Beit Issie Shapiro

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Beit Issie Shapiro

Israel's incubator of disabilities solutions, pioneering technology and therapies to transform lives. Beit Issie directly impacts 500,000 people a year.

Beit Issie Shapiro is Israel's leading organization in the development and provision of high quality innovative therapies and services for children and adults with disabilities and plays a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with special needs in society.
• The organization has a measurable impact on 58,000 people annually.
• Through its international affiliations, community education and training programs, its impact also reaches professionals and other countries around the world.

30/03/2026

Life for children and adults with disabilities can be especially challenging during the war in Israel.

Rhea is an Israeli teenager who has been part of the Beit Issie family since she was a toddler at our Early Intervention Center. She later attended our Special Education School and continues now as a teen to come weekly for hydrotherapy and sports therapy. Beit Issie is part of her routine - and she and her parents, Ziv and Veena, that you see in this photo, are part of our family. We’ve loved growing alongside her and are proud of the maturity she shows and how she uses her tools, thanks to her wonderful family.

Her story is featured in an international AFP article highlighting the pressures families with disabilities face during wartime.
Yoav Braver shares how tailored support, including our national emergency hotline, helps families navigate these challenges.

Thank you AFP News Agency, for shining a light on this important and often overlooked issue.

Read the full article https://beitissie.org.il/en/31901/

29/03/2026

In this time of war, the meaning of Pesach is more personal than ever. Real freedom means that every person, no matter their challenges - can truly take part in the Seder.

At Beit Issie Shapiro, we believe no one should feel left out at the family table. We are sharing our Accessible Digital Haggadah again to make sure everyone can follow the story.

With simple language and clear visuals, this Haggadah helps children and adults with disabilities join the conversation. Even as we stay alert to the security situation, let our homes be a place of connection.

Link in first comment.

Wishing you a Passover of Freedom!

25/03/2026

Scenes from a Bomb Shelter

This morning at Beit Issie, children with disabilities were in the middle of therapy when three back-to-back sirens sent everyone running to the safe room.

Our staff moved quickly to get every child to safety.
And then, they did what Israelis do best.

They started to sing.

Soon, the shelter was filled with Passover songs, and a moment of anxiety turned into pure joy.

How incredible are our kids and staff?
These are the amazing people of Israel. 🇮🇱

22/03/2026

This week, Ahmir Lerner spoke on כאן - KAN Radio about something so many families are quietly carrying right now.
As the war continues, caregivers and parents of children with disabilities are being asked to find strength - again. To hold routines together, manage fear, and support their children through constant uncertainty.
That’s why we opened a dedicated hotline - giving real solutions, in real time, to meet real needs. From emotional support to practical guidance, we’re here for families in the moments they need it most. In fact, the national trauma hotline is also referring families of people with disabilities to this service, ensuring they reach the specialized support they need.
As Ahmir shared:
“In this conflict, many are struggling to maintain resilience. For caregivers and parents, facing this again is incredibly challenging - and we are here to give them the tools to rebuild that resilience.”
Listen to the full interview here. https://beitissie.org.il/en/31740/
If you or someone you know could use this support, reach out on WhatsApp at 052-369-2864 and our team will get back to you within a few hours.

19/03/2026

Keeping the Connection: Our Virtual Kindergarten at Beit Raz
For children with disabilities, a familiar routine is the heartbeat of their progress. While our physical doors are temporarily closed, the Beit Raz Early Intervention Center is dedicated to keeping that connection alive.

Our educators, Speech Therapists, and Occupational Therapists have created a Virtual Kindergarten posting on YouTube. This series offers families the flexibility to join our morning circles, songs, and activities whenever it works best for them.

We are moved to see these videos reaching children with and without disabilities across the entire country. We are proud to share our expertise to help all children maintain a sense of routine, even when the world is not the same. 🇮🇱

"The thousands of views are heartening," says Racheli Blum, a Speech Therapist and Technology Coordinator at our Early Intervention Center. "But the real reward is providing comfort and professional continuity for children everywhere."

Watch a glimpse of our Virtual Kindergarten below!

18/03/2026

For two weeks, Daniel’s world was turned upside down.

At just 3 years old, his routines disappeared. Therapies moved to a screen. Familiar faces became pixels.

This week, everything changed - Daniel came back to Beit Issie Shapiro! 💙

The Early Intervention Center and School aren’t open yet, in line with Home Front Command guidelines - but essential therapies are running safely. For Daniel, that meant hydrotherapy and emotional and speech therapies in the Snoezelen room - his favorite sessions.

And then the best part: he saw his teacher, Hodaya, in person for the first time in 14 days. His face lit up ✨

His mother said that for a brief moment, it felt like life was back to normal.

Behind the scenes, our team is still there - through virtual sessions, phone calls, and even home visits - making sure every family feels supported ❤️

Because for our children, it’s never just therapy.
It’s connection. And the chance to keep moving forward. 🌟

12/03/2026

Amid the war with Iran, many wounded IDF soldiers found themselves cut off from a critical part of their recovery: swimming.

As security restrictions and sirens forced many pools to close, injured soldiers - coping with both physical and psychological trauma - lost access to the water that had become central to their healing.

Recognizing this urgent need, Ilanit Weigenfeld-Lahav - Director of the Hydrotherapy and Sport Center at Beit Issie, opened our doors to bring these soldiers back into the water.

One soldier shared what this meant to him after his session this week:

“For the past year I’ve been swimming almost every day. It helps my body and my mind recover. When the war with Iran began and the pools closed, I kept waiting to hear if there might be a place I could go to even for a few minutes, just to dive and feel the water. The moment I saw the message about the pool at Beit Issie Shapiro, I drove an hour and a half to swim for one hour. It’s like air to breathe. It brings life back.”

In the middle of a war, our pool has become a true lifeline - a rare, quiet space where the body and mind can finally begin to heal again. 🇮🇱💙

11/03/2026

We are incredibly proud of our Special Education School staff. Our amazing School Manager - אריה בנימין , shared these words about the amazing work the team is doing:

"I really wanted to share how proud I am of our school staff during these days. Even when learning is happening from a distance, the team is doing so much to stay connected - from group Zooms and individual sessions to WhatsApp calls and special video recordings for the kids.
On top of that, some of our staff are choosing - whenever it’s possible - to do home visits or see students for one-on-one sessions here at Beit Issie.
This isn’t something we expect or require. We only make it happen when our staff is able and it's what the families want."

A Big Thank You to our wonderful school team. Even when we aren't all together in the classroom, your dedication creates a supportive community for our students and their families. We are so lucky to have you! 💙

10/03/2026

A Small Moment that Changed Everything

When the war began, daily life changed overnight across Israel - including for the children at Beit Issie.

A three-year-old girl from our Early Intervention Center, who lives with a rare genetic disorder, struggled with the sudden loss of her routine. Her teacher, Roni, noticed during their Zoom and FaceTime calls that something was missing.

The girl didn’t need another screen. She needed a hug.

Roni reached out to Shani, a National Service volunteer who lives nearby, and they arranged a surprise meeting at a local playground.

When the girl saw Shani waiting for her, her face lit up. They shared a long, warm hug - and in that moment, some of the fear and uncertainty melted away.

Shani later began visiting the girl at home, where they spent time together and played her favorite game: dress-up.

Reflecting on that moment, Shani shared:
“I’m so happy I can be there for her - whether it’s a hug or just sitting beside her.”

Sometimes the most meaningful support is simply being there. 💙

05/03/2026

Even in difficult times, our hearts - and our services - remain wide open.💙

During these days of Operation Roaring Lion, Beit Issie continues to stand strong - for our community, for our country, and for every person who relies on us.

Our staff and families are, thank God, safe and following the instructions of the Israel Home Front Command.

While many activities are currently operating in a limited format, we were grateful today to reopen our dental clinic for emergency treatments, ensuring that people with disabilities can continue receiving essential care.

At the same time, Beit Issie continues to provide vital emotional and professional support to children and adults with disabilities, their families, and our dedicated team. This includes:

💙 Personalized calls and video messages from our teachers
💙 Emergency emotional therapy via Zoom
💙 Guidance for parents on supporting their children during stressful times
💙 Support through our dedicated WhatsApp hotline for families and professionals
💙 Group and one-on-one support for our staff

If you or someone you know in Israel could benefit from our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here for you.

🙏 Praying for the safety of Israel’s soldiers, defense and security forces, and all its citizens, and for peace and protection for people everywhere.

04/03/2026

Purim may have looked different this year in Israel — but the joy of our Dream Costume project stayed the same.

Even under rocket fire, children who use walkers and wheelchairs celebrated with huge smiles, thanks to our Dream Costume initiative.

For over a decade, together with the incredible design students from the HIT מכון טכנולוגי חולון , we’ve been transforming mobility devices into part of each child’s dream costume — not something to hide, but something to shine with.

This year brought unforgettable creations:
😻9-year-old Oz became DJ Catnip from the Netflix hit Gabby's Dollhouse — with his wheelchair transformed into the iconic dollhouse.
🚇 15-year-old Avital became the viral game Subway Surfers
😊 9-year-old Omer dressed as Riley from Pixar Inside Out 2 — with her wheelchair as the Emotion Control Center.
🚛 3-year-old Daniel took the wheel of his wheelchair turned into a truck.
🚀 And 1-year-old Rafael blasted off as an astronaut in his rocket ship wheelchair.

We’re proud to continue this tradition each year. Thank you to all the incredible designers for their talent and hard work. We’re already looking ahead to an even happier Purim next year.

25/02/2026

Thank you to the Israel in Österreich for the warm recognition and for highlighting our mission!
We are honored to receive the Zero Project 2026 award for our Accessible Dental Care Model, as we focus on developing innovative solutions and adapting environments to ensure that inclusion is seamlessly integrated into every aspect of life.

It was wonderful to stand alongside 14 incredible Israeli organizations as we work together to create an inclusive world.

Address

Issie Shapiro Street
Ra`anana
43100

Telephone

+97297701275

Website

http://www.en.beitissie.org.il/

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Our Story

Beit Issie Shapiro is Israel's leading organization in the development and provision of high quality innovative therapies and services for children with disabilities and plays a leading role in promoting the inclusion of people with special needs in society. • The organization has a measurable impact on over 500,000 people annually. • Through its international affiliations, community education and training programs, its impact also reaches professionals and other countries around the world.