About Neve Menashe

Neve Menashe is a rural live-in care facility providing a warm and supportive atmosphere for over 400 mentally challenged men and women between the ages of 16 to 71 years. Of these residents, 175 are mildly to moderately handicapped and 220 with severe mental handicaps. Of the 82 physically handicapped individuals the facility cares for 7 who are also blind and 17 visually impaired.

Neve Menashe runs several well organized workshops that provide pocket money for the residents employed on a daily basis and also funds for the ongoing activities of the workshops. The weaving shop producing carpets, wall hangings, sweaters and shawls, is a particularly successful venture that sells out its entire inventory at every annual sale. Other workshops focus on product assembly and packaging.

Our Staff

At the core of our homes are our caregivers. A round-the-clock team of directors, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, male and female nurses, drivers, gardeners, sports trainers and many more.

Our staff members come from all of Israel's communities and minority groups. After careful selection (12 years education a minimum requirement) they undergo a year of probation under strict supervision. What's more, our staff has an exceptionally long service record that outstrips similar care facilities in other countries of the world. For example, Bracha has been a devoted housemother for 35 years and Jaques' skillful hands have fixed broken furniture and electrical appliances for over 15 years.

No less important is that for many mentally challenged individuals living in our homes from youth to old age, our staff not only ministers to their needs but often fills in as the only family they have.

Our Residents

The residents were originally housed (1963) in an old military camp built by the British during the Second World War. With government and National Insurance Institute help and generous public donations, the original buildings and facilities have been substantially improved from their early ramshakle condition.

We provide accomodation and specialist facilities for over 400 residents between the ages of 17 and 70 and accept new ones each year. Some of our older residents have been with us since Neve Menashe was founded; it is the only place they can call home.

Approximately 66% of our residents are seversly handicapped, and a number of them cannot even feed themselves. Many, however, are caable of light repetitive work, which is therapeutic and helps them to be useful members of society.

The variety and degree of handicap among our residents demand a high level of professionalism and a wide range of skills from those who care for them. Our staff includes occupational therapists, art therapists and physiotherapists.

Our aim is to provide residents with a spectrum of activities and stimuli in addition to medical and psychological care and other essential services. By fashioning the right environment, we help our residents to develop as far as they are able, encouraging independence and the ability to flourish in a thriving, dynamic community.

Location: Near Hadera

Neve Menashe is surrounded by open fields and orange groves and is a 15 minute drive inland from Caesarea. Nearby, the fast growing town of Pardes Hana-Karkur, has developed several joint activities with the residents of Neve Menashe.

The extensive well cared for property and low buildings of the facility form a positive, open environment for inhabitants and visitors. The newly completed building for residents and staff comprises dining rooms and sheltered workshops. A large air raid shelter has been completely renovated and has become a social center that is a favorite meeting place for residents to gather, relax and order refreshments using pocket money earned by working in facility workshops.

Neve Menashe Facts and Figures

Campus

Facilities

Staff

Personnel comprises 320 caring, experienced professionals.
Administration: 10
Qualified Physicians: 5
Nurses: 11
Caregivers: 155
Therapists, Psychologists, Social Workers,
Education Officers: 55
Maintenance, Cleaning, Kitchen, Garden: 65
Others: 19

The Friends of Neve Menashe:

The Friends of Neve Menashe was founded by a small group of concerned people who care about improving the welfare and living conditions of the mentally handicapped. By helping the residents, the Friends of Neve Menashe also offers support and encouragement to the staff in their wonderful work with a much-neglected part of our community.

Our Doors are Always Open:

Take time to visit us in Israel. If you could see a caregiver talking tenderly, naturally, and patiently with an adult whose mental skills are those of a five-year old, you would understand the importance of even the smallest contribution.

Make a donation, become a friend, earmark a sum for a specific project. You will be reaching out to men and women whom fate has left defenseless.

Your assistance can make a huge difference.

Enquiries and Visits

We welcome enquiries about Neve Menashe and are happy to arrange visits to the campus.

Please contact:

Dr. Melvyn H. Brooks,
Chairman, Friends of Neve Menashe,
Tel Shalom, Karkur, Israel, 37000
email: brooks@netvision.net.il