This past Monday, a new public square was dedicated in memory of Rabbi Dov Levy in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood in Yerushalayim. The dedication ceremony was participated by the mayor, Mr. Moshe Leon, as well as the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition, Rabbi Meir Porush; the neighborhood rabbis; senior officials from the Jerusalem municipality; other public figures; the residents of Seeach Sod's group home in the neighborhood and their neighbors, family and Seeach Sod staff members.

With tremendous excitement, the students of Otzar Yerushalayim prepared for their mock Shabbos seudah – a highlight of the annual "Otzar HaShabbos" program.

Senior officials from the Bet Shemesh municipality's educational divisions – among them the head of the educational administration, the director of the special-education department, and the coordinator of the Committee for Special-Education Eligibility and Profiling (Vaadot Zakaut V'ifyun") for the Charedi sector – toured Seeach Sod's various programs in Bet Shemesh.

A festive siddur party was celebrated by the first graders of Cheder Otzar Yerushalayim along with their mothers, grandmothers and the cheder staff.

Mothers and fathers of children with special needs are true heroes. They work tirelessly to help their children advance. They advocate for their needs. Most importantly, they are the emotional safe harbor in a world that can be especially confusing and painful for people with disabilities.

But what happens when parents pass away or become unable to care for their children?

Seeach Sod has no choice but to try to fill the chasm.

Breaking Through David’s Isolation

David, 24, is highly intelligent and loves to do math problems or to share a thought on the parasha. David's autism makes communication difficult but he seeks human connection. Because he is deaf and mute, his main mode of communication is his iPad.

David's mother passed away ten years ago and his father was unable to care for him. David was brought to live at the home of his grandparents without ever being told what had happened to his mother or why his father was gone. 

David's grandmother became the emotional anchor of her orphaned grandson.

When she passed away. David sunk into a deep depression and even began to tear off his hair and fingernails.

This was David’s state when he arrived at his new Seeach Sod supported living apartment.

Meir, an apartment staff member, describes the process:

"David was deeply isolated in so many ways. His autism, his difficult experiences and his deafness all worked against him. We did everything to break through his isolation and make a connection.

David is a loving person and anyone who gets to know him grows to truly love him. He can feel how much we care about him and he has really begun to heal and flourish with us. It is a huge responsibility to be his family and a huge zechut.”

Standing Under the Chupa With Rachel

Rachel is a charming woman with Down’s syndrome. Her father has never been a part of her life due to his mental illness. When Rachel’s mother was hospitalized long-term with her own severe mental illness, Rachel was placed in a residential boarding school. Such a school can be a positive experience, but it is not a permanent home. Children, even orphans, legally age out of the education system at the age of 21.

So, alone again, Rachel was placed in a Seeach Sod supported living apartment.

Rachel flourished in the apartment and experienced being a part of a small, close-knit group. But as happy as she was, Rachel wanted something else. She turned to her apartment’s coordinator and told her “I am going to get married.”

True to her word, Rachel did find a husband. When she got engaged she ran home to share the news with her family – her roommates and apartment staff. Seeach Sod arranged the wedding and made sure that Rachel always felt surrounded by her Seeach Sod family. Our staff stood with her under the Chuppa.

Rachel continues to visit the apartment to catch up with her ‘sisters’ and the staff that first showed her that she did not have to be alone.