Project Rehovot

Project Rehovot provides the salary of our part-time teacher Tal Kahane, who’s mandate is to work with small groups of extremely low income, immigrant children who struggle in their regular classroom with behavioral, cultural, and language challenges. Over this past year (to encourage one third grader who had lost her mother six months previously and who openly cried in class), Tal asked her to describe the picture she was coloring. “If the unicorn has special powers, what would you ask her for,” said Tal. The girl who had never spoken of her mother before said, “Everyone should be healthy” and went on to finally describe her situation.

Despite the ravages of Covid-19 and the economic downturn, Project Rehovot has continued its work to help children, as it has since 1991. Our teacher works in small groups with children who are immigrants, whose parents are immigrants, and children of other backgrounds—from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Israel-- who are in need of academic, social and emotional support. She reaches the children through the vehicles of visual art, photography, and kindness and attention.

Zalman Aran elementary school in Jerusalem continues to help children whose parents cannot afford to hire tutors to address their children’s needs. Says Tal, “The school has provided me with a beautiful room with cabinets and toys. Lizi (the school principal) is organized and plans the activities with me that fit into the goals of the school.” The school’s philosophy overlaps significantly with that of Project Rehovot, emphasizing the arts, working to promote tolerance and cultural diversity, and developing social, emotional, and educational strengths in the children.