The Ulpanat Dolev dormitory and temporary classrooms

Ulpanat Dolev was established in 1988 to address the desperate needs of hundreds of Israeli girls from families who didn't fit into the "regular" educational system, some from unstable and even violent homes, some new immigrants who have been unable to adjust to their new homeland.  Some are referred to us by court order because they are not allowed by law to live safely with their biological families and need a safe, protective, nurturing environment to study and live in for the duration.  They all require a warm, cohesive educational framework enhanced by Dolev members who host them for the duration of their high school studies to enable them to experience firsthand how a "normal" family lives while realizing they have been given a second chance to succeed.

In 1983, exactly 20 years ago on the holiday of Sukkot, a group of several young Bnei Akiva graduates from throughout Israel decided to form a yishuv (community) in the Binyamin area of central Israel that had been settled in the days of the tribe of Benjamin.  Once they settled in a few portable homes in the area, they decided to not only live and work in this area, but also establish a project that would benefit the society of Israel as a whole.

After much deliberation, they decided to form Ulpanat Dolev to rehabilitate young religious girls in the nearby deprived neighborhoods of Ramleh, Lod and other low socio-economic areas of Israel who needed a "second chance" at success.  Most either had come from a dysfunctional family life or were having trouble mainstreaming in the general high school curriculum.  Not only did they start the school with 10 students in 1988, but they decided that the mandate of every member of the community of Dolev would be to host a girl for the duration of her high school career to enable her to experience what a "normal" and loving family was all about.

Twenty families, a number of social workers, a psychologist and a number of prefabricated houses and 16 girls made up the first  Dolev Ulpana. Currently, there are 90girls, aged 11-18 (7-12 grades) from all over the country at Ulpanat Dolev with an educational staff that numbers 51 dedicated professionals under the supervision of the Ministries of Education, Social Welfare and Religious Affairs.  Some of the younger girls are sisters of older students who live with a foster family at Dolev because they are restricted by court order to live with their biological families due to severe abuse or neglect.