Bnei Brak Mayor Rabbi Yissochor Frankental has approved and
is backing an NIS-6 million ($1.5 million) construction
project for a building to house a rehabilitative employment
center designed to facilitate assisted employment for the
disabled. Construction is being carried with the help of the
Shalem Foundation, the National Insurance Foundation and
Mifal Hapayis.
For 40 years Bnei Brak has had an employment program for 21-
year-olds who are unable to work in the regular job market.
Today the program employs 40 participants, who perform tasks
such as packaging, folding, gluing and screwing. The raw
materials are supplied by external factories and importers
like Electronatecha, Yoskovitz, Weissgraf and Silko.
The need for a chareidi rehabilitation center was raised by
several councilmen. The facility, which will be divided into
a men's department and a women's department, will employ
professionals from the chareidi sector who are familiar with
and sensitive to the needs and way of life of the chareidi
population.
A team of three social workers and the head of the existing
rehabilitation programs is in charge of planning the new
facility.
Until the new facility opens, a class for 21-year-old
chareidi men with special needs has been started. The class
operates independently and has a separate entrance to the
workshop and dining room.
Coordinated by a professional chareidi staff, social activity
includes tefillos and shiurim on parshas
hashavua, a range of hands-on activities and even
hydrotherapy (with separate swimming arrangements) at the
Ezer Mitzion building. A group guided by a chareidi social
worker has also been set up to provide enrichment and to
promote independent development. There is also a plan to
extend the program into the afternoon hours and to open a
social club to occupy the participants until the evening.
The new rehabilitation center will be built with high
construction standards and new production lines will be
started, in addition to a track for participants with the
potential to enter the regular job market.
In addition to the new facility, the existing facility will
also be renovated. Mayor Frankental says the center will also
be made available to young men from nearby cities, in
coordination with the respective local authorities.
