Chessed, Tzedakah and Bat Mitzvah Projects
to Aid the Students at Ulpanat Dolev

What is Ulpanat Dolev?

Located in Israel’s Binyamin Region near Modiin, Ulpanat Dolev was established in 1988 as a residential facility and school for religious girls at risk. Today, it serves some 100 such troubled girls and young women, ranging in age from 10-19.

Referred to the facility by social workers and court order, these girls faced a bleak future before arriving at Ulpanat Dolev from all areas of Israel. For the most part, they were born into poverty, large families and parents emotionally as well as financially unable to meet the needs of these adolescent girls. This has created created a tension-ridden, sometimes abusive home environment.

Yet despite these obstacles, the students attending Ulpanat Dolev have demonstrated the intellectual capacity—and the will—to succeed.

Ulpanat Dolev offers these girls a basic high school education of religious and general studies, combined with vocational courses that prepare them for possible careers in early-childhood caregiving, computer repairs, cosmetology, nutrition, catering and hotel management. Therapy sessions help enhance each girl’s self-worth through the use of video, music, dance and equestrian riding.

Also truly unique for Israel, Ulpanat Dolev is partnered in an award-winning program that integrates the 200-family Dolev community, which has undertaken to host the students at their homes on a weekly basis, providing each girl with a positive, nurturing family experience throughout their stay at Ulpanat Dolev .

How can you help?

We have sketched some ideas for chessed and tzedakah projects that can be undertaken by your students on behalf of the girls at Ulpanat Dolev. Because of the nature of their upbringing, Ulpanat Dolev students would especially enjoy a “connection”—kesher—with someone their own age from the faraway United States.

A. Suggested Chessed Projects

Sending Purim, Chanukah or other holiday packages; small gifts for birthdays and/or party decorations.
Preparing and decorating aprons for the girls who work afternoons at the "Sweet Success" bakery in the school’s learning kitchen where they learn important vocational and marketing skills.
Sending Rosh Hashanah cards and "Penpal" e-mails in English (which some understand) and Hebrew.
Collecting used (but in good condition) clothes that visitors coming to Israel can deliver to the school. Some of the students arrive at Ulpanat Dolev with only the clothes on their backs!
Decorating mirrors for new rooms in the dormitory.
Making mobiles to hang in the students’ dormitory rooms.

B. Suggested Tzedakah Projects

Donating $36 for each Purim mishloach manot package to be prepared and delivered by Ulpanat Dolev students to IDF soldiers on duty in Israel.
Preparing holiday packages, small birthdays gifts and/or decorations for a party as well are possible.
Visiting the Ulpana when the “adopted friend” or representatives from the community come to Israel.
Providing financial support for needed school equipment (e.g., a computer) perhaps by a Bat Mitzvah girl or as part of a class project with the help of family and friends. (See Ulpanat Dolev’s “wish list” for projects below.)
Recognition of the mitzvah project via the presentation of a plaque or publication of a newsletter devoted to Ulpanat Dolev, perhaps displayed/distributed at the local synagogue.
Placing tzedakah boxes in local synagogues, kosher restaurants, Judaica stores, etc., and being responsible for collecting the tzedakah money and sending a check to the school. (Funds collected could be earmarked for a special project or needed equipment at Ulpanat Dolev.)
Conducting a Fashion Show for girls (and maybe moms, too.)
Sponsoring a Walk-a-thon or a sports tournament for girls.
Holding a cake baking contest on behalf of Ulpanat Dolev.

C. Suggested Projects for Bat Mitzvah Girls and Classes

Because a Bat Mitzvah girl assumes a certain level of social commitment at this stage in her life, it would be a great mitzvah for her to participate in the process of “saving a Jewish soul,” which is the mission undertaken every day in Israel by the Ulpanat Dolev high school on behalf of all its disadvantaged students. While establishing a special and perhaps long-lasting personal tie with someone of a vastly different background and culture, the special project should prove an enriching experience in Jewish action and caring for both the Bat Mitzvah girl and the Ulpanat Dolev student.

Following are suggestions for a Bat Mitzvah girl to follow in establishing a personal tie with her “adopted” Bat Mitzvah friend:

A “twinning” celebration to be held in Ulpanat Dolev’s beautiful and spacious dining room on a special Bat Mitzvah trip to Israel.
An entire Bat Mitzvah class undertaking an original project as it “twins up” up with a class or individual students at Ulpanat Dolev.
Any of the Chessed or Tzedakah projects mentioned above.
Donating money to one of the projects on the Ulpanat Dolev “Wish List” below.

Wish List for Ulpanat Dolev students:

	Item	Price per Unit	Total Cost
1.	Refurbish a room (6 to a floor)	$1,200	$7,200
2.	60 night stands	$100	$6,000
3.	Tape, DVD, loudspeakers x 5 sets	$1,500	$6,000
4.	2 Horses-for Equestrian therapy	$2,500	$5,000
5.	5 Computers- repair course	$700	$3,500
6.	4 couches for 2 lobbies in the dorm	$600	$2,400
7.	2 Electric water coolers	$900	$1,800
8.	5 guitars	$250	$1,250
9.	2 large swings	$600	$1,200
10.	TV x 2	$500	$1,000
11.	Sound equipment for music room	$1,000	$1,000
12.	Speakers, tape- for dance studio	$1,000	$1,000
13.	Outdoor Sports equipment	$1,000	$1,000
14.	20 Mats for exercise	$20	$400

We hope you will consider adopting our Ulpanat Dolev students as part of your Chessed, Tzedakah or “Bat Mitzvah Projects.” In this special way you will be stressing the important value of “Klal Yisrael” in the lives of Jews in Israel and the Diaspora.

Mimi Bernstein Tsadok, Director of Development, Ulpanat Dolev
mtzadok@hotmail.com or fax 011-972-2-5631026