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XIII. Projects Concerning Victims Of Domestic ViolenceA Simple Life-Saving Project: The proliferation of cell phones in this country is extraordinary. Who doesn’t have one? What is important about these phones, though, is what happens to them when the subscriber changes plans or upgrades. Once they have been reprogrammed to dial 911 there are several options available: • Offer your phone to a local domestic violence agency. If you do not know how to locate one in your area, be in touch with your local police department.
• We were surprised to learn that local crossing guards do not usually have a phone available to them in the event of an emergency at their post. Many communities are now supplying these phones — check with your local police department.
• Elderly people living alone can use these phones in the event of an emergency. The phones are very portable and can be slipped into their pocket, readily available no matter where they are.
Further information can be accessed at the website www.wirelessfoundation.org or by calling 1-888-901-SAFE (888-901-7233).
A. Women’s Talk: Counseling Center For Women ($8,500)The ongoing war in Israel has most definitely not lessened the need for CCW’s trained therapists who work with women subjected to domestic violence or sexual harassment in their home or work environment. This very fine organization was started several years ago by 10 women, including our good friend, Bella Savran, and has grown to include multiple locations and an increased staff. Our funds are always devoted to underwriting the cost of therapy for women who cannot afford the full fee. We derive great satisfaction when we read the anonymous case histories of these women who have had their lives improved by our donations. CCW also works to provide awareness education on sexual harassment issues in private and government offices. We applaud their ground-breaking work and know that over the years it has saved many lives.
[Counseling Center for Women, 8 Herzl St., Ramat Gan, 52431, Israel, Attn: Emily Levy-Shochat, phone: 03-673-9006, fax: 673-9032, ccw@netvision.net.il. Our contact in Jerusalem: Bella Savran, phone: 02-673-3827, fax: 02-673-5382, bellasav@barak-online.net.]
B. Jewish Safe House ($250)We continue to publicize communities that recognize the need for Jewish shelters for victims of domestic violence. The Rachel Coalition is the result of efforts in the MetroWest New Jersey community to provide a safe haven for women and their children when they are faced with the need to leave their home.
We also applaud similar homes in Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Far Rockaway, NY, and other communities that have made this all-important effort.
[Rachel Coalition, Jewish Family Service of MetroWest, 256 Columbia Tpke., #105, Florham Park, NJ 07932, 973-765-9050, fax: 765-0195, sheller@jfs-metronj.org, www.jfs-metronj.org.]
Face to Face: We want to remind you of Dr. George Brennan’s Face to Face program, which provides facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons who donate their services to restore the faces of women who have been tragically scarred by domestic violence. We can think of no greater gift to a woman who has suffered not only the trauma of such an attack, but must then be reminded of it each time she glances in a mirror or goes out in public.
[Face To Face Domestic Violence Program, Ann Holton, 310 S. Henry St., Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-299-9291 X 229, aholton@aafprs.org, www.facemd.org, click on “Humanitarian Programs.”]
C. Room Available ($700)Project Debby continues to enlist hotels and motels across the country in the battle against domestic violence. When a local shelter is either full or non-existent, participating hotels provide a safe and clean room for women fleeing an abusive home situation. This is such a simple program, one can only wonder why it isn’t being done everywhere. Naomi Berman-Potash, the founder, has succeeded in establishing Project Debby sites in several locations. Our donation this year was used to produce brochures so that more people can learn about the project and get involved.
[Naomi Berman-Potash, Project Debby, Inc., 11456 N. Solar Avenue, Mequon, WI 53097, 262-512-3399, fax: 512-3398, nberman822@aol.com.]
D. Linda Feldman Rape Crisis Center In Jerusalem ($500)Since 1981, the Rape Crisis Center has provided truly life-saving services to survivors of rape and sexual violence in Jerusalem. They offer a fine education program, pro bono legal advice to callers on their 24-hour hot-line, extensive support groups for survivors of rape and incest, and a Police Accompaniment Project which provides volunteers who accompany victims to police and court appointments. We were impressed by their newest program, SAWA, that provides outreach, aid and education to the Arab-speaking community in Jerusalem.
[Linda Feldman Rape Crisis Center, Michal Sela-Armoza, PO Box 2549, Jerusalem, Israel, 02-623-2451, fax: 624-1942, jrcc@netvision.net.il.]
XIV. Mitzvah LocksmithsA. Clowning Around ($1,700)To their friends they are known as Mike and Sue, but to many lucky people, be they residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or hospital patients, they go by the names Buttercup and Sweetpea — and they are adorable! Mike and Sue have devoted the past fifteen years to the very special Mitzvah of Bikkur Cholim and today they are responsible for training an entire new generation of clowns that will continue this fun Mitzvah work for years to come. As they explain it, when you dress up as a clown with the make-up and zany costume that goes with it, you take on a whole new personality and you add cheer and happiness to the lives of the people you touch. We are very excited about the expansion of Mike and Sue’s work, as they teach Mitzvah clowning in many new communities. Call them to learn more about bringing Mitzvah clowning to your area.
[Mike and Sue Turk, 11 Mohawk Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078, 973-467-2768, fax: 376-5118, sbclowns@aol.com, www.mitzvahclowns.com.]
B. Samantha: Learning Differently — Dealing and Succeeding ($538.50)Samantha Abeel can’t tell time, and can’t do anything else with numbers beyond the most elementary operations. The technical name is “dyscalculia,” and it affects her life every day. The marvelous thing is this: she is an exceptional poet, and her book, Reach for the Moon, tells her story through her own words, and those of her parents and teachers. It is a standard resource for educators and others working with people with various types of learning disabilities (“LD” – which Samantha says means “learns differently”). Last year Scholastic Publishers assumed publication of the book. There is also a video of Samantha teaching and talking about her life and her work. Check your local bookstores, or contact Scholastic, Inc. at 800-242-7737. In March, Samantha handed her publisher the manuscript of her second book. We look forward to reading her insights when it is published in the Spring of 2003.
For those of you who have followed Samantha’s work, she graduated Mt. Holyoke College, Class of 2000…with honors. Quite an accomplishment.
Samantha is also available for lectures and seminars at schools, for teachers, and for conferences. For information about speaking engagements, contact Betsy Abeel (Samantha’s mother), at 231-947-2058.
C. Reaching (Supposedly) Unreachable People ($1,075.37)Rebecca Reynolds has written an amazing book that recounts the powerful benefits of nature when it is brought to residential or medical settings. When the many senses of someone living in a hospital, nursing home, or closed-care institution are exposed to, perhaps, some seaweed, a bird’s nest, or an animal, miracles can happen. Doors to the past can open and strong memories pour out. A new perspective on what has become a lonely and painful existence is frequently the result. We have contributed to Rebecca’s program by purchasing her book, Bring Me The Ocean, (VanderWyk & Burnham, 800-789-7916) and distributing it at our talks, as well as directly supporting her work. This year our contribution was used to purchase two plexiglass enclosures that are used for tabletop programs displaying animals.
[Rebecca Reynolds Weil, Seabury School, Inc., POB 155, Concord, MA 01742, 978-369-2585, reynoldsweil@stny.rr.com, www.aai-nature.org.]
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For more information, contact Naomi Eisenberger, Ziv Tzedakah Fund Tel: 973-763-9396, Fax: 973-275-0346 Copyright 2005 Ziv Tzedakah Fund |
