Temple Beth Sholom will be celebrating with these children at its own Shabbat morning service on Saturday, May 24.  Please join us.   You can also make a gift to help support the work of this wonderful children's home and help enrich the lives of their children.  Please contribute to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund and note on your check that the contribution is for Neve Hanna.

On the weekend of May 23 and 24, 2008, eleven children from the children’s home “Neve
Hanna” in Kiryat Gat, Israel, will celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.   Neve Hanna has sent us some information about each of the children.  (The names have been changed to protect their privacy.).  

Ron studies in 6th grade and recently transferred form a class of students with special needs
to a regular class. His family emigrated from Morocco to Israel. Ron has two siblings. Since
his stepfather committed suicide, his mother barely copes with the struggle of day-to-day
life. Ron greatly misses a father figure in these crucial years of his adolescence. He is an
intelligent boy and loves sports, especially horseback riding, and singing in the choir of
“Neve Hanna”.

Moshe has three brothers and sisters. Two of his siblings also live at “Neve Hanna” and
this fall they will leave the institution after eleven years of education because they will be
drafted to the IDF. Moshe has no father to take care of him. His mother, who emigrated
from Kazakhstan to Israel, is very loving and supportive, but is incapable of caring for her
children. Moshe is in 7th grade and struggles with learning difficulties. He shows a lot of
respect for adults, but has difficulties connecting emotionally to children his own age.

Noam studies in 6th grade in a regular school. Even though this is quite a challenge for
him, his school performance has steadily improved. Nevertheless, Noam has to deal with
anxiety attacks and struggles with them on a daily base. Noam´s family emigrated from
India to Israel. Five years ago, he came to “Neve Hanna”, because his mother turned to
prostitution and abandoned her family. Noam has only his elderly father who is more like a
grandfather to him.

Vered came to “Neve Hanna” three years ago. She is what one would call a “good soul”
-always there for others to lend a helping hand. Vered is a hyperactive child with learning
difficulties which makes it very difficult for her to follow the lessons of her 7th grade class.
Her parents are of Moroccan background. She has no father in her life and due to severe
depression, her mother is unable to care for her children.

Sonia lead a live as a street kid until she came to “Neve Hanna” in 2005. Her parents
emigrated from the former USSR to Israel and had difficulties adjusting to the new society.
Because of their own struggle they neglected their children. Sonia´s brother was also
transferred to “Neve Hanna” during the last school year due to domestic violence. Sonia is
a sensitive child and overreacts easily even to minor problems. When “Neve Hanna”
wanted to celebrate her birthday, she tried to hide because she was so excited that she is
going to have the first birthday party of her life at the age of 9.

Tomer comes from a highly dysfunctional family of Moroccan background. His sister lives
in the same foster-family unit at “Neve Hanna” and he really tries to be there for her as her
older brother. Tomer attends 7th grade in the regular education system and has lived at
“Neve Hanna” since 2002. He displays severely disturbed social behavior. Apart from his
social problems, he is an excellent soccer player and very much admired by his team.

Naama was a good student and very proud of her achievements. Last year when she came
to “Neve Hanna” all this suddenly changed for this beautiful and relatively independent
girl, since the level required in her new school is much higher. Nevertheless, she adjusted
very quickly to the new situation and also to life at “Neve Hanna”. She could not continue
living at home, since her father is mentally ill and her mother is incapable of caring for her.
She loves music and theater and is highly accepted among the children of “Neve Hanna”.

Shachar comes from Ethiopia and attended the “Path to Peace” -the Joint Jewish-
Bedouin Daycare Center.at “Neve Hanna” for a period of four years. Since his father
returned to Ethiopia because of a new woman in his life, the mother has had a hard time
caring for her four children. But even though, Shachar and one of his sisters now live at
“Neve Hanna”, their mother is very much involved in their lives. Shachar is a quiet,
sensitive and intelligent boy with various fields of interest.

Shiri attends the “Path to Peace” – Joint Jewish-Bedouin Daycare Center of “Neve
Hanna” -in the afternoons. She is a very withdrawn girl and has difficulty integrating into
the group. She hardly speaks about her past which was clearly characterized by domestic
violence and probably also by sexual abuse. She responds very well to the challenge of
horseback riding together with her daycare group.

Galit has six siblings. Her father is a drug addict and was sentenced to prison due to
domestic violence. The family, who are from a Moroccan background, has to deal with
multiple problems such as economic hardship and violent behavior, as well as the
questionable sexual relationships of her older siblings with much older men. Galit comes to
“Neve Hanna” every afternoon and participates enthusiastically in one of our daycare
groups. Here she can enjoy what she loves best: playing and laughing with friends.

Ilana has parents from Moroccan and Ethiopian backgrounds. She has four brothers and
sisters. Her mother was on drugs and died some time ago under suspicious circumstances.
Even though her father remarried, he has difficulties functioning as a parent and keeping
the family together. Ilana attends one of our daycare groups and especially enjoys that here
she has the chance to do what she likes most: acting work of any kind.