What Others Say

Ruti Wald -- Chairperson, Avukat Or (NGO)
…We feel that therapeutic gardening answers many of our students’ needs, beginning with improving their self-image to providing satisfaction from the doing and creating, sensory stimulation derived from physical labor and more. The patience, understanding, warm attitude and professionalism of Shomera’s staff towards each and every student, as an individual and as a person worthy of respect despite his many disabilities, impresses us greatly. We are fortunate to have been blessed with the privilege to work with them.

Alona Shefer, Esq - Director, Life and the Environment (NGO)
Shomera stands out by virtue of its work to enlist the ultra-orthodox community into environmental activity, through joint programs for the secular and the ultra-orthodox that encourage this important dialogue in Israeli society. Shomera is the vanguard in the field of innovation, environmental initiatives and work within the community. They advance many substantial initiatives and serve as a model for the work of others…

Dr. Chaim Rubinstein - Asst. Dept. Head, the Education Dept. of the Jerusalem Municipality
I read the article “Shomera in the School” with joy and enjoyed the heart-warming pictures. Congratulations on the good work of turning the “wilderness” into a flowering garden. I recall the ‘before’ and I have been
privileged to see the ‘after’ and am certain that the entire school community is happy with the beautiful Biblical garden project. Aside from its being a pedagogical tool, its beauty and scent enrich the school courtyard and the vibrant blossoms certainly paint an array of colors. I am sure the students enjoy the conceptual side as much as they derive satisfaction from the work.

Yaakov Maoz - Director of the Eretz Moreshet Dept., the Israel Association of Community Centers, Jerusalem Region
…Shomera has set a central goal for itself -- improving the quality of the environment and life both in the neighborhood and outside of it. Throughout this period Shomera has succeeded in inculcating the various sectors in Har Nof with its point of view while operating varied programs both in the framework of formal education and informal education…All these activities were undertaken with a progressive vision of community, which empowers the positive forces within the community and presents opportunities for communal involvement and direct influence upon the quality of life in the community…

Yechiel Leket - Chairperson, Board of Directors, Jewish National Fund
Shomera leads environmental projects in special populations, including nurturing youth-at-risk. The courses in organic gardening for blind girls and senior citizens, comprehensive educational activities for various and varied sectors…Shomera educates incorporating tradition and a love of the land…Shomera realizes an outlook which champions efficient use of resources, empowering residents and comprehensive activities which propel environmental processes in places where other organizations have given up.

Chana Himmelfarb-Tura - Principal of the State Religious School for Girls
…Work at the Shomera site and in the school on a variety of topics, including the connection between Judaism and the environment and Judaism and agricultural labor, has contributed much to the students and has extraordinarily enriched their world…

Meira Helfer - Educational Coordinator, Jerusalem District, Ministry of the Environment
…Shomera’s counselors created amazing relationships with the boys and girls while demonstrating professionalism, understanding the unique needs of the children and giving respect to each of the participants. Members of the group wait impatiently each week for the next activity, without a doubt due to the connection they have with the counselors…

Mina Penton - Council Member, International Relations and Diaspora Jewry, Jerusalem Municipality
…For quite some time I have been following your lively, interesting, and professional activities…You are an example and model of residents who have decided to take a unique initiative in the vicinity of the neighborhood, Har Nof…

Bela Burstein - Member of the Steering Committee, Du-Siach: The Movement for Better Understanding between Secular and Religious Jews
...It manages, with its amazing talents, to lead its participants into joint, unique labors and the results speak for themselves…To reach each child or adult who needs help and to give him special attention and the ties created between the participants themselves - secular, religious, young, and old - realize what we aspire to achieve through this dialogue and in a pleasant and creative atmosphere.

Menashe Ben Ari - Advisor to the Mayor of Jerusalem for Development
…The organization deals with teaching this large neighborhood environmental values. Many of its
residents were never taught these values and the organization’s work within this reality is pioneering, if not revolutionary…

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