What We Believe
Every child and adult, disability notwithstanding, has the right to live a meaningful life.
It is upon this belief that Ohel Sarah built its mission; a mission that has prompted it to provide education, housing, employment and enrichment to children and adults with disabilities for the past five decades.
Five decades of professional advancement, love and dedication to help our students reach their potential, embrace their abilities and achieve independence and integration into society.
Our Vision
Providing every person with disabilities with a life of quality through a wide range of services that are based on the will of our student and his/her family.
Being the bearers of change in society to accept and embrace those who are different, and enable each person, no matter his/her disability, to be part of the community.
Enabling every person with disabilities to fully execute his/her rights, and providing him/her with suitable education, adapted employment and a warm home.
In order to turn this vision into reality, we are committed to giving our students the very best of services and unwavering support.
Our Strategy
We learn to identify and apprehend the needs of each one of our students and provide him with the necessary tools to reach his full potential and lead an independent, meaningful life.
Our Settings
Ohel Sarah is a home, and as such, is open 24/7, 365 days a week.
We recognize the importance of the aesthetics and the physical appearance of all our learning, employment and housing centers, emphasizing their accessibility and prioritizing their adaptation to suit the needs of our students and staff – thus creating the perfect surroundings that enable the ultimate learning, working and living experience.
Our Staff
As an organization that believes in innovation and advancement and is meticulous about setting high professional standards, we are careful to only invite professionals with comprehensive training in special ed join our staff.
We make sure to support and back each and every one of our hundreds of staff members from the very beginning with advanced work methods and innovative tools.
Our Families
At Ohel Sarah, family is everything. Our students’ families are our partners in every process we undertake and throughout every journey we embark on.
That is why we provide support, encouragement and extensive tools to the parent body through counseling sessions and workshops. This way, our students can receive the best support possible from their families.
Our Families
At Ohel Sarah, family is everything. Our students’ families are our partners in every process we undertake and throughout every journey we embark on.
That is why we provide support, encouragement and extensive tools to the parent body through counseling sessions and workshops. This way, our students can receive the best support possible from their families.
Our Approach
Ohel Sarah is active in three spheres:
Education
We operate 4 schools for over 300 boys and girls ages 6-21 with mild to moderate to severe cognitive disabilities. Our professional staff creates a customized educational and medical advancement program for each student, and with much love and dedication, helps each one progress towards a life of realized potential, meaning and independence.
Employment
We operate 5 employment centers for adults ages 21+, suitable for various levels of disability. These employment centers provide employment preparation and salaried work opportunities to over 200 individuals with disabilities, and enable each adult to enjoy work that is adapted to his individual capabilities.
Housing
We operate a housing division with 30 group homes for 140 residents from the age of 6 till old age. The residents enjoy an active, meaningful daily routine within the community with the assistance of a devoted and professional staff all year round. Our housing division also includes a division for married couples with disabilities and provides them with encompassing services, enabling them to enjoy their right to meaningful, loving partnerships.
It all started 45 years ago
when people who were different and
disabled were alienated and unwelcome.
At a time when many families
Hid their disabled child away from society
Behind closed doors
And shut window sills.
When disabled people were almost not regarded
As human
And their lives
Were considered useless
With no future in sight.
What could be done
With such a child
That does not grow like the rest
That does not understand or communicate
That creates havoc and destruction?
And then
In an unassuming, quiet and humble way
One family
With unlimited love and devotion
Began a revolution
A revolution called “Ohel Sarah “.
Rabbi Shmuel Ginzburg and his wife, Rivka, of blessed memory, opened their own private home to children and adults with disabilities and began taking them in, one by one.
They had only one goal: to help desperate families and provide their disabled child with a framework that would nurture them, teach them life skills and give them a chance at a meaningful life. They understood the needs of these children and did everything in their power to find channels of communication to help them grow more independent and become accepted by society – to actually live a life worth living.
And they built an empire!
The Ginzburgs’ dream, which started out in their living room, turned into an vision and a mission; an extraordinary venture that today features hundreds of professional and devoted staff members that are united in their quest to provide the best possible care for individuals with special needs from childhood and throughout life. Ohel Sarah is today one of the leading organizations that offers encompassing services to children and adults with disabilities and support to their families, with dozens of centers and frameworks that enable individuals with special needs to live a life of quality satisfaction and meaning.
1983 – The first school, “Mercaz Shlomo”, opens with 4 classes
1984 – The first employment center opens a bakery called “Livri’ut” employs senior students
1986 – The first group home opens.
1987 – Ohel Sarah gets official recognition as an organization at the Registrar of Associations
1989 – The “A Dollar a Month” campaign begins, and involves the community to help Ohel Sarah develop new centers
1990 – A special club for girls with hearing impairments opens
1991 – “Miftan” – a high-school for boys – opens in cooperation of the Ministry of Welfare
1992 – “Beit Chanoch”, a school for boys, is inaugurated
1993 – The housing division opens its second group home, “Beit Miriam”
1994 – A stationary store opens and employs women from the employment center.
The first training course for special ed teachers opens
The first class for girls opens at “Beit Chanoch”
1995 –
In an emotional inauguration ceremony, the therapy greenhouse at “Miftan” is opened
Ohel Sarah’s first Friends Organization opens in the UK
1996– The “Beit Tzvi” hostel for adults with moderate to severe disabilities opens with 24 residents.
1997 – Ohel Sarah’s first official office opens in Bnei Brak.
1998 – The employment center is transferred to a new, permanent building.
1999– a third group home, “Beit Matti”, is opened.
2000 – The “Beit Chanoch” school for girls is expanded and transferred to a temporary building
A fourth group home, “Beit Esther”, is opened.
2001 – The organization is allocated a lot to construct its employment center
The “Beit Chanoch” school receives an official license and transfers to its new dwelling place.
2002 – Ohel Sarah receives the Keren Shalem Prize for Excellence
A day center for boys is opened
2003 – “Beit Shai”, another school for older boys, is opened.
2004 – Rivka Ginzburg passes away on the last day of Hanukkah.
2005 – The day center for boys transfers to a new building.
2007 – The play “Out in the Light” is shown, starring the women from the housing division
“Beit Chanoch” for girls is renamed “Gesharim” and changes address to a portable structure
A day center for women is opened
2008 – “Mercaz Shlomo” is renamed “The Wohl Center” and is inaugurated in a moving ceremony.
2009 – The housing division opens its first group home for men, “Beit Shir”.
2011 – The housing division opens another group home for women, “Beit Renana”.
2012 – The housing division opens its second group home for men, “Beit Gil”.
2014 – The housing division opens another group home for women, “Beit Tal”.
2015 – The housing division opens its first group home in Elad – “Neveh Eyal”
The couples’ division opens with its first married couple with special needs
The new “Beit Batsheva” employment center for women is opened on Tzefat street in Bnei Brak
Ohel Sarah receives ISO recognition for excellent standards for the first time.
2016 – The inauguration of the new building for the “Gesharim” school is celebrated
The housing division opens another group home for women, “Beit Hodaya”.
2017 – The housing division opens two new group homes for women, “Shirat Hillel” and “Shirat Hadar”
The residents of Ohel Sarah’s housing division enjoy a vacation in Austria.
2018 – “Kedem” – an employment center for men, is opened
The couples and the men of the housing division enjoy a vacation in France
The “Beit Chanoch” and “Beit Shai” schools are transferred to a new building
The housing division opens three new group homes: “Beit Lior” for young girls, “Beit Dror” for women and “Neveh Tzion” for men.
2019 – The residents of the housing division enjoy a vacation in Georgia
“Gesharim” is the proud winner of the Education Award
The residents of the “Shirat Hadar” group home receive the Magen Prize of the Welfare Ministry for their volunteer work in road safety
Ohel Sarah holds a unique Safeguarding conference for the religious public.
2020 – “Kmo Kulam” – a Purim singing event for the public, led by Ohel Sarah’s students, staff and volunteers, in cooperation with the local Welfare Department, is held
The inauguration of the “Tiferet Shmuel” Yeshiva synagogue, and a Hachnasat Sefer Torah, are celebrated
2021 – The housing division opens an innovative model of apartments for independent flat-mates with mild disabilities.
Ohel Sarah’s Branches
centers throughout the city and beyond. Each year, our centers grow
and new ones are added in order to best serve our students.
Beit Chanoch
and Beit Shai Schools
20 Kishon Street, Bnei Brak
Gesharim School
68 HaMakabim Street, Bnei Brak
Immunit Day Center
33 Norok Street, Bnei Brak
Shirat Halel
Zirelson Street, Bnei Brak
The Wohl Center
10 HaGalil Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Lior
Shachal Street, Bnei Brak
Neveh Re’I’m
Rabbeinu Asher Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Dror
Shmuel Hanavi Street, Bnei Brak
Neveh Tzion
Jerusalem Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Renana
Dessler Street, Bnei Brak
Be’er Batsheva
15 Tzefat Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Esther
Chazon Ish Street, Bnei Brak
Shirat Hadar
Reines Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Shir
Noam Elimelech Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Matti
Ezra Street, Bnei Brak
Neve Eyal
Anilevitch Street, Bnei Brak
Beit Shirel
Ma’onot Viznitz, Bnei Brak
Shirat David
Ginot David, Bnei Brak
The Ofek Employment Center
53 Ezra Street, Bnei Brak
We have the official documents that show our high standards
Ohel Sarah officially began its activities in 1987. We appear in the official Registrar of Associations and are meticulous about proper management and full transparency.
