Dear Friends,

It's difficult to believe that just a few weeks ago, we were enjoying our sukkot holiday camp and looking forward to the year ahead.

And then, the events of October 7th, shattered our world: loved ones murdered, friends kidnapped, children on the front lines, families displaced, and schools canceled. Three of my own children are doing their national service -- including one in the IDF on the northern border and one as a paramedic in the south -- so like so many of my friends and Keren Or colleagues, I have had a difficult time sleeping this month.

But alongside the intense anxiety, the indomitable Israeli spirit has risen in beautiful and powerful ways: unprecedented unity, volunteer initiatives of every type, home hospitality for strangers, millions of home-cooked meals, profound national pride and deep brotherly love. As one of my mentors said "Israel is surviving on a mitzvah economy."

Keren Or, too, has risen to the challenge, providing support for students, families and staff. Home visits, phone calls, zoom programming, specially recorded audio-visual books, care packages, and online support groups were just some of the ways that we supported our extended Keren Or family during the first week of the crisis while school was shuttered.

Most importantly, in coordination with the Homefront Command, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Welfare, and the Jerusalem Municipality, the Keren Or staff worked hard to reopen the school and the after-school program as quickly as possible. We are now functioning at full capacity (all students and all hours), and have begun to absorb students with multiple disabilities who have been evacuated from their homes in the south. We feel privileged to give our families -- and those who need us from around the country -- a sense of routine and peace of mind during this unsettling time.

The outpouring of love and support that we have received from around the world has been truly heartwarming, and has given us tremendous strength. Thank you for lifting our spirits and reminding us that we are not alone.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Shira

Keren Or at War

In the face of the ongoing war in Israel, Keren Or has remained a steadfast support for its students. Teachers, classroom aides, afternoon staff, paramedical staff, and national service volunteers made home visits to students, ensuring a continued connection, even when school was closed. Teachers were in contact with the families on a daily basis, and worked in conjunction with the principal, the social worker and the volunteer coordinator to ensure that each family's needs were met as much as was possible.

As soon as Homefront Command permitted, the Keren Or school was back in person. At first, due to the limited space in our bomb shelters, we were allowed to welcome only 50% of the students each day, but due to the families' urgent need for full-time programming, we quickly received permission to return to full capacity, despite the lack of sufficient safe rooms.

We want to thank the incredible Keren Or staff for their Herculean efforts during this time. The school principal and management team have created schedule after schedule, taking into account staffing shortages, and safety precautions. Staff members have put their Keren Or students first, making home visits, driving through dangerous areas, or coming to teach even while their own young children were at home and their husbands or other family members were called up to reserve duty. We feel so blessed to be part of such a dedicated, mission-driven cadre of professionals.

As we weather this storm together, we remain committed to fostering a community of growth and learning; and we hope our community will serve as a powerful beacon of hope even during the most trying times.

Capital Campaign Corner

Building Wheelchair Accessible Bomb Shelters

On a typical day at Keren Or, we can expect to have up to 250 people in the building, including 99 students, almost all of whom use wheelchairs. Keren Or's single bomb shelter can only accommodate 40 people, and is not wheelchair accessible. Given the current situation in Israel, Keren Or must urgently add accessible bomb shelters and update the building's safety features, including fire sprinklers, fire doors and an additional elevator for evacuation. These features are part of our renovation project. They will ensure that every student at Keren Or is safe, and will provide parents with peace of mind that their children are secure. Thank you for being our partner.

Keren Or Students and Staff in the Bomb Shelter During an Air Raid Siren Drill

Shira Reifman, CEO of Keren Or, to Visit the US

A docent-led tour of "Vertigo of Color: Matisse, Derain and the Origins of Fauvism" and a self-guided entry to the acclaimed "Manet/Degas" exhibit!

Click here to register.