Yad L’Achim, Helping Children

Yad L’Achim was established in 1950 to help new immigrants adjust to the newly born country of Israel.

It was founded during Operation Magic Carpet—the dramatic airlift that brought Yemenite Jews to Israel. Since then, Yad L’Achim has been there for every wave of immigrants, including those from Romania, Hungary, Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, Libya, Bukharan, Georgia and the Caucasus Mountain region. It provided assistance to Syrian Jews who arrived surreptitiously and Soviet Jews who came in a massive wave of aliyah in the 1990s.

This important organization has left its mark on each era with activities that include: establishing synagogues, creating networks of Torah classes, organizing seminars in Judaism for immigrants, publishing Torah literature in a variety of languages and registering children in Torah institutions

One of the most important things Yad L’Achim does is help children get into yeshivahs. Each year, they receive hundreds of requests from parents seeking assistance in placing their children in quality yeshivahs. In most cases, the parents are disappointed in the state schools.

Their department for Torah school registration offers tutoring to children who have difficulty keeping up. They also have guidance counselors to monitor each child’s progress.

The key is understanding the needs of the family and matching up the child to the right school. The department registers 1,000 children each year in yeshivahs. Though the peak season is late summer through early fall, when parents and students are seeking to register in new schools, they are busy all year round.

They feel it is a privilege and a sacred obligation to provide a Torah education to as many children as possible.

The children come from all segments of society—religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardic, veteran Israelis and new immigrants. In some cases, they have literally rescued young boys and girls from the streets.

Research shows that yeshivahs offer a distinct advantage over state schools, especially for students of immigrant families.

A study by Bar-Ilan University’s Prof. Zemira Mevarech and Dr. Bracha Karmarski documents the differences. When it comes to discipline, the relationship between teachers and students, support by teachers, and feeling a sense of belonging in their schools—of immense importance for immigrant children—yeshivahs scored much higher than secular schools.

What motivates Yad L’Achim is its genuine, deeply felt concern for fellow Jews.

The Jewish soul is a precious, all-too-rare resource, and they are not prepared to give up on even a single one.

Their main office is in Bnei Brak, Israel. They also have branches in Jerusalem, Haifa, London, Canada and New York.

If you would like to learn more about this organization, visit their website: www.yadlachimusa.org.il or call them at (800) 709-2005.