At a modest ceremony attended by rabbonim and public figures, a new school entitled "Ohr Chodosh" was dedicated.
Founded by the organization Shetillim, the school will provide a large range of services for children in the autistic spectrum. It is the first and only such school in the city geared to this [chareidi] public. Shetillim was founded in 2008 and now has 15 educational institutions serving over 900 students.
Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh, HaRav Dov Povarsky, was honored with affixing the mezuzas. Bnei Brak Mayor Rabbi Zeibert said, "Special Education in Bnei Brak has been accorded the best conditions in recent years." The director of the Chareidi sector in the Education Ministry, Mr. Itzik Zehavi said, "We will continue to accompany this school and the Shetillim network so that they can carry on providing excellent education."
Director-General of the Shetillim Network, Rabbi Yisrael Reisner, said in his greeting: "We are introducing here a revolution. In the city with the largest chareidi population, the first school for autism has now been opened. The Education Ministry in conjunction with the local authorities have joined arms in doing everything for the sake of establishing this school. In addition to the school's various educational activities, it will be operating extracurricular clubs twice a week until 8 p.m. Whoever is familiar with the handling and challenges of raising children within the autistic spectrum is well aware of the tremendous importance of this service."
