Elifelet (organization)
Elifelet - Citizens for Refugee Children ({{langx|he|אליפלט - אזרחים למען ילדי פליטים}}) is a non-profit non-governmental educational and aid organization headquartered in Tel Aviv-Yafo which works to assist the youth and children of migrant workers, refugees, and foreign nationals in Israel, founded in 2013. Its founder is journalist and social activist {{ill|Yael Gvirtz|he|יעל גבירץ}}.[https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2017-07-06/ty-article/france-fetes-israeli-group-that-aids-children-of-asylum-seekers/0000017f-e5e3-df2c-a1ff-fff3f8090000 France Fetes Israeli Group That Aids Children of Asylum Seekers], Haaretz[https://www.elifelet.org/about?lang=en About Elifelet]
It was named after the poem "{{ill|Elifelet (poem)|lt=Elifelet|he|אליפלט (שיר)}}" by Nathan Alterman.
Controversies
In 2016 Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman ordered Israeli military not to take part in the activities that assist migrants, after Channel 10 reported that some soldiers were volunteering for Elifelet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-minister-ordered-end-to-soldiers-helping-migrant-kids/|title=Defense minister ordered end to soldiers helping migrant kids|website=The Times of Israel|access-date=15 August 2016}} Orthodox rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan supported this decision: "Israeli soldiers should volunteer for programs that benefit Israeli citizens".{{cite news |last1=Pileggi |first1=Tamar |title=Eli Ben Dahan hails decision barring soldiers from aiding refugees in Tel Aviv, says IDF should focus on programs 'that benefit Israelis' |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/deputy-defense-minister-african-migrants-dont-need-helping-hand/ |newspaper=Times of Israel |date=14 August 2016}}
Recognition
- 2015: {{ill|President's Volunteer Award|he|אות הנשיא להתנדבות}}{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
- 2015: {{ill|Yigal Alon Award|he|פרס יגאל אלון}}{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
- 2017: a commendation in the framework of the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic[https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/education/2017-07-05/ty-article/.premium/0000017f-dc3d-d3a5-af7f-febf0dad0000 "שיחה מקומית" זכתה בפרס דרור לשינוי חברתי] (France awarded a medal to the Elifelet association, which helps children of asylum seekers), Haaretz, July 5, 2017
- 2017: a commendation during the Dror Prize for Social Change ceremony.[https://www.mekomit.co.il/שיחה-מקומית-זכתה-בפרס-דרור-לשינוי-חברת/ "שיחה מקומית" זכתה בפרס דרור לשינוי חברתי]
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- [https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5736406,00.html לכל הילדים מגיעה ילדות בטוחה], ynet, May 25, 2020, an interview with Sharon Tal, Executive Director of Elifelet
External links
- {{official website|https://www.elifelet.org}}
- [https://www.elifelet.org/_files/ugd/eaf060_2a8fdcb1127a449ea2641591de138fc3.pdf?lang=en 2023 annual report]
Category:Welfare and service organizations