News

A new session of courses has begun at the Kisharon Center.

This year, in addition to the regular beginner and advanced computer classes and digital album design courses, several new tracks are being offered, among them: professional jewelry making courses, photography and Viennese table design.

The most exclusive course being offered is labor coach/doula training in conjunction with Reidman College. The course is highly professional and is very popular, as labor coaching is considered an in-demand profession.

With the approach of the holiday of Shavuous, the chag of Matan Torah and loving and giving to one's fellow Jew, two of the projects that we operate joined together.

The children of TALTAL, guided by a trained therapist who specializes in therapeutic gardening, planted flowers in window boxes. Each child then wrote a card and the flowers were distributed to the elderly women of the Be'er Miriam senior citizens club. Each woman received a window box with flowers lovingly planted by the children at TALTAL, accompanied by a warm brachah in honor of Shavuous.

This year, as every year, despite the difficult global financial situation, we launched an extensive Kimcha D'Pischah campaign.

Thousands of families who had no idea how they would find the resources to pay for necessities for the holiday, including matzos wine meat and fish, were pleasantly surprised to find an envelope with food vouchers in their mailboxes that enabled them to make purchases at a range of stores.

The joy that the recipients experienced as they filled their shopping carts with all that they needed for the holiday is indescribable. Instead of approaching the holiday with dread, these families felt a tremendous sense of relief as they joyfully prepared for the chag.

Children at the TALTAL club enjoy a range of activities and crafts.

On Purim, a large costume party was held. The Kfar Hashashuim toy store chain donated costumes to the children at TALTAL, and they held a mock wedding. The entire recreation room was decorated with Mazel Tov signs and crepe paper, and one of the crafts was decorating the plates that they "wedding feast" was served on. The "chassan" and "kallah" were greeted with music and singing, a "chuppah" was held, and then the "guests" were invited to the tables to partake of a festive, joyous meal.

The seniors at the Beer Miriam recreation club went on an enjoyable day trip to the Beit Hatefusoth Museum in Tel Aviv.

In the past, the women have gone on tours of Angel's Bakery in Jerusalem and the Bank of Israel, returning from these trips as happy and excited as school girls on a day of fun.

This time the trip was more of a learning tour. The women, many of whom grew up in various communities around the world, encountered memories from home through photographs, video clips, models of shuls and other exhibits.

The women got swept up in their memories, each trying to search for something to link her to her own roots; it was hard for them to leave the museum.

The visit will surely remain a pleasant memory for the Beer Miriam women for a long time to come.

As every year, our winter campaign is an effort to ensure that poor families do not suffer on the cold days.

A large group of needy families, among them elderly people and young children, received quilts, warm winter clothes for the children, and a high quality radiator to help keep them warm.

As the packages were delivered we found out that in many cases, this radiator would be the only means of heating that the family would have.

The sighs of relief underscored how biting the Jerusalem cold can be when there's no warm blanket under which to seek some relief.

We choose to distribute an electric radiator despite its relatively high price, because it is safer to use around children and the elderly.

We held a joyous Chanukah party at our Soup Kitchen.

After lighting candles on a large, beautiful menorah, the crowd enthusiastically sang the traditional, well known Chanukah songs. The atmosphere was one of joy and celebration.

Each person received a gift to take home: A box of eight delicious doughnuts and a package of colorful Chanukah candles.

The light of Chanukah warmed all their hearts!

The senior women's recreation club wasn't going to miss out on a Chanukah party!

The joy and singing breached the boundaries of age, proof of which was written all over the women's faces as they sang Chanukah songs and received a package of colorful candles.

True, doughnuts are not the healthiest food for elderly women who are in their seventies and eighties, but a happy heart is the best thing one can do for one's health.

The women enjoyed a crafts demonstration, heard a fascinating lecture and received a gift of a thermos, a box of eight fresh doughnuts, a package of Chanukah candles and a basket of winter friendly foods such as legumes, pasta, coffee and tea.

Another small token of warmth and love for our guests: One wintry, rainy day, when the Jerusalem cold seeps into the bones, we surprised the diners at our soup kitchen with a generous gift package.

The elderly, lonely people received a basket of foods suitable for the winter, including coffee, tea, canned goods, legumes, pasta and other products that provide a sense of warmth and satiation.

The 5770/2010 school year opened at TALTAL, our after school program for children-at-risk, with a festive sense of renewal.

This year, a new, dynamic director has taken over the management of the program. She has a degree in special education, specializing in attention and learning disorders. She was previously the director of a center for children with Down's syndrome, and her expertise and experience have come along with her to benefit our children in TALTAL.

The center is decorated beautifully and outfitted with the best equipment, creating a cheerful, lively atmosphere.

The center operates four days a week, caters daily to some 25 children at each session from needy families who need a secure framework for the afternoon and evening hours.

The children receive a hot meal, and many of them ask—and get—another portion for someone who is waiting for them at home.