US Teens Helping Teens in Israel

Online, August 18, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Friends of Yemin Orde, the U.S. fundraising arm of Yemin Orde Youth Village and Yemin Orde Educational Initiatives, announces the completion and installation of its first-ever Bnai Mitzvah Wall of Honor , located at Yemin Orde in Mt. Carmel, Israel.

The artistic tribute wall, which is installed inside the Village's social hall adjacent to the synagogue, was created by Israeli graphic designer Kfir Malka in cooperation with Chaim Peri. The wall's artwork is designed to honor the philanthropic efforts of individuals who, after completion of their bar or bat mitzvah, donate $1,800 or more to the Village in order to help its at-risk children.

Yemin Orde Youth Village is home, school, and safe haven for 500 at-risk children from countries all over the world who have suffered great trauma. Yemin Orde Educational Initiatives provides teacher training, workshops, interventions and more to expand its unique Village Way methodology to other youth villages and schools in Israel. For more information, visit www.yeminorde.org, call 202-237-0286 or email [email protected].

The Bnai Mitzvah Wall of Honor was established in conjunction with Friends of Yemin Orde's Meaning Through Mitzvot program. This program provides b'nai mitzvah students the opportunity to commemorate their milestone in Jewish life with a "mitzvah project" that makes a difference in the lives of vulnerable children in Israel.

"We hope that our Meaning Through Mitzvot partnership will serve as a springboard for future involvement in charitable giving and lend deeper meaning to the b'nai mitzvah milestone," said Beth Landman, National Chair, Meaning Through Mitzvot. "It also gives great opportunity for children in the U.S. and in Israel to learn about each other and discover how much they have in common."

The needs of the children at Yemin Orde are great as most have already suffered significant loss and neglect in their young lives. The Israeli government funds 70 percent of operating costs at the Village; Friends of Yemin Orde's fundraising efforts are designed to close the 30 percent gap in support, which includes the costs of providing high quality extracurricular activities, medical and dental care, graduate support, a learning center, special therapy and exceptional daily care.

For more information on Yemin Orde's Meaning Through Mitzvot program, email [email protected]