Neve Ofer House

The Neve Ofer House (Bet Moshe ve Yisrael) is a residential facility that provides immediate relief to children from Jaffa, Bat Yam and South Tel Aviv, in emergency or dire situations.  These children have been urgently removed from their homes by the local department of Welfare and Social Services due to parental incarceration, parental neglect, and/or abuse.

The Neve Ofer House is operated by a professional staff consisting of resident house parents, two part-time social workers, a therapeutic team, and two tutors.  The staff works hard to create a warm and loving nuclear family – something that many of the children have never experienced.  The house parents are married with three children of their own. They infuse Neve Ofer House with love, tenderness and a feeling of safety and warmth – while providing constant support and encouragement.  It is a family center with pictures of the children, books, games, toys, a computer room, and cozy furniture – all essential elements in creating a true home.

The children’s physical and emotional well-being is paramount.  Each child receives special therapies according to their individual needs.

Art Therapy Creative arts help the children increase self-awareness, cope with symptoms and traumatic experiences, and foster positive changes. Creative art therapy includes music, dance and movement, drama, drawing and painting, which help the children express their thoughts and feelings.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Specifically focuses on helping the children realize that they are not to blame for their parents’ hurtful behavior. Cognitive-behavior therapy helps to identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones.

Play therapy is used frequently with the children. The staff uses a variety of techniques, including playing with dolls or toys, painting, or other activities. These techniques allow children who are lacking cognitive development to verbalize and express their emotions more easily.

The staff of Neve Ofer House works diligently to resolve long-term housing and care issues through a partnership with the Tel Aviv – Jaffa Department of Welfare and Social Services. This requires either facilitating the return of the child to his or her home – assuming stability has been restored – or finding an alternative, long-term arrangement in the event that the domestic problems cannot be solved.  Long-term solutions include placing the child with his/her extended family, with foster parents, or at a suitable boarding school.