By Mrs. Rivka Bialistock,
Chairman of the Board
2007 - 2009
Shalom from all of us at Beit Yael. Our vision for the future is a very positive one. We have just completed many much needed renovations to our facility for which we are most appreciative as are those who have been here before and now see the recent improvements.
I want to tell you a little about our previous activities. I remember the very days that I began to help Dr. Ben Dor z'l. Her work in building our program was done with such love and for the good of all. At that time, in the mid 70s and early 80s, we did not have a facility but worked out of a neighborhood community center here in Safed.
Children with a wide variety of vision problems came to us from all over the country. There were those who were completely blind as well as those with a variety of vision problems. But nothing was beyond the Doctor's ability to help. During our sleep over summer camps, the first ones offered to vision impaired children, the children were billeted at homes of volunteer Safed families. These families took the children in and cared for them during the entire time they were here: they truly were their substitute families.
We also had volunteers who worked with us during that time who came from Israel and abroad. They also stayed with the families and helped to take care of the children. They brought them to the daily activities and then took them home at the end of the day. It was simply amazing to see how many wonderful families volunteered to be part of this. But it was not simple: the logistics of arranging the housing, meals and activities, was a tremendous job. As well, each of the programs was designed for children with specific needs and problems.
Time has passed quickly in the more than 30 years since then. We now have our own facility with our own dormitory where we can house up to 20 people for our short term sleep over programs. We are moving ahead in all ways as our programs are constantly being upgraded and redesigned to serve Israel's vision impaired to the best of our ability.
In the coming year one of our major desires is to bring groups of vision impaired from outside Israel to spend time in our unique learning environment. We would especially welcome those involved with Partnership 2000 to work with us to ensure that no one in their partner area is ignored or overlooked for service.
Your assistance during this coming year is most essential as we move forward with our programs in so many different areas. Our only desire is to be of value to Israel's vision impaired and we welcome your participation in this effort. We hope that whenever you can you will come to visit us in Safed to see just what we have been able to accomplish together.
By Motti Barzalai
Chairman of the Board
2005 - 2007
According to the most recent 2003 statistics, there are over
20,000 blind and vision-impaired individuals in Israel. This number grows as
more than 1,500 people are added each year. This includes people of all ages,
men, women and children, from all parts of the country regardless of their
ethnic background.
A person who is vision impaired has to deal with two
very difficult and fundamental problems:
1. The physical condition that
results as a loss of sight.
2. The mental and emotional condition that
leads to a fear of loss of control.
These two problems are connected and
exert a very strong influence on the life of any blind person. They cause them
to see every situation as a trap and can truly disrupt their ability to cope
with even the simplest situations.
Aware that rehabilitation is a dynamic force that affords the sightless and
poor-sighted the opportunity to manage their lives in a self-sufficient manner
The Center as set up by our founder, Dr. Yael Ben Dor, of Blessed Memory,
over thirty years ago. Since that time, it has served Israel's blind and
visually impaired community by empowering the sight handicapped to function
effectively in order to reach their maximum potential. Through the various
programs outlined in this newsletter, Israel's blind and vision impaired are
given the ability and skills to cope with their lives and the motivation to
achieve their ambitions.
The Center is involved locally, regionally and nationally. Blind people from
all ages and ethnic backgrounds participate in the activities. Dr. Ben Dor
believed that both physical and emotional rehabilitation had to be offered.
It would be this conditioning that would allow a person to fit into the
community.
While the blind person has certain limitations, it is of utmost importance
that the sighted community be accepting. At Beit Yael, both the blind person
and the community are given the strength to deal with this sensitive
situation. Working with open eyes we bring the blind and vision impaired to a
place of equal rights, one complete with all the responsibilities and
privileges that will allow them to take their rightful place in today's society.
Back to Top
