Dear Friends,

I am writing this letter on the holiday of T”U B’shvat, when we celebrate our connection to the Land of Israel, and affirm our commitment to making it flourish. This month, our students learned about the holiday by tasting a variety of fruits, planting flowers in the garden, and creating 3-dimensional orange trees and other special art projects!

As someone who grew up in snowy Upstate NY, January always seemed like a strange time to celebrate “the New Year of the trees.” Moreover, since moving to Israel 17 years ago, I have learned that even in Israel, January isn’t the right time in the agricultural cycle to plant trees. Why do we mark this “Jewish Arbor Day” during the dark, cold days of winter, when the trees are bare, their leaves withered?

Despite how the trees look at this point in the year, something significant is happening. Deep inside the tree, the sap is just beginning to flow. It’s a silent process that we can’t see, but which sets the stage for the buds to grow and the tree to blossom. It’s at this stage, precisely when hope seems lost, that we remind ourselves that the most important changes are taking place. We can’t always see the progress, but little by little, nature is renewing itself. With sunshine, warmth and nurturing, the tree will bear fruit in the future.

What’s true for the trees is true for the Keren Or children, and for the world at large. We may not always see immediate progress, but with the right conditions, big things will happen. May our patient, loving, painstaking work with the Keren Or students be rewarded with their blossoming; and may our soldiers’ heroic efforts on the dark, cold battlefield, result in the flowering of the State of Israel.

With Hope,

Shira

Mother's Getaway -- A Wonderful Success!

At Keren Or, we recognize that caring for a child with complex disabilities has an effect on the entire family unit. Therefore, we offer programs and services for our students' families. This month, our mothers were treated to a rejuvenating two-day retreat at the Dead Sea. The all-inclusive trip provided a much-needed opportunity for relaxation and connection. The mothers participated in a soap-making workshop, had delicious meals, and got to swim in the hotel pools and the Dead Sea. Most importantly, the mothers participated in support groups and bonding games, and made meaningful connections with others who share similar experiences.

The getaway included a tour of the Dead Sea Works visitors center, where the group was guided by the grandfather of Naama Levy, who is one of the hostages that is currently being held captive in Gaza by Hamas. This poignant reminder underscored the challenges faced by the Jewish community, even during moments of respite. As we cherish the memories of this retreat, our thoughts and prayers remain with Naama Levy and all of the hostages who are still in captivity.

Huge thanks to our friends, Natalie and Davidi Jonas for sponsoring this special retreat in honor of Mordechai Ben Sara. May he enjoy continued good health and success for many years to come! Thank you!

New Kindergarten for Children With Autism and Visual Impairments Passes Audit with Flying Colors!

This month, the Communication Kindergarten for children with autism and visual impairments at Keren Or achieved a significant milestone by passing the Israeli Health Ministry's audit. This unique program -- one of the first of its kind in Israel -- is a joint venture between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and Keren Or, and provides many more hours of therapy and services than are traditionally offered in an educational setting. Piloted a year and a half ago, the Keren Or program combines essential extra therapy hours with individualized visual support for its students, filling a crucial gap in the educational landscape for children with visual impairments and autism.

The Kindergarten is based on the Floortime/ DIR (Developmental, Individualized-differences, and Relationship-based) model and focuses on enhancing communication and connecting with each child in an effort to draw them out of their world and into a relationship with others. By addressing both autism and visual impairments, the kindergarten offers a holistic approach to support the diverse needs of its students.

We are so happy to be partners with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education in creating this innovative program and we look forward to expanding this program in the years to come.

Run with Team Keren Or in the Jerusalem Marathon