesed in her weak scholastic areas. Above all, she receives understanding, support and love.

 

A top Israeli charity will zone-in on a truly pertinent need; like Pesach shopping. You know that feeling after you’ve finished your Pesach shopping and you see the total at the cash register:

How come I’m spending more on groceries for one week than I usually do for a month?!

It’s not just you: everybody feels the same way!

Pesach is expensive. Thank G-d, most of us have the budget to cover it.

Some don’t.

 

Our students’ families are barely making ends meet throughout the year. The added expenses for Pesach are too much for them to handle, forcing them into the decision of going further into debt or not having enough to eat for the Yom Tov. That kind of stress doesn’t lend itself well to a positive home atmosphere.

To help the situation, TVC – a top Israeli Charity – distributes a generous package of groceries before Pesach, including meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fruit and vegetables, wine, matzah and other basic Pesach food items. We not only distribute to our students’ families, but to other needy families in Tzfat. Our Pesach distribution enables families to have a relaxed and happy holiday.

The Sasson Family’s Story

Mr. Sasson suffers from an inoperable heart condition. He is frequently hospitalized, and bedridden even when at home. Mrs. Sasson is needed to care for her husband around the clock. Disability payments do not even cover all daily expenses, and the Sassons are going deeper and deeper into debt.

The Sassons’ three daughters study at Tzedakah V’Chesed, where we provide them with transportation, food and clothing, at no cost to their parents. When Pesach approached, we found that the Sassons had nothing for the holiday. Mrs. Sasson was planning on dairy meals (because they couldn’t afford meat). Then Mr. Sasson is hospitalized, Mrs. Sasson doesn’t have time to prepare ANY meals as she shuttles back and forth from her husband in the hospital to her children at home and back.

When Tzedakah V’Chesed heard about the situation, we arranged for them to receive almost everything they would need for Pesach: an abundant supply of matzah, chicken, meat, fish and more. In the midst of such difficulty and pain, a weight was taken off the Sassons. They would have food for Pesach… and the happiness of knowing that people care about them. It’s this kind of care that makes TVC a top Israeli charity.