As Israel continues to be the epicenter of the world and to explode in a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, she is compelled to keep up with the fast paced, growing demand of a multi-cultural and diverse society which means that the complex challenges she faces, must be addressed. Migdal Ohr is once again at the forefront of the revolution by supporting over 3,000 children in need of a better home.

Every year, thousands of Israeli children are placed into Children’s residences throughout the country. Today, there are over 10,000 children who are living out of their home environments. This has created a burgeoning need to build infrastructures to cope with the problem. Migdal Ohr offers a fulltime loving home and excellent education to children ranging from the ages of 1-18 years by supporting them in their educational facilities in the city of Migdal Ha’Emek in the North of Israel with over 350 living on campus

From the time Migdal Ohr was established in 1972, it functioned as a standard boarding school/orphanage for boys and girls. Traditionally, the Migdal Ohr style boarding school had a dorm family and each floor has its own dorm counselor. While this format worked well for many years, a new model was piloted in 2015. Following its unprecedented success, the Ministry of Education recently approved the establishment of a new and unique service at Migdal Ohr – a Children’s Residence Framework known as a Mishpachton.

The Mishpachton is an unusual model for residential care. It is headed by a married couple who usually have their own children and together the family unit scaffolds the children as a surrogate family. The Mishpachton is staffed by a social worker who stays in close contact with the biological parents; a psychologist who ensures that various therapies involving art, music, pet, group, etc.—are made available and a teacher who is responsible to ensure each child is prepared for school.

Migdal Ohr’s therapeutic residential facility represents what is for many the first real home they have ever known. Children are provided with complete care of their physical and emotional needs which are provided also by genuine and devoted staff. The nurturing environment, is for many is their first experience of love which translates into their basic needs being met, in the form of regular meals, homework supervision and family excursions; all of which help to create a stable living environment.

Migdal Ohr is rigorous in the selection of the appropriate couples who are carefully chosen according to their educational and therapeutic experience, as well as their personality profiles. They are responsible for caring for all of the children’s physical, emotional, social and educational needs and are required to maintain ongoing contact with the school and to instill discipline and good values into the children.

The children′s daily routine is structured around the family, particularly the home. They eat together as a family, receive separate therapy sessions and attend special events/go on trips as a family.

Currently, there are 2 families living in the Mishpachtonim with 24 students aged 12 – 14 under their care. Following the evident success of this model and urgent need to provide a warm home for many more children at risk, Migdal Ohr is planning to roll out 12 additional Mishpachtonim which will house an additional 144 children ages 12 – 18, bringing the total to 168.

As momentum continues to grow, we invite you, our international partners to join hands with us and partner in this holy and important work. Support Migdal Ohr by purchasing letters in the Torah Scroll that will be written in honor of Rabbi Grossman’s 70th Birthday. The proceeds will go towards building a Children’s Residence for Israeli kids at risk. Click here and help Save a child Change a life.

Rabbi Grossman receives the Presidential Medal of Distinction from then President Shimon Peres

While world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly are pontificating about creating and keeping peace, Palestinian Authority terrorists are escalating their attacks on Israeli civilians on the roads and elsewhere in Judea and Samaria.

An Israeli driver came under a hail of rocks Tuesday as Arab terrorists attacked his vehicle in Gush Etzion. The car was hit while traveling on the road near the Jewish community of Ma’ale Amos in Judea.

No one in the vehicle was physically injured, but the vehicle itself was damaged.

Further south, in Judea, terrorists hurled a firebomb towards the security fence of the Jewish community of Karmei Tzur, in Judea.

Israeli drivers were attacked while traveling on the road past the Arab village of Tuq’ua, near the Jewish community of Tekoa.

The vehicles came under a hail of rocks in Arab terror stoning attacks Tuesday night, according to the Hatzoloh emergency response service in Judea and Samaria.

IDF soldiers are searching for the terrorists in the latter two attacks. No physical injuries were reported.

Lior Shurka was one of the first members of the Efrat Rapid Response Team on the scene of the terror attack (“pigua”) in Efrat on Sept. 18, 2016.

In the video he tells JewishPress.com about the event.

At 1:42 AM, the town of Efrat’s security camera network began tracking the terrorist’s approach towards Efrat, until he disappeared inside the bushes and trees.

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The Efrat Rapid Response Team and the IDF saved lives this morning and prevented a far worse terror attack from happening in the town of Efrat in Gush Etzion.

An IDF reserve officer was wounded after being stabbed by a terrorist who had infiltrated into the town overnight. The terrorist was hiding in the bushes adjacent to some homes.

The presence of the security teams searching the street prevented the terrorist from entering any homes or attacking children and civilians walking down the street.

Some pictures of the heroes in action.

Photos by Gerson Elinson/Flash90

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Guarding the schools:

More pictures to follow…

An IDF officer was wounded inside the Gush Etzion town of Efrat in a terror attack, early Sunday morning, according to the IDF.

The town’s security cameras saw a suspicious figure just outside the perimeter of the town at 1:40 AM. Local security forces and the IDF were called out and searched all night for the terrorist who was hiding in some bushes inside the town. At around 6 AM the terrorist jumped out of his hiding spot and stabbed an IDF officer involved in the search.

The attack happened at the entrance to Tziporen Street, next to Pitom HaKetoret Street, in the Zayit neighborhood.

Hatzalah Judea and Samaria says the officer is in moderate condition, with a wound to the stomach. He was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital.

The terrorist was shot and neutralized, and is currently listed in moderate condition, with a bullet wound to the head, according to Hadassah hospital (the terrorist was originally listed in critical condition, but apparently the bullet bounced off his head). The terrorist is a 20-year-old from the village of Irtas (Artas), next to Bethlehem, just north-east of Efrat.

The town of Efrat was in lockdown until 7 AM while security teams searched for possible additional terrorists.

The terrorist had 2 knives on him. A more serious attack was foiled.

7:09 AM: The lockdown is over. Schools will starting on time, with additional security.

Refuah Sheleima to the officer: Shraga Eliezer ben Bat Sheva

Source: Rotter.net / Tchelet Domeh Leyam

For more photos from Efrat, click here.

For more information, contact Keren Efrat.