Tzedek

Israel’s Children Are Our Future

Building the Dream

In a society where 1 in 3 children lives in poverty, where immigrant families struggle to integrate, and family breakdown is increasingly common, Tzedek is building a brighter future for Israel’s children.

Tzedek was founded in 1982 by Rabbi Paul Roitman, a brave French Resistance fighter during WWII, who went on to rebuild the Jewish community of Paris during the 1950s. Moving to Israel, he recognized the plight of many disadvantaged children and decided to establish an organization to give them better opportunities and to encourage good citizenship.

"Only when a society is based on the principle of social justice can we understand why we are living here."

Rabbi Paul Roitman zt"l, Founder of Tzedek

"Every child has the right to grow up with the best possible opportunities. We help all Israeli children, regardless of their background or family circumstances. We encourage them and train them to become productive

Israeli citizens."

Shlomi Amar, Executive Director of Tzedek

Building A Brighter Future, One Day at a Time…

How does Tzedek transform disadvantaged children into confident and productive Israeli citizens?

Every day, Tzedek members can participate in afternoon and evening activities within a safe and constructive framework. School in Israel ends at 1 p.m., leaving many kids without parental supervision all afternoon and evening. Instead of roaming the streets and getting into trouble, Tzedek offers them a welcoming hug, a hot meal, help with their homework, encouragement from counselors, and access to computers and other fun activities that they could not afford to pay for. Day after day, Tzedek enhances their confidence, their life skills and their academic performance.

• Afternoon Programs & Evening Activities

• Subsidized Outings to Cultural Sites and Museums

• Tzedek Choir & Music Programs

• Charity & Social Action Activities

• Homework Tutoring

• Mentoring by Counselors

• Summer Camps

• Activities at Children's Homes

• Parenting Classes

... and One Child at a Time

3,000 children aged from 6-18 participate in Tzedek's afternoon centers. Tzedek has 17 branches around Israel

including 7 children's homes for orphans and fostered children.

12,000 Tzedek graduates have participated in good citizenship programs.

200 counselors receive leadership training from Tzedek each year.

1,800 children participate in Tzedek summer camps each year.

100 boys and girls have performed with Tzedek's famous choirs each year.

Afula

MaaleEphraim

Jerusalem(3)

Dimona

BeitShemesh

NesTziona

Ramle (2)

RoshHaAyin

Beer Sheva

Ashdod

Ashkelon

Carmiel

Hadera

GivatAda

Broken Homes, Broken Hopes

The gap between rich and poor in Israel is growing, and the number of children growing up in poverty and with social problems increases every year. Social workers and school teachers refer such children to Tzedek when they see that they are struggling at school.

Children come to Tzedek from deprived backgrounds - their parents are unemployed, new immigrants, or single parents struggling to support their families. But they also come from families with social problems such as drug or alcohol abuse, suffering from domestic violence, or with parents who are in prison or have left the family. These children are victims of their circumstances.

Many children are suffering from trauma and face multiple disadvantages – psychological, economic and behavioral. Tzedek embraces them and provides therapy and constructive educational and cultural activities, together with individual encouragement. Tzedek counselors often take the place of missing or neglectful parents and become influential role models, transforming their lives and building their self-esteem.

Fixing What is Broken

How does Tzedek fix what is broken among Israel's children?

• Byrescuingchildrenfromdisadvantagedbackgroundsandinvestinginthem.

• Byprovidingguidanceandpurpose,love,encouragementandsupport.

• Bygivingthemtheconfidencetoovercomefromtheirproblemsandseizelifewithbothhands.

• ByencouragingthemtocontributetosocietyandtopayitforwardbybecomingTzedekcounselors.

•BybuildingabrighterfutureforIsrael'schildren,foraslongastheyneedoursupport.

ActivitiesTzedek does not only aim to keep children busy. Every activity is carefully planned to encourage them to become productive members of society and to teach them good citizenship:

• Educational and festival activities teach Jewish identity • Homework assistance and tutoring encourage academic success• Group activities teaching children how to manage money and other life skills

Education

• Cultural outings promote Zionism and national pride• Learning to use computers and the internet safely gives children skills for life• Singing in the Tzedek choirs teaches cooperation and builds self-esteem

Cultural Activities

• Watching movies and discussing their messages and characters• Teens are encouraged to take on leadership roles and engage in national service• Helping Tzedek graduates to choose a career, to select appropriate higher education

and to obtain scholarships• Teaching children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol abuse

Values

• Charity projects encourage participation in the community• Neighborhood clean-up projects teach children to care for the environment• Social justice activities foster mutual respect and unity between different

ethnic groups

Social Justice

• Outdoor activities, sports and games promote health and teamwork• Discussions with trained counselors provide personal support• Therapeutic, drama & music activities boost children's confidence • Organizing Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah celebrations for poor children

Building Self-Esteem

Finding Their Voices

Tzedek uses the magic of music to build children's confidence and self-esteem, giving each child opportunities to stand in the spotlight. They also record their songs in professional recording studios and learn about what it takes to become a star. The

training and encouragement that the kids receive in the choir helps them to succeed in school and in life.

The Tzedek choirs have been invited to perform in Jewish communities around Israel and Europe, sharing their joy

and enthusiasm for Israeli music.

Tzedek's Dedicated Team

Rabbi Paul Roitman zt"l, FounderofTzedek

Born in Poland and brought up in Paris, Paul joined the partisans during World War 2 to help Jews escape from the Nazis. He was captured but managed to escape from prison and assisted many Jewish to escape from France to Switzerland and Spain. After the war he became involved in rebuilding the Jewish communities and helping people to emigrate to Israel. He made Aliyah in 1970 and recognized the need to help young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He established three educational institutions and founded the Tzedek youth movement to help every Jewish child to become a successful citizen of Israel.

Born in 1967, Olivier made Aliyah in 1987 and studied Sociology and Economics at Bar Ilan University. Since 1994 he has worked for Tzedek in many different roles, today managing the organization's external relations. He also writes articles for international Jewish publications.

OlivierGranillic Communications Director

Claude Bloch was born in France and, orphaned at the age of 4, survived the War as a hidden child. He met Rabbi Paul Roitman through his youth movement and was inspired to get involved in Jewish life in post-war France. He also established a successful electronics business, which he continued to run from Israel when he made Aliyah. Rabbi Roitman invited him to take over the voluntary leadership of Tzedek in 1997.

ClaudeBloch PresidentofTzedek

Shlomi Amar DirectorofTzedek

Shlomi was involved in Jewish youth activities in Paris. He made Aliyah at the age of 18 and served as a Paratrooper in the Israeli Army. He gained his BA and MA degrees in Social Psychology from Bar Ilan University and his MBA from the Hebrew University. He has dedicated his life to the welfare of children in Israel.

Tzedek's Board of Management

Zev came to Israel from the United States with his parents at the age of 3, and grew up in Jerusalem. He has been involved with Tzedek for almost 15 years, as a branch manager. Ze'ev is now involved with the national management of Tzedek, with responsibility for directing its educational activities and training programs.

Ze'evSaslow BranchManager

Jeanne qualified as a Management Consultant at one of the top business schools in France, and worked as a consultant for the international Organization for Economic Development. She went on to set up a group of business schools and she also wrote a number of French language text books for foreign students. Jeanne made Aliyah in 1984 and since then she has dedicated herself to voluntary work, including helping Tzedek with all aspects of their financial administration.

Jeanne Vassal Financial Controller

Jeff BoussidanClaude Bloch

Jacky BronsteinMicheline Cohen

Robert FischelMyriam Gartner

Jacques GrouchkoIsabelle Puderbeutel

Elie SebbanCécile SpiraYves StoleruJeanne VassalGilles Zerbib

Paul Zylberman

Signs of Success

Many of today's Tzedek counselors were themselves Tzedek members, who have learned valuable life skills and acquired the confidence to become role models for others. Understanding how important Tzedek was for them during their formative years, they now dedicate themselves to mentoring younger kids.

The circle of giving continues.

Every Tzedek counselor is a super-counselor. Because they have grown up in difficult circumstances, they can empathize and help younger children to deal with whatever challenges life is throwing at them. Even while they are running activities and playing games with the kids, they are investing energy in their emotional development. They attend training courses in psychology to help them to detect and discuss problems in the children's lives. They also receive back-up from the national supervisors if they notice a problem that needs professional intervention. To be a counselor for Tzedek is to be a role model for its children – now and for the rest of their lives.

Grass Roots Leadership

Child

Graduate

Counselor

IDF Participation Rate among Tzedek Graduates

Average Participation Rate in the Israeli Army

89%

74%

Graduation Rate among Tzedek Members

Average Graduation Rate in Israel

83%

53%

Real Life Stories

An Orphan Finds His FamilyWhen Ariel was 3 years old, his family left Ethiopia and walked across the Sudan desert in order to immigrate to Israel. Both his parents died during the journey, and Ariel arrived as an orphan with no family in Israel. Tzedek became his family, and its activities became central to his life. At the age of 15, Ariel opened a branch of Tzedek in Beit Shean. He joined the Israeli Army and served in a prestigious combat unit, rising to the rank of Company Commander. After the Army, Ariel studied law and became a lawyer with a mission to help the Ethiopian community in Israel. Tzedek is proud of his achievements!

Rescued Boy Rescues OthersBarak grew up in a poor neighborhood of Jerusalem in the 1980s with four brothers and two hard-working parents. With no money for toys, he played in the street every afternoon with the local trouble-makers, and would have followed them into a life of crime. But, at the age of 12, Barak was invited to join Tzedek's afternoon activities and his life changed completely. Despite his own poverty, he learned to consider the needs of others, and he trained to become a counselor for Tzedek. Today, as manager of a Jewish Community Center, he works day and night with children at risk. He knows from his own childhood how crucial it is to rescue young kids from the dangerous streets and give them a better life.

Shirley had to leave her parents' home at the age of 6 because of serious domestic problems. Disturbed and unstable, she was sent to live with a foster family for four years, and then to the Givat Ada children's home. Her situation deteriorated as she became more aggressive and unmanageable, developing anorexia and refusing to eat. Her teachers couldn’t help her, and she occasionally joined in with Tzedek activities at the children's home, but without much conviction. Eventually she was convinced to attend the Tzedek summer camp and it turned her life around. Today Shirley is responsible for her local Tzedek center. To see this responsible young woman, full of life and looking after a bunch of noisy kids, you would not imagine that her own difficult history.

The Magic of a Summer Camp

Singing her way to successMichal came to Tzedek from a broken home at the age of 8. Her behavioral problems and poor self-image stemmed from her blaming herself for the family's difficulties. Step by step, with support from Tzedek's trained counselors, she recovered her confidence and became a soloist in the Tzedek choir. Michal decided to use her National Service year to become a Tzedek counselor, completing the circle of support that had once rescued her. Aged 20, she is now living independently and studying management at Haifa University.

Investing in Israel's Precious Children

Thanks to the careful financial stewardship of its directors, Tzedek's budget of $1,200,000 for 2012 is fully covered. But 600 additional children want to join Tzedek. They need to raise $210,000 in order to enable these needy children to join the Tzedek family and receive its many benefits.

COST PER CHILD

Value to that child: priceless

$350 per yearSPONSOR A TZEDEk BRANCH

dedicated in your name or the name of a loved one.

$25,000 per year

Budget 2012

• Educational Activities 28%• Outings 23%• Summer Camps 18%• Food & Utilities 14%• Staff Salaries 12%• Equipment & Computers 5%

Cost to Add 600 Children: $210,000

Social Justice, Political Independence

Partners in CaringTzedek works closely with the following organizations:

The IDF is supportive of their aims and objectives, and sends soldiers to participate in Tzedek events as part of their social welfare program. Local authorities and housing projects invite Tzedek to run youth programs in deprived areas, giving them premises and resources in return for their expertise with young people.

Tzedek has been endorsed by leading Israeli politicians, but chooses to avoid Israeli political interference and remain independent by not accepting government funding. Tzedek's activities are regularly inspected and approved by the Israeli Education Ministry.

• Ministry of Education• Municipal Councils of Jerusalem, Afula, Ashdod and Beer Sheva• Mifal Yaldei Yisrael Orphanages and Youth Villages around Israel• The Ministry of Housing and Amidar Social Housing Projects• The Israel Defense Forces

U.S.A: P.E.F. (Israel Endowment Funds) 317 Madison Ave., Suite 607, New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: (646)6573440 Tzedek.israel@gmail.com

Israel: 20 Nikanor Street, P.O. Box 10252, Jérusalem 93307 Tel: (+972)2679-3641

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www.tzedek.co.il

Tzedek