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At Beit Moriah, we are fully committed to continuing our forefather Abraham’s legacy of charity and hospitality in Be’er Sheva. With Abraham’s benevolent spirit as our inspiration, we continue to expand our social welfare services in the hopes of assisting those in need within our community. Our social welfare programs include:
Feeding the Poor
Be’er Sheva is home to a large number of immigrant families, as well as many other needy families in underprivileged neighborhoods. In total, Be’er Sheva is home to approximately 5,000 families who have at some point been considered needy. Beit Moriah receives a list of these families from the Municipality of Be’er Sheva and delivers food parcels and hot meals. On average, Beit Moriah delivers 200 food parcels each week, as well as 300 food parcels for Jewish holidays and 600 food parcels for Passover specifically.
Homes for Children and Teens at Risk
Beit Moriah operates two “homes” that provide shelter and assistance to 30 at-risk children between the ages of six and ten. Most of these children come from troubled family environments or families in need. Each location provides the children with after school meals and homework help in a healthy, family-oriented environment run by our professional staff.
Our Girls at Risk program provides safe “home” environments similar to those for the children at risk for 50 teenage girls who have had difficult upbringings. The girls participate in a range of activities, including photo therapy sessions to help them express their feelings, business skill tutorials to develop valuable tools for success, and assertiveness/self-defense training to help them protect themselves in an increasingly dangerous world. Thus far, the girls have flourished with the help of these activities, producing impressive photos and developing important life skills within a safe and nurturing atmosphere.
Senior Citizens
Beit Moriah offers various activities that help senior citizens remain active and independent members of the community. We organize daily Torah classes and neighborhood seminaries, as well as social clubs and activities for elderly men. In addition, our programs in preschools provide senior citizens with a platform to share their knowledge and personal experiences with younger generations by teaching children about Jewish history and culture. Within our community center, we offer many activities for elderly women, including sports and craft classes. These programs provide an important social outlet. A full schedule of classes and activities can be found here. The activities are open to all Be’er Sheva residents over the age of 60.
Immigrant Services
Be’er Sheva is home to a large number of new immigrants, accounting for 15-20% of the city’s total population. Beit Moriah offers various activities and services to help our newest residents – many from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, and Morocco – acclimate to life in Israel. On October 18, 2010 we broke ground on an Edible Garden project at the Winnipeg Center in Be’er Sheva in conjunction with the Asper Foundation, JNF Canada, and JDC-Israel. The garden aims to bridge the gap between generations of Ethiopian immigrant families – many of whom come from agricultural backgrounds – by providing them with a common interest and a means to learn about healthy nutrition and responsibility. Tending to the garden also strengthens their connection to the Land of Israel and to their homes here. In addition to this newest venture, Beit Moriah organizes a “Moadon Moreshet” (Traditional Club) for approximately 200 new Russian immigrants to learn more about Israeli history and Jewish culture. The Moadon Moreshet programming includes the study of Jewish texts, hikes throughout the country, a film club and discussion group, and an assortment of special monthly events and lectures. Other immigrant services include religious conversion classes, job assistance and mentoring programs for South American immigrants, and art tutorials run in conjunction with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption for immigrants from all countries.
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