"The one concerned with days, plants wheat; The one concerned with years, plants trees; The one concerned with generations, educates people"
Janusz Korczak

Parable of a man who saw a peasant in the field, for the first time in his life, throwing wheat grains over the furrows. The man said: What a fool he is, to take the wheat, and to throw it away like this. The peasant said to him: Every grain will grow a stalk of wheat and produce a many times greater yield.
The mission we are facing at the beginning of the new year, is similar to sawing seeds which will later produce a perfect fruit. On the way to destination we sometimes face difficulties, crises and dilemmas, but they are all a part of the creation process of the seed and fruit. The children at Yad Rachel are taking their first steps in society, and these are significant steps in shaping their identity as adults in the society. The needs for normal development of a child at this age, require achieving security and a positive sense of value of one's self and family; and a stable and permanent relationship with significant figures as role models for building values and behavior habits.
Our children, our seeds, are often exposed to neglect and abuse, and experience deprivations that affect their normal development. They respond to this by developing behavioral and emotional problems, expressed by reactions of unrest, violent outbursts, learning disabilities and more. The challenge we face, with the beginning of the new year, is to change these children, like a grown blossoming plant.
Together with you, we will start the year, sow, water, and before our eyes we will always see the final destination, the fruit in its entirety.
What will be renewed in the coming year?
In the school year of 2017/2018, we are glad to open the CODE center – Counselling and Development Center. The center will develop innovative therapeutic methods for treating children and families at risk within the community; and will provide guidance to associations and authorities that run similar programs to our programs. The center activity will benefit in promoting Yad Rachel to a leading organization in the fields of education and treatment for
children at risk and their families, and will enable us to influence the largest possible number of beneficiaries every year.
As the Director General of Yad Rachel in the past 20 years, I am proud to be a partner of the organization's wide-ranging activities and development, and to see the organization grow and influence processes in the Israeli society regarding the treatment within the community of children and families at risk.
Yad Rachel does not operate alone. We work in full cooperation with various government ministries, authorities, foundations, business companies and donors from Israel and abroad.
I see great importance in saying thank you to each and every one of you, for your hard and successful work; and for the continuation of this vital and important cooperation for further continuing our activities for the children of Israel.
I would also like to thank the staff of Yad Rachel and to the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee comprised of the organization's members, and the dedicated volunteers, who work day and night out of a true sense of mission for the children and the families. I strengthen your hands and wish us all for many more years of good work.
Together with you, this year we have treated 2,000 beneficiaries.
 
I wish us all that the coming year will be a year of giving, tolerance and further extensive work for the Yad Rachel families, and for the sake of a better future for all of the children of Israel.
 
Shana Tova

Sara Weill
CEO,
Yad Rachel