October 29, 2009

Shalom,

Being the mother to two beautiful children is my most precious responsibility. I spend 24 hours a day ensuring that my kids have everything they need to be happy, safe, and fulfilled. Providing them with a bright future is the main goal of my life.

My husband and I recognize how blessed we are that God granted us the sacred task of nurturing two of His holy creations. We do everything in our power to live up to our responsibility as parents, which is an exhausting—but deeply rewarding—duty. During the round of endless tasks that I perform on a daily basis, I say a little prayer that God will grant me the strength to continue fulfilling these responsibilities for as long as my children need me.

Every parent's biggest fear is that they will no longer be able to provide for their child's emotional and physical needs—just as every child's deepest fear is losing his parents' loving care. So, as a mother, I have a special place in my heart for children who have been orphaned. Each time I visit one of The Fellowship's many facilities for orphans in Israel, I make a special effort to scrutinize every aspect of the operation on behalf of all the blessed children living there who do not have parents to speak out on their behalf.

Recently, as I pulled up to one of these orphanages for a visit, I passed through a gate covered with beautiful paintings of children playing. Entering the grounds, I felt warmth and energy, as each person I walked past flashed me a large smile and offered a sweet "hello." Kids who appeared to range in age from five to about 13 played on the grass, throwing balls, singing songs, and laughing together. As the end-of-recess bell sounded, they ran back inside the school building to attend their classes. The first thought that I had was that so many people imagine orphanages to be depressing and somber—but here was a place where the atmosphere is hopeful and inspiring.

This light-hearted and joyful atmosphere is the result of a policy implemented to ensure the highest level of care for these precious children of Israel. The children at this orphanage don't sleep in massive dorms and eat in cafeterias, but in homes. The Fellowship has hired an adoptive "mother and father"—a married couple—who live in an on-site apartment building with 13 boys and provide for all of their needs. This "family" cooks and eats dinner together, helps each other with homework, and shares household chores. The parents patiently tuck each child into bed every night, and are there to listen to them when they need a friendly ear or a shoulder to cry on. This new model for an orphanage offers an atmosphere of security and love to emotionally broken children, instilling in them the confidence they need in adulthood to establish a career and raise secure families of their own.

It is clearly having an impact. During my visit, I spoke with a 10-year-old boy who had entered the orphanage just last week, after his father lost a five year battle with cancer. This child, who immigrated to Israel six years ago from the former Soviet republic of Georgia, explained to me how he used to have nightmares about his father dying. "I envisioned myself living on the streets and starving to death," he told me as tears ran down his face. "This orphanage is the biggest blessing for me because I am provided with everything I need. They make me feel loved and welcome. I wish I was at home with my dad, but the people here treat me like family too."

My visit to the orphanage was bittersweet. It was heart-wrenching to think about the pain that these children have endured during their short lives. But it made me proud to be part of the Fellowship family whose biblically-based mission is to help the neediest Jews worldwide.

When I returned home I walked through the door, hugged my children tight, and showered them with kisses. How blessed I am to be entrusted with the most important duty in the world—the job of being a mother.

With blessings from Jerusalem,
Yael