No one is too young or too old to be a volunteer at a Melabev Day Care Center!
We have a use for every talent or specialty. Some volunteers come to conduct an exercise class or lead a bake-off. Some volunteers come to play an instrument or entertain the elders with song and dance. There are many volunteer opportunities available.
Everyone loves balloons and the Melabev members are no exception. So when Yudie Ballooney blows in we're always happy! Especially when he sends us home with one of his brilliant balloon creations like the one you see here. Yudie was part of a bat mitzvah celebration that was held at Melabev Beit Shemesh. We are delighted to have had several s'machot celebrated here with the seniors of Beit Shemesh! Mazal Tov!!
"The 5th ANNUAL "DON'T FORGET US" WALKATHON was amazing!" Fran Alpert raved. Harvey Chesterman and Bonnie Segal co-chaired this past winter's hike which headed South for the Hills of Eilat.
The Walkathon committee included Fran and Bernie Alpert who initiated the first MELABEV Walkathon, along with their friends Norton and Rachel Wasserman in 2004. Judy Rosenberg, a recent olah and the Wassermans' daughter participated for the first time.
Your Contribution to the Friends of Melabev Virtual Dinner goes directly to benefit the elderly in our care.
Unlike other fundraising dinners, the proceeds from the "Virtual Dinner" of the Friends of Melabev go directly to a project for the beneficiaries - the elderly with Alzheimer's symptoms - with practically no overhead subtracted. For this Virtual Dinner, the proceeds provide these elderly with daily hot lunches in our centers all year round. In addition, the Friends of Melabev hosted a festive brunch on Rosh Hodesh Nisan in each of our day care centers, while volunteers from our communities provided the entertainment. Sylvia Wallis chaired this year's event, as she has in the past, and was assisted by all the members of the Friends committee.
Motti Zelikovitch, Director-General, the Administration and Friends of Melabev take great pride in announcing that another one of our own has been honored with the title, "Yakir Yerushalayim" (Worthy of Jerusalem). Estelle Fink received this designation - the capital's highest civilian honor - at this year's Jerusalem Day ceremony.
Melabev began as an all-volunteer organization, and continues to rely heavily on its corp ot volunteers. Become part of this exclusive group!
"I’m not retiring !" Ruth Bick Richman said at her 95th Birthday, hosted by the Friends of Melabev. "Not retiring" from what? From being a volunteer. Granted, Ruth Richman is a particularly spirited soul, who looks some 30 years younger than her chronological age. She still enjoys yoga, and wouldn't consider leaving home without wearing heels.
Melabev has long been recognized as a leader in the field of Alzheimer's care, ever since its pioneer achievements in opening the very first day centers for dementia patients in the Jerusalem area. Melabev's staff has continued to develop innovative social therapies for the memory and cognitively impaired, and they shares their expertise and knowledge with other professionals in the field, which has brought Melabev additional acclaim.
FACT SHEET on MELABEV
The people we serve:
In our day care centers and Memory Clubs for the elderly with Alzheimer's-like symptoms the average age of our participants is past 80, 1/3 of whom are Holocaust survivors
Dancing down memory lane with our seniors was a delightful lesson in musical history for those of us born too late to have enjoyed some of the world's greatest entertainers.
Thanks to volunteer Win Robbins and his fabulous tape collection, Melabev was treated to the wonderful sounds of famous bygone singers like "The Ink Spots", Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Harry James and Tony Bennett.
The beautiful tunes and lyrics brought back some wonderful memories that our seniors enjoyed sharing with us and we hope to make Musical Memories a regular activity at Melabev Beit Shemesh.
