by Shevy Klein, Yad Sarah Intern

Monday afternoon.  A group of approximately 70 girls from overseas heads toward Yad Sarah's building.  They’ve come to Israel post high school, to study Jewish texts at Sha'alvim seminary for Women and to strengthen their Jewish identity through a connection to Israel.

 
Upon arrival, the students learn about Yad Sarah's host of home care support services - including its oldest and largest free medical equipment lending program- which assist every second Israeli family.  The students then tour select departments at the facility, roll up their sleeves, and volunteer by repairing wheelchairs. 

For many of the young women, the volunteer project reminds them of good deeds back home.  "In Frisch, my old school, we visited the elderly at an old age home and would sing with them and keep them company," says Malki Silverman from New Jersey. "If I could volunteer at Yad Sarah, I'd love to spend time with the elderly."    Fellow student Jordana Kaminetsky, from Boca Raton, Florida, shares her feelings about assisting the less fortunate.  "If Yad Sarah opened in the US, I'd love to volunteer.  I think it's amazing how this place strives to help people."

No less amazing to Jordana and Malki is the fact that Yad Sarah transports the disabled to the Kotel – a most precious place to both.  "I was touched to learn that Yad Sarah drives handicapped people in a special van to the Kotel," says Jordana.  This service could have made Malki's great grandmother's wish to visit the Kotel come true on her Israel trips.

After learning about Yad Sarah's equipment lending, Jordana recalls once spraining an ankle, and purchasing a brace in the drugstore.  At Yad Sarah, the lending program ensures that people receive that kind of equipment for free.  Yad Sarah may have only healed one limb in Jordana's case, but it helps mend hundreds of thousands of arms and legs in Israel each year – a fact which amazed Jordana.  "It really is a remarkable place, full of kindness." 

[photo: Jordana Kaminetsky and Malki Silverman cleaning wheelchairs at Yad Sarah ]

by Maurice Eidelsberg, Yad Sarah Volunteer

 

by Avi Eisenman- Yad Sarah Intern

            "I can't believe we're building this for someone!" exclaimed Rachel Bloom, from London, putting the finishing touches on her walker. Rachel and her friends traveled from England to Israel on a high school summer program at the popular women's seminary, Michlellet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY). For six weeks the girls will learn, tour Israel and volunteer in chesed projects. At Yad Sarah, the MMY girls displayed their desire to help by assembling walkers to be lent to those in need. "I could be walking down the street one day, and I'll see someone using a walker and I'll know that I could have built that!" said Rachel with pride.

            Upon arrival at Yad Sarah's Jerusalem headquarters, the group viewed a short video describing the organization's many services to Israeli society. They then enjoyed a short tour of the facility led by Yad Sarah volunteer Bracha Berman.

            At the Emergency Alarm Center, Bracha explained how with the simple push of a button worn on the wrist, Yad Sarah clients receive emergency assistance in a matter of seconds. Speaking from her own personal experience as an Emergency Center operator, Bracha informed the girls that aside from responding to emergency situations, operators also offered a friendly voice for lonely people who live alone.

            The girls were particularly impressed with Yad Sarah's Enrichment Center for Children with special needs that improve the lives of thousands of Israeli children. Here, families with kids lacking certain cognitive abilities or motor skills are taught how to overcome their unique challenges through play. These services improve the lives of thousands of children in Israel. "I didn't realize that Yad Sarah does so much!" expressed Sarie Levy from Manchester. "They really do help all types of people at all ages!"

            In the Hands-on Workshop the group became part of the Yad Sarah volunteer force as they divided into groups and excitedly put together walkers for free loan at over 100 branches across the country. "If I lived here, I'd like to do this all the time," said Rachel. Aliza Schapiro from Manchester added, "I've never heard of Yad Sarah before this visit, but it really is incredible!"

              

Young women from all over North America come to Machon Gold to spend a year learning in Israel, and getting to know the country and its people. A tour of Yad Sarah House was a perfect fit for this program. Machon Gold  students spent an afternoon at Yad Sarah headquarters assembling wakers, to be loaned for free from over 100 Yad Sarah Branches. The activity was fun, yet purposeful, we thank the girls for designing their sweet Purim cards which will ring joy and happiness to our patients' lives.

"I don't think we have anything like this in America," Shoshana Schroeder, 19, of Atlanta, Georgia, said. "This really shows Israeli culture, people coming together…"

"I've used the lending service," added Allyssa Greunstein, 18, of Montreal.  "My father broke his foot and you brought the wheelchair and crutches to the hotel where we were staying."

"It's all so nice – giving to everyone. . . . " said Talya Hollander, of New York City. "And helping people who can't help themselves," added Dana Wruble, of New Jersey.

"It's just a huge mitzvah," said Eileen Rembi, also of New York.

"It's really cool how we put the walker together," said Liba Rivkin from Chicago, Illinois. And she couldn't be wrong. 40 Midreshet Tehillah students spent an afternoon at Yad Sarah headquarters assembling walkers, to be loaned for free from over 100 Yad Sarah branches. The activity was fun, yet purposeful, as it was during the Rosh Hashana season, one of engaging in acts of good deeds. "Yad Sarah recognizes the need of disabled people and they should feel blessed to have it all so accessible and provided by a caring organization," said Shani from Baltimore, Maryland. The timing of Shani's and her classmates volunteering couldn't have been better, since Yad Sarah's equipment lending branches are always flooded with requests before the holidays so that loved ones can celebrate with their families. The students also spent some time in the Toy library and enrichment center for special children and their families, where interaction and play is possible between kids with special needs and their family members. "The enthusiasm and efficiency of the organization is incredible," said Samantha Taylor from London, England. "Yad Sarah is a prime example of how far 'Chesed' can extend to." Coming from England, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa & the USA, the students will spend a year combining the study of Judaism and volunteering. And Yad Sarah was the perfect location to introduce them to the wonderful volunteering experience; with 6,000 volunteers of its own, Yad Sarah is Israel's leading volunteer-led organization providing home-care support services. We thank the girls for designing their sweet Rosh Hashana cards which will bring joy and happiness to our patients lives, and look forward again to working with these extraordinary students, on behalf of those in need.

"The Guidance and Exhibition Center opened my eyes to how other people live, and it taught me not to take my life for granted," remarked Amanda, from Boca Raton, Florida. Amanda and her Tiferet Center for Advanced Torah Studies for Women classmates toured Yad Sarah's Exhibition Center and other departments, to learn about Yad Sarah, Israel's leading volunteer-led organization providing home-care support services. The Center, a model apartment displaying the range of equipment available and solutions for home adaptation, allows the impaired, injured and elderly to function independently at home. Student Shani Noy was unaware of the thousands in need in Israel. "We never notice how many people are in need, but Yad Sarah does, and helps everyone. I also think it's amazing that because of Yad Sarah, many elderly people don't have to end up in nursing homes." The 35 students, in Israel for a year of intense Jewish study, also designed greeting cards for the New Year and assembled walkers to be loaned for free from over 100 Yad Sarah branches. Their lovely artwork brought smiles to many individuals borrowing equipment from Yad Sarah prior to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Yad Sarah looks forward to future endeavors with Tiferet, on behalf of those in need in Israel.

60 Sha'alvim for Women students spent an afternoon at Yad Sarah headquarters assembling medical equipment, to be loaned for free from over 100 Yad Sarah branches. The young women's volunteering - which also included designing Rosh Hashana cards for distribution to Yad Sarah patients – occurred appropriately during the Jewish month of Elul, traditionally one of introspection and engaging in acts of good deeds prior to the High Holidays. "Yad Sarah helps so many people, I'm very happy that I was able to be a part in it," said Ilana Frankel from Teaneck, New Jersey. And the timing couldn't have been better, since Yad Sarah's equipment lending branches are always flooded with requests before the holidays so that loved ones can celebrate with their families. Gabby Goodfriend, from Los Angeles, California, concurred. "In a short time I was able to make a walker, that will one day, help somebody." Hailing from all across the USA, the students will spend an intensive year combining the study of Jewish texts and engaging in Chesed / volunteer activities throughout their course of study. With 6,000 volunteers of its own, Yad Sarah, Israel's leading volunteer-led organization providing home care support services, was an excellent venue to introduce the young women to the Israeli volunteering spirit. We look forward to working the Sha'alvim for Women students again, on behalf of those in need in Israel.

25 students at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim in Jerusalem (MMY) kicked off their year in Israel with a volunteer experience at Yad Sarah. In Israel just over a week, the young women from England and the USA assembled rehabilitative equipment for loan to those in need and designed Rosh Hashana cards for Yad Sarah patients. Though the students will spend an intensive 10 months poring over Jewish texts, an important emphasis at MMY is their engaging in volunteer activities throughout their course of study. For the young women, Yad Sarah, Israel's leading volunteer-led organization providing home care support services, with over 6,000 volunteers, was as appropriate window on Israeli society's volunteering spirit. "Yad Sarah has so many different projects that cater to so many different people," commented Miriam Borenstein, from West Hempstead, NY. Classmate Aliza Glass, from Monsey, NY agreed. "Here they care so much about all the people who come… we especially enjoyed the model apartment in the Exhibition Center. Everything there was so simple, but ingenious." Ariella Hollander, from West Orange, NJ, was impressed with the volunteers' sensitivity for the many kinds of people in Israel, such as the sick, those with special needs, and the elderly. When asked what her goals are for the upcoming year, Ariella remarked "To grow in Torah, and of course, do Chesed." Judging from the equipment assembled and heart warming cards the students created, the young women will undoubtedly grow, and give back so much to those in need.