THE PEARL & HAROLD JACOBS
ZULA
OUTREACH CENTER
THE ZULA THE SCENE ... DOWNTOWN YERUSHALAYIM
THE PEARL & HAROLD JACOBS ZULA OUTREACH CENTER is a dropin center in downtown Yerushalayim that provides a safe, nurturing environment for at-risk teens and young adults, welcoming kids who feel unwelcome almost everywhere else. Most are involved in substance abuse or other antisocial behaviors, have dropped out of school or are estranged from their families. The Zula staff helps them learn to overcome their challenges and turn their lives around.
COMES
WHO TO THE ZULA?
s 3 ,000 teenagers visit the Zula annually, searching for attention, love and security. s 3 00 teenagers are treated by Zula therapists on a weekly basis. sM ostly from religious homes, these troubled teens have “dropped out� of mainstream society and normative Judaism. sM any Zula teens struggle with low self-esteem and lack of faith and respect for authority.
HAREL CHETZRONI
THE
HISTORY
OF THE ZULA s The Zula was conceived by Harel Chetzroni in 2000. In recognition of his pioneering work helping troubled youth, the teens nicknamed the Zula “Chetzroni’s Zula”. Chetzroni, his long-time partner Rabbi Pinchas Rubinstein and the Zula staff are “on the go” literally 24 hours a day, reaching every dark corner across the length and breadth of Israel.
s In 2005, thanks to a generous donation by the Jacobs family, the Zula opened its current location on Yaffo Road in memory of Pearl and Harold Jacobs z”l.
WHOEVER SAVES A LIFE, IT IS CONSIDERED AS IF HE SAVED AN ENTIRE WORLD. - MISHNAH SANHEDRIN 4:9
HOW DOES THE ZULA
WORK?
The Zula is a comfortable place to “hang out” where there’s always someone to listen, accept and encourage. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights activities at the Zula include music and art workshops with in-house therapists. Leading experts and rabbinic authorities provide constant guidance as the counselors help the teens to find their way. Staff members lead discussions, as well as learning sessions and value-based programming. They are available 24 hours a day to act as intermediaries between the teens and their parents or the authorities. When needed, the Zula staff refers them to specialists for counseling or treatment. But most of all, the Zula offers the greatest gifts of all: a warm smile and unconditional love.
IT’S A PLACE TO UNWIND, TO BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO I AM
WHAT HAS THE ZULA
ACHIEVED? Since its creation in 2000, the Zula has helped rehabilitate thousands of young adults.
The most recent study of the Zula’s activity, conducted in February 2015, interviewed 180 Zula kids as well as staff members. Case files were carefully examined, and baseline behavior at intake was compared with current behavior in a number of parameters:
s S ubstance Abuse s P romiscuity/Pornography s C riminal Activity s T ruancy s S treet Wandering s L ow Self-esteem s S ocial Rejection s R eligious Confusion
THE FINDINGS
30% - 60%
of participants made significant strides in one or more of these behaviors during the period of their active participation in the Zula.
THE ZULA: A PLACE FOR ME TO RECOVER AND REJOIN SOCIETY
LISA’S STORY LISA made Aliya with her family from North America. Her story is typical of so many Zula teens. This is how Lisa tells it:
“I couldn’t depend on my parents; they never offered me any support mentally or financially. I was thrown out of school many times and had nowhere to go. I was 15 years old at the time. In the morning I’d wake up, buy a drink, and start all over again. I was drinking a lot. By the time I was in 10th grade, I was staying out all night. I slept in all sorts of places. And then I met Talya, a counselor at the Zula. I never thought of the Zula as being religious; it was the place I felt most comfortable. Talya and I spoke at least once a week. I came to realize that although I have many siblings, I don’t really have a family. My closest contacts are my boyfriend’s mother and the people from the Zula. After endless discussions with my Zula counselor, I finally settled down enough to finish high school and now I am doing National Service. And I continue to talk with Talya…”
MY COUNSELOR’S ENDLESS DEDICATION SAVED ME WHEN I WAS LOSING HOPE.
HOW YOU CAN HELP NAMING OPPORTUNITIES Renovate the Zula Premises
$350,000
“Zulamobile” Cross-Country Emergency Outreach and Intervention Vehicle
$200,000
Zula Music Center
$100,000
Beit Midrash $50,000
ANNUAL DONATIONS Additional Staff Social Workers
$50,000 annually
Scholastic Scholarship Fund for Zula Alumni
$25,000 annually
Weekly Therapeutic Workshop
$10,000 annually
Tax benefits available in North America and Israel.
DEEDS OF GIVING ARE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD - PIRKEI AVOT 1:2
WHAT THE COUNSELORS
SAY OU ISRAEL
PRESIDENT: Zvi Sand EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Rabbi Avi Berman 22 Keren Hayesod St., POB 37015 Jerusalem 9137001 Tel: 02-560-9100 www.ouisrael.org
women to believe in themselves again; to believe that they have the potential to build good lives for themselves.” - Yonatan Amit, Psychologist
w“At the Zula, the teens take hold of
THE PEARL & HAROLD JACOBS ZULA OUTREACH CENTER
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Oren Asulin FOUNDER & FIELD COUNSELOR: Harel Chetzroni EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR: Rabbi Pinchas Rubenstein PSYCHOLOGIST: Yonatan Amit SOCIAL WORKER & SUPERVISOR, BOYS’ STAFF: Yaakov Prince SOCIAL WORKER, GIRLS’ STAFF: Zehavit Weiner SUPERVISOR, GIRLS’ STAFF: Claudie Kalman DIRECTOR, GIRLS’ PARA-PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM: Mali Segal DESIGN: YAEL HAUFTMANN / OU ISRAEL
w”I try to assist the young men and
their future and become positive role models for others.” - Oren Asulin, Program Director
w“Once a girl understands that I am on her side, we form a bond. I explain how she can take responsibility for her life and that makes all the difference.” - Talya Gefen, Madrichah
w“I give direction and help develop FOR MORE DETAILS
Contact: Menachem Persoff Associate Director of Development, OU Israel 02-560-9100 ext. 137, mpersoff@ouisrael.org
their strengths… One of the most successful things is learning Torah individually with the kids.”
- Yaakov Prince, Social Worker