Educational institutions in various cities are making efforts
to integrate hundreds of children from the south of Israel
currently staying in locations far away from their
schools.
In accordance with Mayor Nir Barkat's directives to assist
southern residents, the Jerusalem Municipality's Department
for Chareidi Education has been working to find placements
for students from chareidi institutions in the south
currently being hosted in Jerusalem at local schools.
Directors of chareidi community centers and representatives
from Yad Sarah and Ezer Mitzion are assisting the department
to meet the refugees' various needs through a special
Municipal Headquarters set up to match people with host
families and handle other problems.
In Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg, deputy mayor and
commissioner of chareidi education, instructed the Education
Department and principals to integrate students from the
South, ranging from three-year-olds to high-school, yeshiva
and seminary students. So far placements have been arranged
for 400 students.
A special hotline has been set up at the Deputy Mayor's
Office to offer assistance. To reach the hotline, which is
seeking volunteers, dial 02-990-9862.
In Petach Tikva, Rabbi Menachem Schwartz, director of the
Unit for Chareidi Education, led efforts to seek placements
for children from the south. A gemach has been set up
to lend schoolbooks and clothing. Afternoon activities are
available to the young guests, including a play center for
small children, arts and crafts for older children and
masmidim programs in the evenings. Also, opening hours
have been expanded at the chareidi library to allow children
to spend time reading books.
Residents from the south looking for host families in Petach
Tikva or Petach Tikva residents interesting in hosting
refugee families can call a chessed hotline at 052-763-
0170.
