A celebration was hosted at Emunah’s Bet Elezraki Children’s Home for At-Risk Children in Netanya in honor of our daughter, Racheli Schachter’s bat mitzvah. Racheli and five bat-mitzvah age girls from the Home went to a salon together and then for ice cream by the shore. The girls were so friendly and warm; they all got along so well and had a lot of fun!
Racheli’s excellent Hebrew, learned in school at Yeshivat Noam, certainly eased their communication. Upon the girls’ return, there was a party with the rest of the children from the Home, along with some friends and family, including Rabbi Chaim Hagler and the Yeshivat Noam family tour group. Rikki and Yehuda Kohn, the “Ima & Abba” of the home, its rabbi, Rabbi Steven Goldsmith, as well as all the other employees and volunteers were truly inspirational. Equally impressive were the warm and friendly children of the Home, who welcomed everyone into their dining room for dinner, and sang and danced with all the guests afterward. There were also special performances by the adorable young dance troupe and the talented choir.
It was a truly memorable evening at a very special place. We are glad that Yeshivat Noam’s emphasis on the importance of chesed helped to inspire Racheli to want to make her bat mitzvah a meaningful experience for children-at-risk in Israel.
By Aliza Schachter
