Staff Spotlight - Iris Zuckrel: Artist, Teacher, Mentor

August 2023, by Elissa Einhorn, Beit Ruth Director of Communications & Partnerships

When she was 6 years old, Iris Zuckrel created her first painting as a birthday gift for her sister – a portrait of singer Stevie Wonder who she loved. But it wasn’t until she was in her 20s that she considered herself good enough to be called an artist.

 “My dad asked me what I wanted to study,” Iris recalls. “I told him 'I’m going to paint.'”

And paint she has, even opening her own art school where, each month, 70 students of all ages came to her Tel Aviv studio to paint, draw, and learn her techniques. Iris closed the school after 8 years and moved to Northern Israel with her husband and 2 children following a devastating house fire that traumatized her children. Not satisfied with psychologists and different therapies, Iris took matters into her own hands, walking into a local fire station and asking for help. Her children became unlikely fire fighters, joining the professionals on calls to extinguish fires.

The power to end abuse in the Jewish community

March 2023, by Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Pearl and Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence at UJA-Federation New York

Let us begin with the end in mind: Judaism demands the absolute rejection of all forms of abuse and demands that we do everything in our power to protect our children from abuse, physical, verbal, and emotional.

“It was a wonderful experience”
Beit Ruth Volunteer Shares Her Village Memories

July 2022, by Elissa Einhorn, Beit Ruth Grants & Communications Manager

Beit Ruth is grateful for its many volunteers from throughout the world who come to live and work in the Village. Heidi Carmel spent May and June with our girls and staff, teaching English, spending time in the Art Studio, and participating in Sports Day, among other activities. We caught up with her at her home in Boynton Beach, Florida. Interested in volunteering? Visit www.beitruth.com/volunteer or contact melaniev@beitruth.com. 

How did you find out about Beit Ruth and why did you want to volunteer in the Village?

I volunteered for 11 summers at a Skilled Nursing Home in Beer Sheva that, unfortunately, closed during COVID. I was debating about what to do when COVID passed when an old friend reached out and said, “I have something up your alley that’s perfect for you.” They were donors to Beit Ruth. I went to the website and immediately sent an email. I was so excited because it was totally different than working with the elderly, although I had worked with children and teens for 30 years as school Social Worker. I also taught English as a foreign language when I lived in Italy for 3 years and Hebrew at my shul before COVID.

Looking Back: A Year of Fighting the Coronavirus with At-Risk Girls

February 2021, by Mor Ben Simchon Lipin, Beit Ruth Village Manager

A year ago, when news of an unknown illness began showing up in the Israeli media, my mother started talking to me about this mysterious disease. I told her not to worry. I even said, ‘Enough! You’re just focused on bad news.’”

A few weeks later, on February 21, 2020, my niece sent me news about the first documented case in Israel of what has become known as COVID-19 or the Coronavirus.

At that time, the Beit Ruth Village, a long-term therapeutic residence and school in Afula, Israel, for girls, ages 13-18, who have been removed from their homes due to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, had been planning a trip to Mount Hermon so the girls could see and experience snow, uncommon in much of the country. It was right before the Jewish holiday of Purim and after much discussion, the trip moved forward. Four days later, Israel declared its first of three lockdowns.

“International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women” Should Be Everyday

November 2020, by Danielle Burenstein, Executive Director

Since 1981, women’s rights activists have been observing November 25 as a day against gender-based violence. The date was selected to honor the Mirabal sisters. Political activists from the Dominican Republic, three of the four sisters were brutally murdered in 1960. Their names were Patria Mercedes Mirabal Reyes; Maria Argentina Minerva Mirabal Reyes; and Antonia Maria Teresa Mirabal Reyes. Know their names. The ruler of their country, Rafael Trujillo, ordered the killings.

 In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the “Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women.” Its intent was to pave the way toward eradicating violence against women and girls around the world.

 In 2000, the General Assembly officially designated November 25 as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.” Since then, governments, organizations, and non-governmental organizations have worked to raise awareness of these issues.

Employee Appreciation Day: A Conversation with Beit Ruth’s Supervising Social Worker

March 2020, by Elissa Einhorn, Beit Ruth Grants & Communications Manager

In the United States, National Employee Appreciation Day is observed annually on the first Friday in March – this year, March 6, 2020. This is a day to recognize staff achievements and how much each staff member contributes to an organization.

In appreciation of our amazing Beit Ruth staff, who care for our girls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we are bringing this celebration to Israel! Meet Rotem Farhi, Beit Ruth’s Supervising Social Worker.

Beit Ruth Summer Fellow Shares Her Experience

August 2019, by Aviva Michaeli, Beit Ruth Summer Fellow

Working at Beit Ruth has truly been a one-of-a-kind experience. I learned so much about the Village and the therapeutic and educational services and programs that it provides for at-risk and vulnerable teenage girls in Israel.

While I had spent the past three summers working at different camps, the campers were from relatively privileged homes. Prior to arriving in Israel for my Summer Fellowship, the Beit Ruth staff briefed me about the girls’ backgrounds of domestic, sexual, or emotional abuse. Based on what I heard, I expected that the girls would be isolated, withdrawn, and quiet. This turned out to be the wrong assumption. Just like the essence of a “Sabra” (cactus pear/native Israeli), the girls had tough and defensive outsides with sweet and wonderful insides that revealed themselves as soon as you got to know them.

100+ Israeli Police Investigators Meet Beit Ruth for a Tu B’Shvat Celebration of Learning and Growing

February 2019, by Karen Gold Anisfeld, Volunteer

The girls and staff at Beit Ruth Village hosted the Investigative Unit of the Israeli Police Force to celebrate Tu B’Shvat – the New Year of the Trees (predecessor of Arbor Day), when it is traditional to plant trees in Israel during the rainy season. More than 100 officers arrived from all over Israel to learn about the important work at Beit Ruth, to tour the facility, and to plant a green fence of Bougainvillea with the 50 at-risk girls who live and learn at Beit Ruth.

Beit Ruth - Breaking the Cycle of Violence

June 2017, by Ronit Lev-Ari, Beit Ruth Project Manager

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The United Nations, and all those who recognize this day’s importance, acknowledge that violence against women is a human rights violation; it is a consequence of discrimination against women; it impacts and deters progress in many areas involving equality, peace, and security; it is preventable and essential. And yet, violence against women is still a worldwide pandemic.

The Meaning of the New Year for Beit Ruth

June 2017, by Danielle Burenstein, Executive Director

I am blessed to start my year as the Executive Director of Beit Ruth, an amazing place and community that brings promise, possibility, and opportunity for so many young at-risk girls in Israel - girls who otherwise would be out in the streets, lost, forgotten, and desperate. At Beit Ruth, every day for them is a beginning of life and hope.