Remembering Benyamin, who carried a giant heart

At the grave of Sgt. Benyamin Yona, his teacher Rabbi Amos Daikon recalled with both a smile and tears the hardships and heroism that defined this remarkable young man. “Benyamin’s giant heart was beyond measure. He sacrificed focusing on his academic education so he could work long hours to support his invalid mother. He was sensitive to the needs of his classmates, reaching out to help anyone in need. Although every day was a struggle for Benyamin, he never complained. His smile never left his face.”

From student to soldier to hero

When Benyamin’s mild heart condition prevented his being drafted to the IDF, he volunteered to serve. As a heavy equipment driver in an Iron Dome mobile air-defense installation in Israel’s south, Benyamin and his comrades suddenly found themselves on the battlefield on October 7th . As hundreds of Hamas terrorists stormed the area to murder civilians, Benyamin and his fellow soldiers fought heroically, killing numerous enemy fighters before losing their lives.

United in memory and legacy

At the Memorial Day assembly on campus that followed, Boys Town Jerusalem students gathered to honor the over 70 students and faculty members who have fallen defending Israel since 1948. High School Principal Rabbi Avichai Charazi urged the students, “In their memory and honor, our mission is to become better, more compassionate people working to improve humanity. May we be blessed to add light to this world in a peaceful, thriving Israel.”

The post BTJ Students Remember Their Heroes appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

A childhood marked by trauma

Danny and his classmates bent over their pages, filling in each square with quiet determination. Danny’s story read: “Dad & Mom fight. Dad beats up Mom. Police. Kids crying. Jail. Suitcases. Divorce. Sadness.”

The shared impact of divorce

“Each story is different,” Ronit explains, “yet the 12 boys in this group share a powerful bond. Their parents’ divorce has brought complex emotional challenges. Over the 15 sessions, we give students a set time and place to process the stages of the trauma they’re experiencing.” A parallel program for high school students is led by BTJ social worker Udi Chamo.

A safe place to heal and be heard

The 90-minute sessions are based on the American program Rainbows for All Children, which supports youth coping with separation or divorce. At BTJ, these sessions give boys the invaluable chance to speak openly and take meaningful steps toward healing.

Learning to cope, rebuild, and trust again

“We explore ways to deal with guilt and anger, understand the stages of trauma, seek safety and stability, adapt to new living arrangements and shifting family dynamics, learn who and how to trust, and much more,” Ronit notes. Today, over 30% of BTJ students come from divorced families – a number that continues to rise. The painful war years following the Corona crisis have added strain to already fragile homes. High unemployment has deepened poverty, especially among singleparent families, compounding the emotional burden on children.

Supporting boys through divorce and toward a stronger future

“We are extremely grateful to generous BTJ donors worldwide,” adds BTJ CEO Yoni Strimber. “Their support empowers us to grant students priceless tools to build healthier futures. I only wish I’d had such an incredible workshop when my parents got divorced.”

The post Empowering Boys to Heal After Divorce appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

“Moshe, you are strong,” Boys Town Jerusalem Principal Rabbi Yehudah Rosencrantz told him gently. “The war will end soon. You’ll be back with your friends in school before long. You’re not alone – we’re here for you.”

Axiety during the war

Rabbi Rosencrantz explained that Moshe is a gifted student who struggles with chronic anxiety throughout the year. “The war has been devastating for him. His medications are no match for the terrors of wartime,” he said, noting that Moshe studies in a small BTJ Special Education class.

Continuing to learn against all odds

When schools were closed at the outbreak of the Iranian War, Moshe and his classmates continued learning online via Zoom. “Moshe is exceptionally bright. He even won first place in our online Passover Quiz for the entire seventh grade.”

Moshe’s progress was interrupted

Before the war, Moshe had been making excellent progress both socially and academically. But like so many of his classmates, he has suffered serious setbacks under the constant threat of bombings and the terrifying wail of sirens. “He’s now back on heavy medication to calm his nerves, and even that doesn’t always help.”

This generation is carrying too much

Rabbi Rosencrantz emphasized that the emotional toll extends far beyond the Special Education program. “Every student is struggling. Today’s students have endured two years of the Covid epidemic followed by two years of war. Their lives – and their learning – have been deeply disrupted. We thank our donors for enabling us to give Moshe and others the tools, support, and confidence to heal and succeed, both now and in the future.”

*Name changed for privacy reasons

The post Terrified by War appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

A home that was never safe

“Jared is one of the most likable boys in his class,” Rabbi Rosencrantz explains. “But his home life is an absolute nightmare.” From the time his parents divorced when he was very young, Jared has split his time between their homes. Now, both parents have remarried and started new families. “Neither home is stable, and tragically, neither family wants Jared to be part of their lives.”

That frigid morning, Jared poured out his heart to the principal. What he described was devastating. His father had become violent, beating him without warning. Recently, his mother injured him as well.

A safe haven at Boys Town Jerusalem

“We immediately brought our social worker to be with Jared, as we contacted the Jerusalem Child Welfare authorities. All of us are working urgently and together to protect this boy’s physical safety and emotional wellbeing.”

Arrangements are now underway for Jared to move into the safety of the Boys Town Jerusalem dormitory. Thanks to generous overseas donors, he is able to enjoy special after-school activities and tuition-free studies. Just as critically, the three wholesome, homecooked meals served daily on campus – meals that all BTJ students receive – are proving to be a vital lifeline.

Building a secure and meaningful future

“We will do everything in our power to protect Jared and to give him the emotional support he needs to build a secure, meaningful future,” Rabbi Rosencrantz declares.

*Name changed for privacy reasons

*AI image used to protect identity

The post A Safe Haven for Jared appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

After over two years of war, Your Boys are traumatized.

Every teacher keeps saying the same thing: we are now seeing the effects of war on these boys. 

Your Boys are anxious, they jump at loud noises, some are not sleeping, others are having panic attacks. 

With the current war, these problems are only going to get worse.

 

They need YOU to help them heal

You can support a new program at BTJ designed to improve Your Boys’ emotional well-being.

This new program will focus on counseling for emotional well-being, tutoring to help each boy learn, and therapeutic outings and hikes designed to regulate their trauma response. 

The post Your Boys Need Your Help appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

A family legacy of courage

Asher and Lior’s greatgrandfather, Asher Zelig Polski, was in his early 20s when the Nazis invaded Poland. Sentenced to a forced labor camp in 1942, he hastily packed several essentials – including his tefillin – into a small suitcase. The suitcase was immediately confiscated upon his arrival. Devastated, Asher miraculously managed to “ransom” the precious tefillin at the cost of two full days of his starvation rations. Against unimaginable odds, the tefillin became secretly used each day by nearly 200 prisoners who risked their lives to pray.

Survival and renewal

In 1944, Asher was transferred to the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp. He barely survived the brutal death march before Germany’s defeat the following year. By 1949, Asher, his wife, and baby daughter left a Displaced Persons camp in Germany to immigrate to Baltimore. His steadfast piety – and his treasured tefillin – became an inspiration for generations to come.

Connecting Torah and tradition

This year, Asher (named for his greatgrandfather) and Lior’s family immigrated to Israel from the USA. As their Bar Mitzvah approached, the twins prepared to read parshat Bo, the Torah portion in which tefillin is first mentioned. Moved by that connection, their mother – Asher’s granddaughter – sought to mark the occasion by donating new sets of tefillin to boys in need. She chose Boys Town Jerusalem.

Walking in their great-grandfather’s path

“We depend on generous supporters to help provide new, quality tefillin to our many students from impoverished homes,” noted Rabbi Daniel Loew. “It’s so inspiring that Asher and Lior are walking in their great grandfather’s path by giving tefillin to BTJ students.”

The post A Bar Mitzvah Gift of Miracles appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

BTJ creates new “psychopedagogical” support program

“So many students are showing clear emotional distress signals for help,” he notes. “Boys from single parent homes are struggling the most. To meet the challenge, we brought in a top expert to guide our staff – and later the parents – to create a broad “psychopedagogical” support program. We are determined to give students the tools and confidence to gain strength.”

Focusing on emotion instead of grades

The psychopedagogical program focuses primarily on students’ emotional status, not their marks. “Our teachers are receiving ongoing training to help them better understand and respond to students’ emotional needs,” Principal Charazi explains. “Every student receives an evaluation and a personalized learning plan – whether he has learning challenges or is academically advanced. We’re aiming to strengthen each student’s motivation, study habits, focus, and selfconfidence.”

It’s a team effort to implement this new program

Teachers work closely with families, guided by BTJ’s Social Services Department team of psychologists, social workers, and therapists. Outside the classroom, students are also planting and tending a therapeutic garden on campus, offering comfort and healing. As Principal Charazi pioneers the ambitious psychopedagogical support effort, he proudly stresses the therapeutic value of BTJ’s ever-growing Community Service program. “No matter how hard a boy’s life is, he gains strength and self-esteem from helping others.”

*Name and details have been changed for privacy reasons

*Image is AI to protect the identity of the child

The post Healing Students’ Post-Trauma with Loving Care appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

Searching for direction at a critical age

Now 15, Zach struggles to express his emotions. He has no close friends and is constantly searching for direction. Yet, at Boys Town Jerusalem, his teachers and therapists are working closely with him, carefully guiding him toward greater emotional resilience and stronger social skills.

Individualized support

“Zach is in a small Special Education class where he receives a great deal of personal attention,” explains therapist Hadas Knopf. “We focus on giving Zach and his classmates the social skills, thinking strategies, and self-esteem that will strengthen their abilities and build their confidence.” Hadas notes that the absence of a male role model can be both painful and damaging for teenage boys like Zach. “Absent fathers also include those who are emotionally distant from their sons,” she adds.

Building confidence through therapy and coaching

At Boys Town Jerusalem, social workers and therapists are providing Zach, and many others, with the support and therapeutic tools needed to build self-worth and define personal goals. “We are arranging for a ‘coach’ to work closely with Zach, and we’re using creative therapies to help boost his confidence and self-esteem,” Hadas says.

Finding strength in giving back

Beyond the classroom, Zach and his peers are enthusiastically participating in Boys Town Jerusalem’s wide-ranging Community Service program, volunteering their time to help those in need. “For every student, giving of himself is the most empowering therapy of all,” Hadas emphasizes.

*Name and details have been changed for privacy reasons

*Image is AI to protect the identity of the child

The post Zach’s Journey of Healing and Growth appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

“The perfect choice for team captain”

“The entire team agreed that Amichai knows everything about robotics and believes that anything is possible,” says team advisor Shay Neuhaus. “He’s the perfect choice for FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) team captain, despite being the youngest member.”

A natural engineer from the very beginning

Amichai readily admits that robotics has always been part of him. “Even as a little kid, I’d look at something—like the doors on a bus—and imagine how I would build them differently,” he recalls. “When I joined the extracurricular FLL (FIRST Lego League) Robotics Team in 7th grade, I was fascinated by mechanics and coding. On my very first day of learning, I started teaching.”

Learning, teaching, and leading as a team

The following year, he became the youngest member ever to join the school’s FTC team. “Robotics involves constant learning,” he explains. “Building a robot requires tremendous teamwork in planning, coding, and mechanics. As captain, my job is to help every team member give his maximum.”

Last year, Amichai and his teammates proudly celebrated BTJ’s second-place finish out of 41 teams in the 2025 Israeli FTC Robotics Competition, along with the prestigious Innovate Award for robot design. “We won because our robot was totally unique. The key is ingenuity and simplicity.” Amichai salutes the crucial role of the school’s 3-D printer in the team’s success. “We design and produce about 40% of our robot’s parts right here.”

Giving back beyond the competition

As the team spends countless days and nights in BTJ’s Follender Robotics Center, Amichai is especially proud that they also volunteer to mentor new robotics teams across Jerusalem. “We all want to give of ourselves and contribute to the future.”

The post BTJ’s Youngest Robotics Captain Leads the Future appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.

“Please, Rabbi,” he whispered anxiously, “before we leave, could you give me a 10-shekel ($3.00) coin for the snack machine? I couldn’t ask my mom. She’d start crying again. We have no money for food at all.”

Aaron’s family has been in crisis for a while

Aaron’s father is suffering from a severe illness. At the same time, Aaron, his mother, and siblings are struggling with the traumatic collapse of their family. Alongside the emotional turmoil, they’ve been plunged into poverty. His father’s business has failed, and his mother’s modest salary as a secretary cannot begin to cover the family’s needs.

How Boys Town Jerusalem stepped in

When the administration learned of Aaron’s devastating home situation, Boys Town Jerusalem immediately took steps to ease the family’s financial burden. “We waived all fees for Aaron’s tuition and after-school activities,” Rabbi Rosencrantz noted. “Our social workers are working diligently to strengthen Aaron’s emotional resilience.”

When hunger became visible

Yet it was only on the morning of the field trip that the principal realized the family had no food at all. “I was reminded once again of the critical importance of the plentiful, freshly cooked, nourishing meals BTJ provides every student each school day— thanks to the generous support of our donors worldwide. No matter how poverty-stricken their families may be, our students receive the priceless, lifesaving gift of nutritious, tasty meals.”

“We’re at Aaron’s side during these very difficult times, supporting him through the painful struggles he faces,” Rabbi Rosencrantz emphasized.

*name and details changed to protect privacy

The post Aaron’s Whisper appeared first on Boys Town Jerusalem.