PORTLANDERS IN ISRAEL deliver toys and crayons to children at the Neve Michael Children’s Village. The visit inspired one Portland youth to donate a portion of her bat mitzvah gifts to the children she saw there.

Israel trip inspires teen to give to youth village

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2008-11-15T00:00:00

Inspired by a summer trip to Israel, when Emma Snyder became a bat mitzvah Oct. 25 at Havurah Shalom she announced she will donate a percentage of her bat mitzvah money to Neve Michael, an Israeli children’s village for abused, neglected and abandoned children.

Portland has had an extensive relationship with the youth village. In 2001, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland donated funds to create the Portland Petting Zoo at the village. Neve Michael Program director Hava Levene calls the Portland Petting Zoo “the hit of the village.” At its Nov. 6 board meeting the federation again approved funding ($25,000) for a therapist to work with children using animals in the zoo.

So it’s no surprise that Dorice Horenstein’s community trip to Israel July 2008 included a stop at Neve Michael, especially considering her husband Bob Horenstein is the JFGP staff person for federation’s overseas projects committee.

So when Snyder discussed donating to a charity with her father Scott Snyder, with whom she traveled to Israel, Neve Michael came to the top of the list.

“She chose that charity based on our visit to Israel together this last summer,” said Scott Snyder. “She felt the linkage between Israel, Neve Michael and her parsha (Bereshit—Genesis 1, In the beginning) was the reason she chose that charity.”

In her drash, Snyder, talked about her visit to Israel: “We had a very powerful experience beyond description. One place we visited really made an impact on me. It was called Neve Michael, which is a home for abused children in Israel. They go there after having been badly abused in their homes, often by a parent or other relative.

“We ate lunch with the children of Neve Michael and my dad and a few others played music to cheer up the children. To see the joy it brought them made me feel like my presence was relevant. It was a real mitzvah. It also opened my eyes to how fortunate I am. Although the children are taken there to escape the abusive environment, they are not taken to normal lives exactly.… It showed me that I should be thankful for what I have, even something as simple as the love of a parent.”

In anticipation of the visit, the Horensteins asked Levene what the group could bring for the children.

Dorice Horenstein said, “I saw that my entire group was affected by it (the visit to Neve Michael). Suzi and Brian Demsey donated over $300 to federation to sponsor a child in honor of Bob and I. Debbi and Don Spiegel want also to sponsor a child.”

The 42 people on the community trip took small toys and crayons for the children.

“They all looked extremely happy when they saw the huge pile of gifts,” said Snyder in her drash.

“I felt like a better person by doing this, and I didn’t want my involvement there to end. I am going to donate a portion of the Bat Mitzvah gifts I receive to Neve Michael. This is a small way I can perform tikkun olam—healing of the world. The children are taken there to start a new life and a new beginning, which ties directly to the theme of Bereshit,” she said near the conclusion of her drash.