Zion Blumenthal Orphanage

Zion Blumenthal Orphanage
Formation 1900
Headquarters 16 Hoshea Street
Location
  • Jerusalem, Israel
Official language
 Hebrew
Key people
 Rabbi Baruch Rakovsky, executive director
Mrs. Rivka Rakovsky, director
Website www.zionorphanage.com
Formerly called
 Blumenthal Orphanage

Zion Blumenthal Orphanage (Hebrew: בית ציון בלומנטל ירושלים‎, Zion Blumenthal Home Jerusalem) is an Orthodox Jewish orphanage and educational institution in Jerusalem. Founded in 1900, it is the oldest active orphanage in Israel.[1]

History

The orphanage was founded near the Bukharim quarter in 1900[2][3] by Rabbi Abraham Yochanan Blumenthal (1877[4]–1966[5]), a native of Jerusalem,[4] who led the orphanage for 50 years.[2] Blumenthal's wife, Shaina, served as a director for 40 years.[6] By 1920, the Blumenthal Orphanage was home to 85 orphans.[2][7] It absorbed many orphans from World Wars I and II and the Israeli War of Independence.[6]

The Blumenthal Orphanage was known for creating a family-like home environment for youth from many different religious communities – Sephardi, Ashkenazi, Hasidic, etc.[7] The use of Hebrew as the official language of instruction further served to unite children of different countries and languages.[6]

For many decades, the orphanage was a popular site for large events. It was the venue for the inauguration of the Chief Rabbi of Israel in 1921;[8] the first tish of the Belzer Rebbe in Jerusalem after his escape from Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944;[9] and the wedding of Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, rosh yeshiva of the Brisker yeshiva in Israel, in 1946.[10]

As the Geula neighborhood developed around the site of the orphanage, the institution became part of the Geula quarter. It is located two blocks north of the central intersection of Kikar HaShabbat. Its 1 acre (0.40 ha)[11] corner lot on Hoshea and Yechezkel Streets has been named Kikar Blumenthal (Blumenthal Square) in honor of the founder, Rabbi Abraham Yochanan Blumenthal.[12]

Clientele

In its early years, the orphanage accommodated children whose parents had been killed by Arab marauders. Others were placed here by their poverty-stricken parents. Today, most of the residents are not orphans, but children whose parents have mental illness or addictions, or who are severely impoverished. Some are victims of physical or emotional abuse.[13] The orphanage also accepts Jewish immigrant children from Russia and Ethiopia.[14]

By the end of 2011, the orphanage houses 100 children ages 7 to 18. An additional 120 youth attend an on-site yeshiva high school named Yagdil Torah.[15]

Current activities

The orphanage building is constructed around a central courtyard. An outdoor playground, fully equipped gym, library and petting zoo are available to the residents.[1][11] The orphanage provides afternoon extracurricular activities such as volleyball, gymnastics, music lessons, computer room, and gardening.[11]

In 2004 the orphanage introduced the concept of mishpachtonim, or family units, for boys aged 7 to 14. There are currently five family units on the premises, where groups of 12 boys live in private apartments together with a young couple and their small children. The couple serve as dorm parents, serving and eating meals with the boys and looking after their daily needs.[11]

Faculty

Rabbi Baruch Rakovsky, great-grandson of the founder, is executive director. His mother, Mrs. Rivka Rakovsky, a granddaughter of the founder, is director.[16]

Notable alumni

Over the years, residents of the orphanage have gone on to become "rabbis, attorneys, accountants, clerks, teachers, and professional tradesmen".[6] Notable alumni include Moshe Abutbul, mayor of Beit Shemesh, and David Azulai, member of Knesset for the Shas party since 1997.[17]

References

  1. 1 2 Huish, Sirkka (1 May 2009). "Bermudian Helps Out 100 Homeless Children". Bermuda Sun. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Rossoff, Dovid (2001). Where Heaven Touches Earth: Jewish life in Jerusalem from medieval times to the present (6 ed.). Feldheim Publishers. p. 392. ISBN 0873068793.
  3. ↑ Jaffe, Eliezer David (1983). Israelis in Institutions: Studies in child placement, practice, and policy. Taylor & Francis. p. 3. ISBN 0677059604.
  4. 1 2 Who's Who Israel. 1965. p. 143.
  5. ↑ לוח פטירת צדיקים: הרב אברהם יוחנן בלומנטל, יז כסלו [Calendar of Deaths of Righteous People: Rabbi Abraham Yochanan Blumenthal, 17 Kislev] (in Hebrew). Amude-HaShalom. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 שבילי, חיים (Shevat 5724 [January 1964]). הרה"ג אברהם יוחנן בלומנטל שליט"א ומפעלו [Rabbi Abraham Yochanan Blumenthal and His Enterprise]. קול סיני (in Hebrew) 5 (3): 125. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. 1 2 Ben-Arieh, Yehoshua (1979). עיר בראי תקופה: ירושלים החדשה בראשיתה [A City Reflected in its Times: New Jerusalem – The Beginnings] (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Yad Izhak Ben-Zvi Publications. p. 348.
  8. ↑ Kroyanker, David (1983). Jerusalem Architecture: Periods and styles: The Jewish quarters and public buildings outside the Old City walls, 1860–1914. Domino Press. p. 215. ISBN 9652610194.
  9. ↑ Israel, Yosef (2005). Rescuing the Rebbe of Belz: Belzer Chassidus: History, rescue and rebirth. Mesorah Publications. p. 445. ISBN 1578190592.
  10. ↑ Meller, Shimon Yosef (2007). The Brisker Rav. Feldheim Publishers. pp. 107, 183, 278. ISBN 978-1-58330-969-8.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Friedman, Hadassah. "My Home Away From Home". Binah Bunch, 18 July 2011, pp. 18–19.
  12. ↑ Inscription on plaque in front of building.
  13. ↑ Gordon, Rabbi Arye D. “LA Reception for Zion Blumenthal Orphanage”. ‘’Hamodia’’, 2 June 2010, p. C18.
  14. ↑ "Israel's Oldest Active Orphanage". Zion Blumenthal Orphanage. 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  15. ↑ Gordon, Rabbi Arye D. (22 December 2011). "Zion Orphanage Jerusalem Still Growing". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  16. ↑ "Our Staff". The Zion Orphanage Jerusalem. 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "About Us". The Zion Orphanage Jerusalem. 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.

Further reading

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