Students thrive at life-changing school
SINCE 1948, thanks to the support of donors in the UK and across the world and its dedicated staff, Boys Town Jerusalem (BTJ) has been looking after and educating some of Israel’s most vulnerable young people, offering them a home and hope for the future. Currently, 950 pupils are benefiting from everything the school provides, including:
A first-class secular education, focusing on technology
A Jewish curriculum that covers Bible, Talmud, Jewish law, ethics and philosophy
Full boarding facilities Three nourishing, freshly-prepared meals each day
Full-time professional and dedicated counselling services One-to-one tutoring support Dedicated special needs classes Diverse extra-curricular programme
Everything BTJ does means its graduates are able to play a full and constructive role in the life of the Jewish state.
Graduates like Yaniv Avitan. You would not have heard of him but no doubt you will be aware of the crucial work he and his army unit undertakes on behalf of the people of Israel. Avitan is a colonel in the Israel Defence Force and heads its field intelligence technological unit, which has developed the technology to detect terror tunnels.
In 2018, much to the immense pride of Boys Town Jerusalem, he received the Israel Defence Prize from the Israeli Ministry of Defence. In November, Colonel Avitan returned to Boys Town Jerusalem to look at how the next generation of students is being prepared to meet Israel’s challenges.
Speaking to students, Colonel Avitan stressed that Israel’s survival depends on its ability to innovate: “Our (unit’s) most crucial asset is not necessarily their knowledge, but their supreme values,” which “have equipped them with the dedication and perseverance that has led to the crucial discovery of 15 attack tunnels to date”. These core values, he said, were shaped at Boys Town Jerusalem.
Born and raised in the southern town of Netivot, Yaniv followed two older brothers to BTJ and was one of the first students to take part in BTJ’s pioneering comprehensive interdisciplinary technology programme. “I spent six crucial years living and studying at this school,” he says. “Our curriculum was challenging and intensive, and our teachers demanded the very best.”
The acclaimed graduate was visibly impressed as BTJ students shared their latest innovations with him. “This is the basis for teaching the next generation,” Avitan said, while watching year nine student Yair Zabit demonstrate his team’s Lego-based robot.
To support BTJ, you can make a donation, join its monthly-giving programme, leave a legacy, take on a fundraising challenge or twin your bar or batmitzvah with a BTJ pupil — and your support really will make a difference.
It will allow BTJ to continue to help many of Israel’s most vulnerable children and help transform their lives and the future of Israel, by providing them with the support, self-belief and skills they require to live a constructive and happy life in Israel.
020 8090 8421 office@boystownjerusalem.co.uk boystownjerusalem.co.uk Registered charity 1100332