Uniting Palestinians and Israelis with Yoga

Ruthie unites Israelis and Palestinians with yoga

by RALLY - AUGUST 28, 2012

In the summer of 2011, Olive Tree Yoga Foundation (OTYF) taught classes to Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities. They developed relationships with established teachers in Israel, planned the opening of an OTYF studio in Bethlehem, and brought the unifying energy of yoga to residents of the tent city protests in Tel Aviv.

OTYF’s mission is to create a powerful community of transformative leaders through the practice of yoga. Led by Ruthie Goldman, OTYF promotes and supports the teaching of yoga in communities affected by conflict, specifically, the underserved regions of the Middle East. Through yoga they aim to bring unity, strength, and possibility to Israelis and Palestinians.

In this light, OTYF consciously avoids schedule conflicts with religious holidays and does not propose any specific resolution to the conflict; their work is geared toward offering the possibility of equality for Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. For Ruthie and friends, yoga is a part of the trajectory of the solidarity movement in Palestine and Israel. They believe that yoga can bring an inner peace to those who practice and that this, in turn, will contribute toward a path to peace.

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REFLECTIONS ON GOOD AND EVIL

Michelangelo painting Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the L-rd G'd to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

RAMBAN, GENESIS 2:3
"And know that there is more encompassed in the words “to do,” for the six days of creation are akin to the days of the existence of the world." [AJWS translation]

According to Ramban, the creation of the world is not completed, but in the continual process of creation.

ECCLESIASTES RABBAH 12:14
What is it about Good and about Evil? It is said in the name of the house of Rabbi Yanai, one who give a poor person a small amount of money in public, for it happened once that Rabbi Yanai saw a certain man give some money to a poor person in public, it is better that he not give him than that he gives him now and disgraces him. The house of Rabbi Shiloh says, one who gives charity to a woman privately brings her into suspicion. [AJWS translation]

PSALMS 34:12-20
Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you what it is to fear G'd. Who is the man who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. Shun evil and do good, seek amity and pursue it. The eyes of G'd are on the righteous, G-d's ears attentive to their cry. The face of G'd is set against evildoers, to erase their names from the earth. They cry out, and G'd hears, and saves them from all their troubles. G'd is close to the brokenhearted; G'd delivers those crushed in spirit. Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many, G'd will save him from them all. [JPS translation]

RAMBAM, LAWS OF TEMPERAMENT 6:7
If one observes that another committed a sin or walks in a way that is not good, it is the person’s duty to bring the erring one back to the right path and point out that he/she is wronging him/herself by this evil course, as it is said, “You shall surely rebuke your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:17). One who rebukes another, whether for offenses against the one who rebukes him/herself or for sins against G'd, should administer the rebuke in private, speak to the offender gently and tenderly, and point out that the rebuke is offered for the wrongdoer’s own good, to secure for the other life in the World to Come. If the person accepts the rebuke, well and good. If not, the person should be rebuked a second, and a third time. And so one is bound to continue the admonitions, until the sinner assaults the admonisher and says, “I refuse to listen.” Whoever is in a position to prevent wrongdoing and does not do so is responsible for the iniquity of all the wrongdoers whom that person might have restrained.

MISHNA AVOT 5:13 - There are four types of charity givers:
- One who wishes to give, but that others should not give: their eye is evil towards that which belongs to others.
- One who wishes that others should give, but that they themselves should not give: their eye is evil towards that which is their own.
- One who desires that they themselves should give, and that others should give: they are pious.
- One who desires that they themselves should not give and that others too should not give: they are wicked. [translation by USCJ, edited for gender neutrality]

Give away more money

Give away more money - You will become richer! Charity To Assist Growth. By Ronn Torossian

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or donations can often be seen as window-dressing, but if done right, corporate (and personal) responsibility encompasses giving and the highest form of fulfillment. Earning my living helping corporations (and individuals) utilize the media and public forums to build their brand, we are often asked if certain charitable initiatives will help companies make more, or be portrayed better and my professional answer is always – Only if you are dedicated to it and really believe in it.

Other than the divine blessing and requirements of donations (tithing), we also merit many business realizations from giving to charity. In his book “Giving”, former President Bill Clinton tells of an African tribe he encountered as a result of his “Clinton Foundation”, that has a unique way of greeting each other. When someone says ‘hello’ the other greets him with “I see you.” It’s a powerful message in a world where differences are usually quite visible. Clinton testifies on his amazement with the amount of individuals and business alike that share so many causes and are actively contributing to organizations, NGOs, and charities.

To “win” at corporate responsibility and giving requires dedication. Celebrities, who walk around hospitals one-time, attend fundraising events for NGOs or make a public donation without sincerity can often be seen, with good reason as insincere. I don’t rule out the possibility that some play the game in a very strategic and bleak approach to the issue of giving. But it shouldn’t undermine those individuals, businesses and “even” corporations who are devoted to a larger goal than their own sales and profits.

I was raised in a home where giving wasn’t an option – it was a requirement, whether your money, time, attention or thoughts. For me they are part of a holy, higher value and I believe all people should give, regardless of how much or how little they have. The almighty rests his blessing on those who give, and certain “karma” if you will, shines your life and interactions with people.

Charitable donations raise a company (and individuals’) self image and self awareness. Helping and giving makes you feel good, and more focused on your purpose in the sector or your role. It allows organizations (and people) to be balanced and focused, and lessons jealously, allowing you to feel accomplished and focused on earning even more.

Yet another business benefit is the amazing people you meet at non-profit organizations you care about – you meet people who care about issues similar to you, and as you develop a bond over time, naturally you can make life-long friends, and also naturally beneficial business relationships. (And some of the people you meet through charities can be completely inaccessible in the “real world” but can be reached via the charity you devote your time and effort to).

These people can even evolve into your biggest clients as they did for me. Am certainly not saying to join, or get involved in CSR for business relationships – Join if you believe in and want to help the cause… but of course always expand your network.

Here are some initiatives to consider:

Social Responsibility acts: Whether an individual or major corporation, engage in corporate good. Your employees might very much identify with a list of causes that they and you can embark around the neighborhood you work from, or individual causes. Match donations, or offer time to causes. Can even allow corporations to be rallied as a team around a cause, which becomes useful for corporate morale.

NGOs and Dinners: Beside the obvious goals met when you attend a dinner and the objectives it fulfills with your contribution, you get to meet very interesting people who share the notion that our common humanity is vital. That is your evening and opportunity to mingle, bond, and make new connections. The cause can set the basis for self-reflection and encouragement to support the benefit you attended.

Programs: This is where unique resources come to place. Participate in programs where you can make a difference. PR firms of course can assist in media work, restaurants with food, and the like. Promote the cause like you’d help a loved one.

There are many ways and means to give. The initial act is the most important and ultimate fulfillment that you will gain, and remember that it is never too late to start – Just do it. Give the money away, the blessings of every kind will be returned to you in many multiples. That’s a personal and Public Relations guarantee.

Ronn Torossian is president and CEO of 5WPR, one of the 20 largest independent PR agencies in the U.S. Named to the “40 under 40” list of PR Week & Advertising Age, Ronn Torossian was a semi-finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and may be reached at Rtorossian@5wpr.com and followed on twitter @rtorossian5wpr

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV)

"The village will be a place of hope, where traumatized youth can "dry their tears" (Agahozo) and "live in peace" (Shalom)."
Tikkun olam (literally, "repairing the world," and practically, "engaging in social action") is one of the core tenets of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. At the Village, to undertake tikkun olam as a central project because of the strong contribution it offers to the youth of Agahozo-Shalom themselves, as well as to the surrounding communities.

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) is a residential community in rural Rwanda. Its 144 acres are home to youth who were orphaned during and after the genocide in 1994. The Village is designed to care for, protect and nurture these young people. It is a place of hope, where "tears are dried" (signified by the Kinyarwanda word agahozo) and where the aim is to live in peace (from Hebrew, shalom). The marrying of these two languages and concepts in the name of the Village is intended as a reminder of the success of similar efforts in Israel, where genocide also changed the face of a nation.



Within Agahozo-Shalom’s supportive and structured community, the rhythm of life is being restored, with the ultimate goal of equiping young people who have lived through great trauma to become healthy, self-sufficient, and engaged in the rebuilding of their nation. The environment of love and safety created at Agahozo-Shalom serves as the backdrop for programs designed to help our teenagers grow both emotionally and intellectually. The experiences they accumulate at their village home are intended to help them at every level of their future development.

In addition to healing oneself, Agahozo-Shalom teaches the principle of serving the community, both locally and globally. The young people at Agahozo-Shalom are learning through principle and practice the value of mending the world around them (as are the many volunteers who join us from around the world). Our graduates will emerge from Agahozo-Shalom as balanced adults who are not only able to care for themselves and their families, but who are committed to making their community, their country, and their world, a better place.

The Spark of an Idea
In November of 2005, Agahozo-Shalom Founder Anne Heyman and her husband, Seth Merrin, heard a talk about the Rwandan genocide. At a dinner after the talk, Seth asked the speaker to identify the biggest problem Rwanda faced. The answer was the vast number of orphans with no systemic solution to support their well-being and development.

Immediately Anne, a South African-born lawyer and mother of three living in New York City, connected the challenge of the Rwandan orphan population to the similar challenge that Israel faced after the Second World War. When there was a large influx of orphans from the Holocaust,, Israel built residential living communities called youth villages. Anne was inspired to bring this model to Rwanda.

Misson - To enable orphaned and vulnerable youth to realize their maximum potential by providing them with a safe and secure living environment, health care, education and necessary life skills. Education and service are used to model and create socially responsible citizens in Rwanda and around the world.

PHILOSOPHY
The goal of the Village is to restore hope and opportunity to traumatized young lives. A place of learning and renewal, the Village offers a safe, nurturing environment where Rwandan youth can gain the skills and self-confidence they will need to fulfill their individual potential and make an active contribution to a stronger, more peaceful Rwanda.

Repairing the Individual
The philosophy behind ASYV is based heavily on the Yemin Orde Youth Village. We believe that there is a timeline in every life, and that it is important to recognize that each traumatized youth has a past, present and future. Trauma causes a break between the past and the present, traumatic events that they need be to repaired in order for the young people to live in the present and be able to dream of having a future.

At the Village, each teenager will deal with their traumatic break on two levels. One is called tikkun halev, meaning “repairing the heart” in Hebrew. This includes individual therapies that range from music and art to seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. The second level of the therapeutic process in tikkun olam, meaning “repairing the world.” The notion is that an individual’s healing can be furthered by doing acts of kindness for others and the feeling that they have a part in creating a more just world.

Focus on Learning
ASYV focuses on developing students both cognitively and socially. Schooling is geared towards the ideal of university but also provides students with choices for vocational tracks. Broadly, the Village education focuses on communal participation, and encourages the spirit of volunteerism as a means for sustainable development and community enrichment. It also seeks to expand each student’s talents, skills, and capacity to become not only functioning members of society, but leaders of their communities.

Financials
Where does the money come from? / Where does the money go?

Three Easy Ways To Donate Please, Click Here

The Boldrini Hospital - Cancer & Blood Diseases

The Early Childhood Center Boldrini

The Centro Infantil Boldrini is a reference hospital in Latin-America, acts 33 years ago in the care of children and adolescents with cancer and blood diseases.

The Boldrini Hospital is an example of hope, of social commitment, however there is plenty to do: to achieve complete compliance, promoting the development of scientific research to assist in the understanding of cancer, which constitute the pillars of performance of this entity. For both, partnerships with universities, government, society and entrepreneurs are crucial.

It is through solidarity that humans do evidence of true humanity.

The mission
Caring for children, adolescents and young adults with blood diseases or cancer through medical and multidisciplinary, regardless of socioeconomic level, race or creed, and to develop teaching and research.

Overview
Being a Centre of Excellence in the diagnosis, treatment, teaching and research of cancer and hematological diseases in children, adolescents and young adults.

The values
- Work grounded in comprehensive care to patients and their families.
- Multiplier Center of expertise, technologies and services.
- Use of national and international protocols of treatment.
- Research funding.
- Innovative character, working with pioneering the process of humanization of hospitals, promoting since its inception the dignity and the respect to all persons who seek the hospital.
- Ethical management through transparency.

How to help: visit https://www.boldrini.org.br/site/default.asp

Jewish Joint Distribution Committee - Brazil

In 1636, Jews built the Kahal Zur synagogue in Recife/Br

Jewish history in Brazil dates back to the time of the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Gaspar da Gama, a Jew by birth, but later kidnaped and forcibly baptized, accompanied Portuguese admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral when he landed in what is now Brazil in 1500, beginning a more than 500-year presence in the New World.

Brazil is the largest country in South America, occupying half of the continent’s land mass. It is also the largest economy in the region. Formed primarily after 1920, Brazil’s Jewish population is currently the 10th largest in the world. Ethnically diverse in origin, its Ashkenazic component is primarily of Polish and German descent, while much of the Sephardic population is of Egyptian descent. Nearly all Jews live in urban areas, with São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, having the largest Jewish community, followed by Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre.

Brazil is a federation; consequently, the Jews in each state have an organization of their own. The central body representing all Jewish federations and communities in Brazil is the Confederação Israelita do Brasil (CONIB), founded in 1951. This umbrella organization includes 200 associations engaged in promoting Zionist activity, Jewish education, culture, and charity.

Need
Income disparity is a major problem throughout Brazil, including in its Jewish communities. There is a need to create development and income opportunities to ensure a self-sustainable future. Attention to the enrichment of Jewish culture and heritage is also needed.

Response
JDC acts as a partner and consultant to the Jewish communities of Brazil, helping to enhance services, community development initiatives, and outreach activities. JDC’s efforts include:

Opening the Ariel Job Center in Porto Alegre, which provides training and job placement help
Monitoring a microloan fund for the community of São Paulo
Workshops for small Jewish communities in the country’s interior

Impact
JDC support is enriching Jewish community development in Brazil through training programs and exchanges. These include:
- The 2nd Latin American Conference for Homes and Day Centers for the Elderly, held in São Paulo in November 2009, brought together representatives from Jewish care facilities in eight Latin American countries
- The Albert Einstein Jewish Home for the Aged and Hospital in São Paulo—the largest Jewish hospital in Latin America—partnered with JDC for the event

Repair the world: Short Term Service

Get Involved - Want to repair the world? Whether you have five minutes, an afternoon, a year, or an entire lifetime to devote to service and social justice, you can make a difference.

Exist different ways to get involved on the important issues:

SHORT TERM SERVICE (1 day-3 months)

One-time volunteer:

Many direct-service projects simply require that you show up once, or commit for a week-long project: to paint a house, serve dinner at a shelter, plant trees in a neighborhood park, visit residents in the VA hospital, or flier for a organization.

Alternative Spring Break: 

Spending a winter or spring break engaged in service is becoming increasingly popular amongst college students. In addition to getting a tan, participants get to make a difference in a community and meet other students from across the country. Interested? Check out the alternative break programs through American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Hillel, Jewish Farm School (JFS), Jewish National Fund (JNF), Jewish Funds for Justice (JSFJ) and the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC).

Project Organizing:

Organizing a discrete project — like a canned food drive, a fundraiser, installing solar panels on your home, or inviting a speaker to educate your community — takes a bit of time and planning, but the payoff is worth the extra effort.

Campaigning:

Whether it’s for an issue you care about or a politician you believe in, signing on to volunteer for a campaign is a direct way to make a sustained impact.

Fundraising:

Joining a walkathon like the AIDS Walk or bikeathon like Hazon’s Jewish environmental bike ride is a profound way to raise both money and awareness for an organization or cause, while having an amazing time.

Repair the world: Get Involved - Quick Service

“It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” (Avot 2:21)

Want to repair the world, but feel overwhelmed or unsure about where and how to start? Whether you have five minutes, an afternoon, a year or an entire lifetime to devote to service and social justice, you can make a vital difference. The categorie below outline different ways to get involved on the issues that matter to you.

Whether you have five minutes or an entire lifetime to devote to service, you can make a vital difference.


HOW TO SERVE - QUICK SERVICE (1-10 minutes)

Petitions:
Taking a moment to sign a petition on a topic you care about is always worth the time. If you receive the petition over email, Facebook or Twitter, an extra 30 seconds lets you forward it along to friends and continue spreading the word.

Phone call:
Calling a representative is easier than it sounds and something you can do on your lunch break, walking between classes or meetings, or from the privacy of your home. The non-partisan news and civic engagement organization, Congress.org can connect you to an issue. Then, find your representative’s contact information here and call, email or tweet them your message.

Apps: Have an iPhone or similar?
There are hundreds of service and social justice-related apps that can connect you to information and ways to get involved in a few seconds. If you’re iPhone free, the website The Extraordinaries links you to “micro-volunteering” opportunities that you can complete from your computer in a few minutes.

Hasdei Naomi - Food to the Needy

Hasdei Naomi was founded in 1984 by Rabbi Yosef Cohen.

While sending his small children to school, he noticed that there were children arriving with torn briefcases and worn out clothing and he was deeply disturbed by this sight and felt badly for those families.

Rabbi Cohen, went, himself, from door to door, collecting food products and distributed them to the poor. After a while an entire array of volunteers was added, storage warehouses were formed, mobile collection-carts were distributed for collecting products. And today, Hasdei Naomi supports over a thousand families on a permanent basis as well as many others from time to time.

“Hasdei Naomi” takes care of those children and sends their families a box of basic products, such as canned goods, oil, vegetables, bread, laundry powder and sweets for the child. Dozens of products are being sent every month to more than 5000 families. The value of one box is about 500 NIS (today 500 Israeli shekels = 143.95 U.S. dollars).

The boxes which are given to needy families and widows, are distributed by a messenger from a courier service, in order to disguise the purpose of the mission and to spare the women and children the unnecessary embarrassment.

Donate to Hasdei Naomi; Click aqui

Dil Se Campaign - Delhi, India.

Do not bet indifferent 

Dil Se envisions a humane and just society, which is free from hunger, hatred, violence, injustice and every form of deprivation which denies to people their social and economic right; where every person has equitable access to life of hope and dignity.

The Dil Se Campaign was launched in June 2005.The Government of Delhi identified the Centre for Equity Studies (CES) as the nodal agency for managing residential homes for street children in allocated government buildings. Since then CES has been coordinating the Dil Se Campaign in managing these residential homes in Delhi and later in Hyderabad.

Aman Biradari is a well-known social campaign and this is an umbrella campaign for The Dil Se Campaign (For more general information of Aman Biradari, visit the homepage; http://www.amanbiradari.org/dilse.html

The Centre for Equity Studies (CES) was founded in August 2000. It is an autonomous institution engaged in research and advocacy on issues of social injustice. It seeks to enquire into the nature and causes of social injustice and inequity and to collectively find methods of moving towards a more equitable world. It attempts to influence public policy in favour of people suffering from injustice.

DIL SE CAMPAIGN'S WORKS:
Dil Se and People - Dil Se Events - Education - Field Works - Residential Homes

STORIES OF STREET CHILDREN
How The Dil Se Campaign Started and Why We Should Start It.

VOLUNTEER FOR CHILDREN
You can simply click here and volunteer us to share your gifts with our children contributing to the futures of them and India.

Want to help? Make contact, click Dil Se Campaign

The Jerusalem Hills Children's Home

The Jerusalem Hills Children's Home, is JWI (Jewish Women International) cornerstone program since 1943, treats Israel's most vulnerable and neglected children, helping them to overcome the trauma of their early years.

The Children's Home offers a home and treatment for about 100 boys and girls ages 7-18 from all sectors of Israeli life. The facility is internationally known for its unique approach, emphasizing drug-free treatment, intensive counseling, family involvement in the rehabilitative process, and an intensive training program for professional staff. Children are able to attend school on-site as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. In addition to residential treatment, the Children's Home also runs an out-patient clinic.

An accredited training center for special education, social work and clinical psychology students, the Children's Home conducts research programs and exchanges information with Ben Gurion University, Hebrew University, the Yale University Child Study Center, Baylor University and other international institutions. Mental health professionals worldwide look to the program for new methods to aid troubled children.

Almost 1,000 children have graduated from the Children's Home, with an average stay of four years. The program is credited with the greatest success -- a recovery rate of 60% -- of any institution of its kind. It is a registered "amutah" (a not-for-profit organization) funded by Israel’s Ministries of Health, Education, and Welfare, and supported by JWI and friends throughout the world.

Please support the Children's Home with a donation today.

On July 7, 2009, the Children's Home dedicated its brand new facility in Kyriat Yearim, outside Jerusalem.

Network Of Orphanages & Children's Homes

http://www.kazembeorphanage.com/

KiteChild are the world's first network of ophanages and children's homes. We provide visibility and promote support by mapping and exposing the needs of our members to the greater online community.

Kitechild Mission

Kitechild is the first online network for orphanages and children’s homes around the world. The mission is to provide space on the web that will increase systematic wide- scale communication and cooperation among national and international child care providers.

Equally seek to provide visibility by both mapping the needs and endeavors of child care givers as well as promoting online awareness to encourage our generation of web users to become informed and involved.

Belief is that by increasing transparency and global awareness of the state of child caring organizations, can improve the way they are run and in turn, the children living in these challenging situations will have access to greater opportunities.

Want to know more about KITECHILD?
Orphanages Network - Partners - Donations: Click here.

Your contribution really goes to charity?

*My friend wrote to me asking for more references on a charitable institution that he did not know and what I had indicated for him sharing and supporting the cause.

He asked me a simple question:
-- Can you tell me more about this institution?

He had a sensible attitude in ask me about it, because we must always be alerts about various institutions  of charities. We should take note about how institutions deal with money or donations, inclusive, how much paid its directors, officers, employees and his staffs. How much was collected in money and donations and how many resources are effectively applied in charity and help?

We should also evaluate the financial balances, which should always be updated. The financial account should be very transparent, so that everyone else can understand it and have a good trial.

There are some websites of companies that oversee institutions, providing ratings and we can do queries easily.

I recommend to everyone read carefully an interesting article on the topic above, in the link below will find more information.
"Give Smart: 25 Websites To Learn The Charity's Effectiveness & Efficiency"

Deuteronomy; Re'eh 15: 7-8  "Open Your Hand Generously"
7. When, in a settlement in the land that God your Lord is giving you, any of your brothers is poor, do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your needy brother (Ki-yihyeh vecha evyon me'achad acheycha be'achad she'areycha be'artsecha asher-Adonay Eloheycha noten lach lo te'amets et-levavecha velo tikpots et-yadecha me'achicha ha'evyon).
8. Open your hand generously, and extend to him any credit he needs to take care of his wants. (Ki-fatoach tiftach et-yadecha lo veha'avet ta'avitenu dey machsoro asher yechsar lo)

The Children-Youth Orchestra of Guitars

The Children-Youth Orchestra of Guitars of Children's Home in Sao Paulo - Brazil, plans to offer an alternative to a new life project. Provide opportunities for young people with musical skills, to graduate and be multipliers in their social sphere.

The goal of social organizations, and the Children's Home of CIP is no different, is able through their actions and responsibilities, see the positive effect and impact of this action, and, ultimately, to see lives transformed as a demonstration of achievement and progress.

Preservation of Cultural and Social Responsibility are the premises of our partnership. The art is in service to this commitment.

The Children's Home - Lar da Crianças da CIP

Institution for Charity, founded in 1937, The Children's Home - "Lar das Crianças" da CIP - Congregação Israelita Paulista, has a core of care for children, young and families in vulnerable situations, either due to emotional, social and / or economic.

The home has its headquarters for 60 years in the neighborhood of Alto da Boa Vista in São Paulo City, borough and district of Santo Amaro, with reference to their area of expertise in the local community.

Currently serves about 250 children and young people from 3 years old until their vocational training.

The children remain in the body during the day and all return to their homes later in the day. Receive food from home, medical, dental, psychological, speech therapy and teaching.

The young people receive all necessary support for their training and to enable them to professionalize themselves properly.

The organization also offers many educational workshops and courses, as well as a space for recreation, sports, library, computer lab, as well as social and cultural activities, such as the Youth Orchestra of Guitars.

Orquestra Infanto-Juvenil de Violões está sob regência e arranjos do Maestro Cláudio Weizmann

Make simple donation or choose to support a project, you or your company will receive as an incentive from the Brazilian government, the tax exemption of income tax deductible.
Clik here to donation or support.

Hallelujah - Praise the L-rd & Happy Holidays

 Christmas tree made from 5,480 plastic bottles stands tall in Haifa

As you know, Jews do not celebrate "Christmas" but in this time We share the principal reason for this Christian day feast: Love, Charity and Fraternity. So, here's a message to all  who celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas!
Hey you, where you go so fast?
I know you have little time ...
But do give me a few minutes of your attention?
I realize that many people in the streets, running like you.
Where goes everyone?
The shopping-malls are crowded ...
Children are dragged by parents rushed, amid the turmoil ...
There is a widespread rush ...
Food and beverages are stored ...
And the gifts then? There are so many to buy...
I understand that you have little time.
But what is the reason for the rush?
I realizing, too, the lights adorning shop windows, streets, houses, trees ...
But I confess, I see little sparkle in eyes ...
Few smiles and friendly, little patience for a fraternal chat ...
It's nice to see lights, colors, abundance of food and materials goods ...
But it would be so nice to see smiles francs ...
Handshake lengthy...
Hugs tenderness ...
More gratitude ...
More love ...
More compassion

Perhaps you've never noticed that there are people who offer gifts by mere interest ...
There are hugs colds and calculating...
Which family members hate each other, without the slightest willingness for reconciliation.
But since you lent me a few minutes of your precious time, I would ask again - Why do you hurry?
Amid the turmoil, sitting on the curb, a homeless, maybe drunk, screaming loudly, "living The Messiah, Merry Christmas!
And the "sober" person make a comment: "He's crazy. "
And the City preparing the Christmas ....
But for that you still have time to ponder the true meaning of Christmas, I dare say:
Christmas is not just a festive day, the essence of Christmas should be a way of life.
Christmas should be the expression of love ...
And those who live without love does not know the charm of the sea that incessantly caresses the beach in a back-and-forth constant ...
Christmas is a fraternity...
And life without brotherhood is like a river without a bed, a moonless night, a child without a smile, a star without light.
But Christmas is also a union ...
And life without marriage is like a cracked boat, a bird with broken wings, a sailor lost at sea without end.
And finally, Christmas is a pure expression of love ...
And life without love is disabled for peace, because in its intimacy, not blowing the breeze of dawn, and no one else realizes the scenario multicolored sunset.
Living without peace is like sailing without a compass on a dark night ... It is not aware of the ways that emphasize the soul and gives meaning to life.
Anyway, life without love ... Well, life without love is mere illusion.

May this Christmas be for you more than parties and exchanging gifts.
May the Christmas be a lasting mark on your lifestyle.

Author Unknown

Hallelujah (Halelu-Yah means literaly "Praise the L-rd")

The Aleh Foundation - One Life at a Time

The Aleh Foundation was formed in 1984 by a group of women to help cope with the staggering need for disabled children in Israel.



In 1989 a delegation from Israel reached out to Rabbi Shlomo Braun to establish a US fundraising office and expand the Aleh Foundation’s public relations and fundraising activities. The Aleh Foundation opened its first office in the United States in
1989, and developed a network of more than 30,000 friends throughout the USA who became staunch supporters of our activities. With the Aleh Foundation’s help, the rehabilitation centers in Israel grew from a hospice program of 23 children to become the nation’s largest provider of educational rehabilitative services to severely developmentally disabled children operating in four different cities in Israel.

The Aleh Foundation hosts an array of successful fundraising events in the Gotham, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, The Marriot, as well as parlor meetings in different locations. Aleh Foundation hosts Gala Events in Los Angeles as well as Chicago and other locations in USA. Prominent Leaders and celebrities from the USA and Israel join our elite circle of friends in our state-of-the-art fund-raising projects. Aleh Foundation organizes many different Bar-Bat Mitzvah Projects in schools or custom-tailored to their needs and School Projects instilling chesed in their curriculum and in their every day lives.

In addition to funds, the Aleh Foundation also sends highly specialized equipment to Israel for use by disabled children, including therapeutic communication toys; specialized cups and spoons; custom designed carriages (See illustration) and wheelchairs, hard-to obtain medicines, clothing and many personal items, all donated by generous supporters.

The Aleh Foundation is now expanding its services to include other select Israeli institutions in the areas of:

Educational and recreational activities
Therapeutic services
Family Respite
Funds for serious illnesses
Housing
Food and Clothing
Medical Care

Want to help and donate?
The Aleh Fondation - Helping the Helpless: "One life at a time"

CIAM - Centro Israelita de Apoio Multidisciplinar

CIAM - Israeli Center for Multidisciplinary Support / Brazil


The words written in video says: - "This publicity would be to have beautiful images of intellectually disabled people, playing, working, studying, leading a normal life. Just have not because us prefer to use our resources to improve the lives of disabled people. Our publicity will remain simple. But the life of disabled people will improve greatly."

Founded in 1959 by Harry Fromer, CIAM - Israeli Center for Multidisciplinary Support comes from 48 years ago, promoting social inclusion of children, adolescents and adults with intellectual disabilities. CIAM is an organization that works to develop these people, from birth to old age, without distinction of race or religion.

Today's serving more than 600 people with intellectual disabilities, CIAM seek into their programs to serve families in needy on region that is located, as well as supporting the common schools of public and private network with regard to education of persons with disabilities intellectual and / or difficulty in learning.

The monitoring is done through monthly meetings and visits in according needing for the school, encouraging its transformation into a school for everyone, providing theoretical and practical resources.

- Respect, dignity, self-fulfillment, freedom and independence are things that everyone is entitled to have in life. Everyone even. So CIAM, promotes social inclusion of children and adults with special needs. CIAM is an organization working to pioneer the development of people with disabilities from birth to age 3 rd. Because citizenship is for life.

Note: For donations or be a Sponsor enter on site and search for "Contact"

ABADS (former Pestalozzi Society)

Click to see more photos

The Brazilian Association for Social Welfare and Development - ABADS is a charitable institution of public utility, with 58 years of existence.

Mission
Offer specialized programs and services in the areas of Health, Education and Professional Training for children and young people with intellectual disabilities from 0 to 22 years, therapeutic and educational process to autistics, and intellectual support to the disabled adult in order to encourage the exercise of citizenship - in paradigm - social inclusion.

The actions developed by ABADS are a reference for building an inclusive society (showing its importance in the third sector), because they promote information dissemination, support to families and professional training.

Health - Center for diagnosis and treatment.
Education - Special education school for children and kids.
Support centre for adult intellectual disability.
Professional training.

In ABADS over thirty thousand people are served annually in its various programs and services.

You want to help ABADS? Click here to learn more.

'Justice and only justice will we should follow'

Nowadays nothing is more important than being fair and make acts of loving-kindness

The name "Tzedakah" comes from Hebrew and means exactly; "social justice with charity". This word tzedakah has a wider significance, because charity is not only give when you have. Tzedakah assumes that what you have, in left is missing to someone.

The concept of "Tikkun Olam" - "Repair the World" has to be part of our principles. If we can not end poverty, at least try to help our neighbors out of it, if you donate one jacket, for example, you practicing a mitzvah (commandment, precept).
The Hebrew word "tzedakah" is commonly translated as "charity" or "tithe" and is partly wrong. The "charity" implies that your heart motivates you to go beyond the simple function. Tzedakah, literally means "righteousness", ie, do the right thing with responsibly.

A "tzaddik" also is a person of integrity, someone who fulfills all its obligations.
The verse says: Tzedek, tzedek you should follow - Justice, justice you should follow, that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Deut. 16:20)

There is a basic human responsibility to be fair to the next. Nobody needs to be rich to do justice. Give with joy, you can donate money, time, clothes, foods, kindness or something. Doing this is a statement that "I do what I can to help."

This is the Jewish concept of "Tikkun Olam" - "Repair the World".