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At Lev LaLev, we are committed to giving these 9 new girls a brand new beginning. The day they arrived at the Home’s threshold, was the first day of the rest of their lives. We hope that this New Year, 5773, will prove to be the best year of their new life – filled with renewed hope, happiness and good mental and physical health. Click here to help outfit a girl for the New Year. |
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Only days before the school year began, nine new girls arrived at
the Home. The
first group to reach the Rubin-Zeffren Children's Home doorstep consisted of three
girls between the ages of 7 and 12. They were accompanied by a social worker
from the Welfare Department. The girls came empty-handed, without any personal
possessions- two of the girls, sisters, literally clung to each other. Bracha related
these harrowing facts to Lev LaLev explaining how the third girl just stared – appearing
totally forlorn.
The following morning, four more girls arrived. Two of these new
housemates each had with them an old, torn backpack that contained their meager
belongings. A few hours later, two more new girls arrived just in time for the
main meal. Several
of the Home's older girls immediately greeted the new arrivals and welcomed
them graciously with warmth and acceptance. Sad faces soon turned to smiles as the
hungry girls were first fed, then given a tour of the Home and shown to their
attractive, newly painted, rooms. Each of the nine girl’s joy was clearly visible
when they saw their neatly made beds with colorful sheets, matching pillowcases
and duvet covers for the first time. Every bed had a few cuddly stuffed animals
as well as a welcome basket of toiletries including scented soaps, shampoo and
conditioner, a comb and hairbrush, and eau de toilette.
Sadly, these nine girls came from various degrees of some of the
most painful and difficult dysfunctional family situations. We learned that the two
sisters' mother, an emotionally unstable woman, suffered a terrible setback,
enduring a nervous breakdown after her husband was incarcerated for crimes
committed while under the influence of drugs. A few of the other girls came from
broken homes where they witnessed frequent verbal and physical friction between
their parents and, as a result, they too were abused. One of the nine girl’s
mother and father are deaf and cannot properly care for their daughter, the
youngest of their children, who was born to them later in life. 
Accepting new girls to the Home is not an easy task. Each girl needs to be
individually assessed by the Home’s Educational Director; her previous school
records are obtained and evaluated. Then the girls are placed in appropriate
local schools, or special-ed programs when deemed necessary. Their medical and
dental needs are addressed, and the girls' mental health concerns are also taken
into consideration. Appointments are immediately made for those deemed
candidates for various types of psychological therapy.