Beit Ruth Responds to Coronavirus
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Beit Ruth Village has been faced with imaginable and unimaginable challenges - staff who are unable to be at work, the need for additional counselors, interim staff to train, heightened stress and fears, extreme safety protocols, programs that have to be altered or cancelled, and more – yet, we continue to run, uninterrupted, as normal as possible during these not normal times. Following is what’s been happening in Israel and the Village.
February 21, 2020: First case of corona confirmed in Israel. 14-day home isolation rule instituted for anyone who visited South Korea of Japan. Ban placed on non-residents and non-citizens who were in South Korea for 14 days before arrival to Israel.
March 5, 2020: Birthright trips, Federation missions cancelled.
March 9, 2020: All visitors to Israel must quarantine.
March 11, 2020: Israel limits gathering to 100 people.
March 12, 2020: Schools and universities close.
March 15, 2020: Israel limits gatherings to 10 people. Social distancing of 6-7 feet begins. Beit Ruth receives orders from the court that girls are no longer allowed to leave the Village for scheduled home visits or other external activities. All field trips and Beit Ruth-hosted conferences and seminars are cancelled, but the Village remains open.
March 17, 2020: Beit Ruth disseminates first communication about how the Village is maintaining the health and safety of girls and staff.
Because Beit Ruth is designated by the Israeli government as an “essential” organization, meaning it remains open even when emergencies strike (for example, war and pandemics), staff received a special certification indicating that they are able to be at the Village to keep our girls safe and our services running.
Beit Ruth’s Village Manager is in daily touch with Israel’s Ministry of Welfare office with questions related to specific requirements around safety protocols.
Beit Ruth ensures certified teachers are available to work on academic subjects with small groups of our girls.
Several afternoon and weekend on-site enrichment programs – including some sports, dance, and art – continue, with girls being led in small groups.
Girls are told to refrain from hugging each other and staff. The “Beit Ruth Virtual Hug” is created and widely used.
Separate house is set up for anyone with a fever or who reports feeling ill.
Visits from volunteers and groups are restricted.
March 19, 2020: A state of emergency is declared.
March 27, 2020: Beit Ruth disseminates second corona-related communication.
Girls continue to receive critical and structured academic and therapeutic activities. are continuing their schooling in small groups and participating in sports and dance activities within safe distances from each other.
Beit Ruth alumnae have been contacted to check on their well-being. A few needed extra support, but the majority are doing well, being responsible and staying safe.
Alumnae are offered special support during Passover.
A lack of corona tests means the temperature of all staff who enter the Village daily is checked. Girls temperature is being monitored.
Our girls and the Beit Ruth team welcome Shabbat with special homemade cakes and challah prepared by volunteers and staff.
Staff model resiliency to help girls learn to respond to challenging and uncertain times.
April 3, 2020: Beit Ruth disseminates third corona-related communication.
Beit Ruth continues to remain open as an essential service like hospitals and pharmacies.
School, therapy, and on-site programs run uninterrupted with adaptations.
A special visual art project is created based on “Three Butterflies,” a poem by Levin Kipnis, a prolific Israeli writer of children's literature. Girls designed beautiful face masks, mastered digital editing, recorded all of the narration, and took on the starring roles. The story is about three butterflies out flying when they get caught up in a storm far away from home. The three butterflies refuse to abandon each other in the rain. Girls learn to honor and defend friends and to honor themselves.
April 6, 2020: Israel declared on lockdown through at least April 10.
April 7, 2020: Wearing masks becomes mandatory in Israel.
April 7, 2020: Beit Ruth disseminates fourth corona-related communication related to Passover.
One of the most meaningful and humbling holidays in the Jewish calendar, Passover is a time of new beginnings and of redemption. Passover is about freedom.
Considering that our daily lives are so terribly restricted, this is a time to reflect on the things that really matter to us: People we love, our family and friends, what we cherish most, and what we value most about being free.
This year is a unique opportunity to remind ourselves that with freedom, comes responsibility, and with good fortune, comes the value of tzedakah. This year, let us remind ourselves of the difference we want to make.
The challenges the Village is facing ten-fold accelerated – but our resources and budgets remain the same. That’s a struggle. At times, it all seems overwhelming, but we are managing to find new ways and new opportunities, identifying solutions to continue our lifesaving work uninterrupted.
A traditional seder is being prepared for girls and staff and food will be prepared and sent to the relatives and families of our girls who are in need at this time.
The Village needs additional trained counselors and therapists to ensure the care and safety of our girls and to adapt our vital therapeutic and academic programs while adhering to health guidelines.
Today – at this moment – Let’s Lean Into Our Humanity, Together.
April 20, 2020: Beit Ruth disseminates a special music video — “You Will Be Found” (from the Broadway hit, “Dear Evan Hansen”) created by our girls under the direction of the Music Teacher, Liron Tzur.