Dear Friends,

Each month at war feels like an eternity. Despite the difficult news cycle, we continue to provide a stable, nurturing, secure and happy environment for the Keren Or students. We are so grateful for all of the love and support that we have received since October 7th. Every email, phone call, message and gift feels like a great big hug and boosts our spirits. We were especially delighted to welcome numerous guests – from both Israel and abroad – who were eager to learn about Keren Or and the special role we play in Israeli society.

There is a famous Chanukah song that declares: “Everyone is a little light, and together we are a strong light.” This month, we sang this song incessantly as we celebrated in the pool, in the classes, and throughout the school! We thought of our modern day Maccabees, fighting against the darkness. We thought of Israelis from across the religious and political spectrum, coming together with unprecedented unity. And, we thought of our extended Keren Or family around the world, each of whom contributes their light to strengthen the Jewish People. Together, we will be victorious.

With Love and Light,

Shira

Chanukah Camp Festivities

Over the week of Chanukah, schools throughout Israel are closed. At Keren Or, we are open for a full day of Chanukah camp! The week was jam packed with different activities that were specially planned in honor of Chanukah.

Each day, the younger students learned about a different Chanukah song and did activities related to the song. For example, one day, the students learned a song about potato latkes and then made fresh potato latkes with their classmates. Simultaneously, the older students delved into valuable lessons about strength and perseverance, aligning with the story of the Maccabees. During camp, we celebrated the Chanukah traditions with special activities like donut decorating with the National Service Volunteers and Chanukah themed art projects.

The celebrations extended beyond the classroom as the Chanukah spirit made a splash in every corner of Keren Or, including the pool! Holiday decorations adorned the pool area as participants enjoyed Chanukah-themed activities, allowing the students to experience the Chanukah festivities throughout the entire school. We love watching our students learn about our holiday traditions!

The theme for teacher appreciation day was "childhood memories." The tactile library and school foyer were filled with nostalgic childhood games and snacks for the teachers to enjoy. Throughout the day, the staff members were on a rotation so that each staff member could have an opportunity to celebrate teacher appreciation day.

The students prepared gifts for their teachers as a token of their appreciation for all that their teachers do for them. We are so grateful to the incredible staff at Keren Or for making the world a better place!

Enhancing the SNOEZELEN Room

Many children with disabilities have difficulty with sensory integration. Some feel overstimulated by the environment, which causes them to “tune out” or become "hyper.” Others feel under-stimulated, prompting them to self-stimulate in ways that are injurious or adversely affect their integration into society. The SNOEZELEN room is a controlled, multisensory environment that offers each child the precise stimulation he or she needs to incorporate sensory input and self-regulate behaviors constructively.

Time in the Snoezelen room is a favorite part of the Keren Or curriculum, and we see how it benefits our students. This month, with the help of the Houston Jewish Community Foundation and other generous supporters, we were able to purchase new equipment for our Snoezelen room such as a vibroacoustic body pillow, a light up touch board, massagers and more.

Our Snoezelen therapist has expressed that the children are enjoying the new items in the Snoezelen room and that she is excited to keep on expanding our capabilities with Snoezelen Therapy.