Ezer Mitzion held another successful gathering at its Bnei
Brak center as part of a series of meetings on attention
deficit aimed at principals, parents and educators.
Each of the two meetings was attended by more than 400
principals, ramim, melamdim and parents who
listened attentively to lectures delivered by leading
professionals. The feedback forms submitted by over 500
participants spoke of the importance of raising awareness on
this topic as well as the answers provided by professionals.
They also noted the importance of the remarks made by Ezer
Mitzion Chairman Rabbi Chananya Cholek, who spoke at both
events.
At the end of the meetings the principals and educators
expressed an interest in continuing with these important
meetings, which contribute greatly to educators in the holy
work they do on a daily basis.
An event was also held to mark eight years of activity, over
500 volunteers and innumerable acts of chessed —
both large and small — done discreetly out of a small
apartment at Rechov Sdeh Chemed 14 in Kiryat Sefer.
Held at Eshkol Hapayis in Kiryat Sefer and sponsored by
Maccabi Healthcare's Kiryat Sefer branch, the event was
attended by over 600 women who came to hear about and show
recognition for Ezer Mitzion's efforts in Modi'in Illit.
The evening opened with the Something Special Exhibition,
which included jewelry items, quality gifts and works of art
made by girls from the after-school program. The tastefully
designed exhibition was led by girls with Down syndrome who
took part in making them.
They talked about how the after-school program provides them
a home, a social environment, support, a place to smile and
sometimes to cry, too. They spoke of the joy of creating and
the great feeling of gratification.
Speakers at the event included Rabbi Cholek, who spoke in a
pained voice about the hundreds of requests sent every day to
dozens of Ezer Mitzion branches around the country, about the
personal response to every problem and about the tremendous
chessed operation that is both a privilege and an
obligation to take part in. He concluded with a personal
request to take part in the volunteer activities taking place
at the branch.
Rabbi Shimon Ragovi, Ezer Mitzion's medical advisor, talked
about the professionalism and the structure of the
department, and surveyed its various sections. He laid out
before the participants the procedure followed for every
request and explained how to submit a request.
Mrs. Channah Lubin described the branch's great acts of
chessed and the importance — particularly during
this period when we are obligated to strive toward ahavas
chinom — of mutual assistance and accumulating
merit. Afterwards many of the listeners were driven to tears
by the personal account of Mrs. P., a mother of a two-year-
old girls with Down syndrome, who is compelled to make use of
many of the services provided by Maccabi and Ezer Mitzion.
She spoke about the difficulty of going from giving help to
the receiving end, about coping with various problems and
most of all about the understanding that one cannot just
take, but must also give sometimes.
At the end of the moving evening Ezer Mitzion's renowned
tzedokoh boxes — "which save from every
incident," said HaRav Chaim Kanievsky — were handed
out, and a drawing for valuable prizes was held.
The staff of Ezer Mitzion of Modi'in Illit expressed their
thanks to the 300 women who filled out feedback and volunteer
sign-up forms.
