As the first Israeli Jewish organization to win recognition as an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, Yad Sarah was proud today to host United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, who visited the Jerusalem headquarters in a show of appreciation and esteem for Yad Sarah volunteer humanitarian activities around the world.  He was greeted by Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski, founder of Yad Sarah, who presented the honored visitor with a box of Matzot (unleavened bread), symbolizing both the freedom of the Nation of Israel and the goal of Yad Sarah to provide increased freedom to people with functional difficulties by supplying services and equipment to ease their plights.  A ceramic pomegranate hand-crafted by senior citizens in the Yad Sarah Golden Age Club was also given to the Secretary General.

In the course of his visit, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon saw a variety of medical rehabilitative equipment for loan at Yad Sarah and toured the Visitors’ Center.  He was photographed with Jewish, Christian and Arab Yad Sarah volunteers whom he met during his tour.

In the past decade Yad Sarah has been instrumental in the establishment of similar organizations throughout the world, including countries such as the Former Soviet Union, Angola, South Africa, South Korea, and Uzbekhistan.  A number of countries in Central and South America have expressed interest in establishing organizations based on the Yad Sarah model, and Turkey and Jordan are taking preliminary steps to do the same. 

Lending of medical and rehabilitative equipment, transportation and day care centers for the disabled, drop-in centers and low cost dental clinics for the elderly, personal computerized emergency alarms monitored 24 hours a day, are just some of the services provided by Yad Sarah.  Founded in 1976, Yad Sarah is one of Israel’s largest volunteer organizations with over 6,000 volunteers from all walks of life and over 100 branches around the country.  In the past year alone Yad Sarah has assisted over 380,000 people, with one out of every two families in Israel having been helped by Yad Sarah at one time or another.  Yad Sarah is dependent upon private donations to support its activities.

Caption

1. Yad Sarah Volunteers of all Creeds:  (Right to Left):  Mekonanat Badgleen, Medical Equipment Lending; Ali Otman, Director of the Beit Zeffaffa Branch; Didi Henke, Operator in the Emergency Alarm Center; Dr. Orit Vinocur, Yad Sarah Dental Clinic Dentist; Uri Lupolianski who runs a Yad Sarah branch from his home; Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the U.N., and Alon Kimche from the Guidance and Exhibition Center.

2. Founder of Yad Sarah and Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski gives  Secretary General of the U.N. Ban Ki Moon

a brief lesson on Matza ( Unleavened bread) .

Photographer:  Menashe Karni