Chaim Peri receives Tikkun Ha’Lev Award for lifetime devotion to Israel’s at-risk youth.
Guests from across the United States and Israel gathered on May 8, 2018, at the Mandarin Oriental New York, to honor Israeli visionary educator, Chaim Peri, with the Tikkun Ha’Lev Award for his lifetime devotion to Israel’s youth at risk. Funds raised at the gala will support the important programs and extra-curricular activities at Yemin Orde Youth Village and help fund expansion of the Village Way educational methodology in Israel through Village Way Educational Initiatives.
Baltimore businessman, David Cordish, who received the first Tikkun Ha’Lev Award in 2012, and his wife, Suzi, presented the award to Peri in front of 420 guests. Other guests included Marion Wiesel, wife of Nobel laureate, scholar and author, Elie Wiesel z”l, Israeli educators, U.S. Jewish and Christian leaders, and (Res.) Br. General Bentzi Gruber, who is an Israeli military commander, among other prominent guests. Popular Jewish-American vocalist, Matisyahu, performed following the dinner and award presentation.
Funds raised also include the successful completion of a $100,000 match made by two anonymous donors in the weeks prior to the gala.
Gala Co-Chairs Kimberly and Jeffrey Hirschfeld (photo, right) said they are grateful to the Vice Chairs and volunteer committee members who worked hard to ensure the gala’s fundraising success.
“We are grateful to the generosity of so many people who helped us raise significant funds for our important mission in Israel, as well as honor our friend and mentor, Chaim Peri, for his important life’s work of healing the hearts of thousands of Israel’s at-risk children. As George Blank said, ‘we informed, inspired and entertained.’ Special thanks to event planner, Rachel Dalton, whose diligent efforts produced an elegant evening.” said Jeffrey Hirschfeld.
Tikkun Ha’Lev is a value we all share
Chaim Peri served for more than 30 years as the Director of Yemin Orde Youth Village, located in northern Israel, which serves as a home, school and safe haven for 430 at-risk youth from Ethiopia, France, Former Soviet Union, Brazil and Israel. Chaim is the Founder of Village Way Educational Initiatives, an independent nonprofit organization launched in 2006 to expand the Village Way educational methodology, modeled at Yemin Orde Youth Village, throughout Israel.
“What unites us is making a difference where no others make a difference,” Chaim Peri said. “When you create an educational entity such as Village Way Educational Initiatives that reflects values we all share, we must spread it to others.”
Arriving from Israel, Yemin Orde graduate, Tamara Shein Shneor, shared her difficult journey from Iran to Israel. She spoke emotionally about the life lessons she learned from Chaim, who was director of the Village when she lived there, and how the Village’s holistic community of loving-kindness and support provided her with hope, a family and a safe haven. Today, Tamara is a police officer in Israel.
New Yemin Orde Video is Screened for Gala Guests
The gala also premiered ImpactIsrael’s new promotional video: Living and Learning the Village Way, as well as a testimonial video where graduates and religious and community leaders paid homage to Chaim and his lifetime devotion to youth at risk.
“The gala was an opportunity for us to show Chaim Peri how much we love and admire him and to provide a meaningful introduction of our mission to a wider audience, said Karen Sallerson, Executive Director, ImpactIsrael
The Village Way methodology is integrated into 36 other youth villages, therapeutic residential communities and public high schools in Israel, including schools in Arab communities. Since its inception, VWEI has impacted 14,200 youth and 1,775 educators in Israel. The goal is to expand to 59 educational communities by 2021 and reach 25,000 youth and 2,800 educators.
Click here to read more about the Village Way methodology.
Read more about Yemin Orde’s graduates and their stories of success.