The Latest at SHEKEL

Against a magnificent Jerusalem sunset, SHEKEL celebrated its 30th Anniversary on 9.9.09 with hundreds of guests at a gala opening of its new headquarters: The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Vocational Rehabilitation Building and Legacy Heritage Vocational Center. After a beautiful reception on the roof ,all catered in-house by our workers under the direction of Martha Hirsh, Nutrition Director, the Rooftop Therapy Garden was dedicated in the name of the donors, Leonore and the late Larry Zusman by their daughter Francie Zusman-Sina, her husband Avner Sina and her neice Sara Cole, in the presence of the Minister of Welfare and Social Services MK Yitzhak Herzog. The mezuzah at the center’s entrance was affixed by Prof. Shalom Rosenberg, parent and Dr. Zvi Feine, Deputy Director of JDC-Israel and one of SHEKEL’s founders. Additional dedications throughout the building were made by Mr. Yossi Tal-Gan, Chairman of SHEKEL, Adv. Anat Vilnai, Chairperson of SHEKEL Friends, Mr. Helmut Loeffler, representative of overseas volunteers, Stanley and Dr. Marlene Ringler, parents and volunteers and Mr. Ra’anan Dinur, volunteer and former Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office.

SHEKEL’s new Vocational Rehabilitation and Training Center at 11 Yad Harutzim St., Jerusalem opened on September 1, 2008, with the help of the Legacy Heritage Fund, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the National Insurance Institute and many more wonderful donors.
200 people with special needs are employed on 7 production lines making soaps, candles, cartons, packaging and handicrafts as well as in the new coffee shop and gift shop to open soon. Training in computers and other work skills will be offered to prepare people with special needs for semi-independent jobs in the regular work force. Your donations are needed to fund assessments, training, equipment and professional programs. Come visit!

The staff and volunteers of SHEKEL's Hostel for Severely Disables Young Adults in Petach-Tikva, attended the unusual exhibition "Dialogue in the Dark", with its strong social and sensory message - for those who've "seen it all".

People with Asperger Syndrome have certain social and communication impairments, usually accompanied by a higher than average level of intelligence. SHEKEL has opened the first apartment for this population in Israel and will shortly open a second one. Both apartments are in Jerusalem and the residents are all young men.