AMIT Frisch Beit Hayeled was recently honored for its decades-long work with some of Israel’s most vulnerable children: The surrogate-family home was awarded the Jerusalem Prize for education at the 17th Jerusalem Conference.
Former minister Ayelet Shaked presented the honor to Beit Hayeled’s former and current directors, including co-founder Nitzchiya Eldar (the mother of AMIT Director-General Amnon Eldar), Moti Asraf, and current head Evyatar Shaki.
Beit Hayeled was established 40 years ago by AMIT supporters in the United States to care for Israeli children born into a challenging life and family circumstances. The children live and learn at the facility, which cares for their physical, emotional, and academic needs. The institution was recognized by the conference organizers for its decades of educational and social contributions.
Beit Hayeled is among AMIT’s most heralded and holistic education-social programs. The network prides itself on the 360-degree care given to these most vulnerable children who come to Beit Hayeled and are enveloped in a loving surrogate home. They get nurturance and top-notch education to enable them to create an independent successful future and break from the difficult cycles from which they came.
“The warm family model of Beit Hayeled is unique,” said Nitzchiya Eldar. “Because of it, we have been able to achieve wonderful results and save hundreds of children.”
Batya Ariely, director of AMIT’s Jerusalem-area community, said that Beit Hayeled is a manifestation of the network’s DNA: “The warmth, caring and love, the connection to the students and the family atmosphere are the foundation for our many thousands of students.”
Shaki, Beit Hayeled’s current head, thanked the conference organizers for the prize, as well as everyone at the AMIT network and the welfare ministry for helping him and his staff support the students on their path to a successful future.
The Jerusalem Conference is organized by the Besheva newspaper group, a national-religious weekly, and Israel National News.
