Orr Shalom Parents' Stories

Avi and Jodi, 50, have eight children ages eight, 12, 13,15,18,18, 20 and 21. They made aliya from the US where they were a foster family before their children were born. Six year ago they contacted Orr Shalom as they wanted to be foster parents again. This is a very religious family that believes in giving and who lives in a small community. Although they have a lot of children, their home is very calm and the children are part of the family's giving. Six years ago, they took in two brothers aged 11 and 17. Today Jodi happily tells people that she has ten children and all of them are "in her heart". All the children in the house related to each other as brothers and the foster children are even look like their foster dad.

Tova and Arnon are a couple in their fifties with two children aged 17 and 18. Tova also has three children ages 25, 28 and 30 from her first marriage. Tova's parents were foster parents themselves and Tova remembers being three years old and going with her mother to collect an abandoned baby who grew up in her home as her sister. Tova's parents were also Orr Shalom's first therapeutic family group home. Ten years ago, Tova and Arnon decided that they too wanted to join in the fantastic experience of raising a foster child inside their family and community - they wanted their children to receive what Tova received through the experience as a child. The couple took in three foster children and Tova describes the experience in these words: "There are children who are born from your womb, and there are children who are born in your heart. I cannot imagine my life without all my children".

Chantall and Rafi are in their fifties and parents to six children ages seven, 15, 22, 23, 27 and 28. Rafi served as an officer in the IDF for many years and now he works in security. Chantall is a bookkeeper in the Ministry of Finance. Ten years ago, they were foster parents to a relative whose family were undergoing difficulties. Eventually the child was able to return to her family and the Chantall and Rafi were left with the feeling that they want to continue to give to children-at-risk.  After some of their children grew up and left home, they contacted Orr Shalom and took in two children, ages six and nine.  One day the older child told Chantall "I will never get married" When she asked him why, he answered "You are already married and I don't think there are any other good women".  Chantall and Rafi describe the experience of giving and helping these children as a fulfilling and unique project. They also support new foster families and help us recruit new foster families for children-at-risk.

Sarah is 50 and divorced with one older child. Sarah always dreamt of having a large family like the one from which she came. After her divorce, she didn't get remarried and raised her son on her own. When she heard about becoming a foster mother, Sarah understood that her dream could come true. Now she is a foster mother to three girls under the age of 18, as well as two foster children who are now 19 and 23. Sarah has been through every significant milestone with these children from the first day in kindergarten, first day at school, first boyfriend, army service and higher education. Today, as the mother of six children, Sarah feels that her dream came true but she still wants to be the grandmother of at least ten children!

Orly, in her forties, is a teacher. She grew up in a warm family and she was always the most loved aunt in her family.  She wanted a family of her own and debated a lot about it since she didn't have a partner. She decided to become a foster mother to a four year old boy from a very difficult background. Orly invested everything in him and after a few years, she began to see great progress. Orly then decided to become a biological mother and to give her foster child a sister. At the beginning she was worried that she would never love her own child as much as she loved her foster child since they had such a special relationship. Today, both her children are very close – her son is going into junior high school and her daughter is starting elementary school.

Etti and Yossi are in their fifties. They married young and were never able to have children. Their dream was to become warm parents to children "from wherever they came".  At 25, they adopted a down syndrome baby and raised him with great love and devotion. 15 years ago, they wanted to expand their family and they contacted Orr Shalom. Over the years, they have raised several children, and now they are a foster family for three young girls. Wherever they go with the girls, people stop and comment on how lovely they are. Etti is very proud and she keeps going, even when things are difficult. She describes that she has the privilege of being a mother in the fullest way.

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