Letter from Chaim Peri
December 2008, Kislev 5768
Here is a report on some investments that bore only earnings... With Chanukah at our door, once again it is time to share with you the blessings of Yemin Orde and look together to happier days. Indeed we are doing our utmost to trim expenses here as much as possible. Yet - new children continue to arrive, while the older ones enter new stages in life...
A menorah that lights the world... In the spirit of Chanukah, we wish to share with you stories of young ones who illuminate our lives.
Shmuel: "And the first prize goes to..." Our graduate Shmuel went a long way since his childhood here, building up a career as the first Ethiopian film maker in Israel, and recently winning the 'Best Drama' award for producing and directing Zrubavel at the International Film Festival in Haifa. The film, featuring an all-Ethiopian cast, focuses on the struggles of a family patriarch. It is a painful narrative, yet not void of hope. Speaking at the GA in Jerusalem, Shmuel said: "As an artist educated here, I chose to tell this story in tribute to our fathers and mothers, who sacrificed so much in transcending to Jerusalem". For years, Shmuel has been volunteering his services, teaching drama to the children of Yemin Orde.
Young Americans giving of themselves - Tanya and Mosheh. Tanya came here to our village for 3 months, to learn and share her talents. During her stay, she led various art projects with our children with much devotion and love. A beautiful mosaic and a large, colorful wall mural, both designed and created together with the children, were installed near the dining hall, expressing YO's diversity and inclusiveness. Tanya hopes these art projects, which are messages that come from the hands and hearts of children, will continue to enter hearts for years to come.
Mosheh: Year after year, African American youths and their friends find meaning and excitement by spending summers here, as part of the Elijah Cummings program, experiencing Yemin Orde first hand. Their impressions and insights continue to guide them throughout life, and help them become articulate ambassadors of Israel's diversity. One of these gentlemen is Mosheh Gains, who has recently joined the TV program THIS WEEK with George Stephanopoulos. In a letter to Susan Wiejel, Mosheh wrote: "We live in a wicked world [...] but we must continue to do right to make a difference. That is why I picked journalism for that medium."
Yevgeny: Over 10 years ago, he came to us from Moscow's "Pension Waxman", a Jewish orphanage, where he was staying since his mother died, and his father left home. This young, shattered child grew here to become a handsome young man, yet yearning for family roots.
When we discovered that his Jewish father was alive and in Israel, Yevgeny tried to reach out and connect with him, but the man responded by turning his back to his child, slamming doors in his face. To our amazement, this brutal rejection did not break Yevgeny.
Determined to grow and succeed, he joined our Pre-Military Leadership Training Program (The Mechina). Reconnecting with his ancient roots - his forefathers - he found an unfailing source of inspiration and strength. Successfully completing the Leadership Program and leading a constructive life against all odds - for us, Yevgeny is not only a beloved young man, but also a winner.
Zachi: When our graduate, Paratrooper Major Zachi was decorated by Chief of General Staff as exemplary commander, he was not the only one beaming with pride.
His mother and Eyal, the head of our Leadership Program, who have been standing by his side all these years, were there to admire his hard-earned insignia. The Paratrooper Wings shining on his chest once again brought life to the motto we instill in our children - "the sky is the limit."
Educational Institute opens its gates at Yemin Orde! Putting at-risk boarding school staff to sleep in children's beds is just one of many creative ideas which characterize the work of Yemin Orde Initiative's new Educational Institute. This summer, over 400 staff members from five youth villages throughout Israel did just that as part of their hands-on retraining process. They carefully analyze the inner world of the children under their care, as part of the transformation process that our methodology offers. Our newly published book, "The Village Way", is all about that: providing workable tools for implementing our philosophy. Basically, it's about de-institutionalizing boarding schools, turning them into communities of meaning.
Elie Wiesel at Yemin Orde: A lesson in forgiveness and compassion. A beautiful new home for 24 children has just been dedicated in a touching ceremony, highlighted by Elie Wiesel's words to the children: "Make your lives a work of generosity", he said. "Build a small thing here, a small community; then on the national level, and then on the international level. And know that you have the right to speak up. And when you speak, the world must listen." Present at the ceremony were also contemporary genocide survivors - educators from Rwanda. They came to learn our philosophy to be able to implement it back home. After the ceremony they opened their hearts and sought advice from Prof. Wiesel.
On the eve of Chanukah, when the menorah lights up your home - our aspiration of making this world a better place goes one small step forward. With your continuous support we will do our utmost in the coming year to go further and do more for the children who deserve the best.
May knowing this be a source of spiritual blessing. We wish you and your dear ones a Happy Chanukah and many reasons to rejoice in 2009.
