“Students here are given the chance, for the first time in their lives, to be part of a nurturing community. The best way to help these children is to say ‘you are our son, you are our family.’”

Dr. David J. Portowicz co-founded the Jaffa Institute in 1982 and orchestrated its merger with the Bet Shemesh Educational Center in 1986. Dr. Portowicz was born in the United States and earned his Doctorate in Social Work from Brandeis University. Prior to establishing the Jaffa Institute, Dr. Portowicz was the Director of the Jewish Community Center of Jaffa and was Principal of both Leominster and Beth Shalom Hebrew Schools in Massachusetts. Today, he is CEO of the Jaffa Institute and lecturer in the School of Social Work at Bar Ilan University.

“I get great satisfaction from the progress that our students make. When they first arrive, we can see how their family situations have made their lives difficult. With time and lots of close attention, they succeed at their studies and go on to advanced studies that include army service, and to establish good families of their own.”

Mr. Weisel has been the director of BSEC since it was established in 1986. He served in the Israeli army as a chaplain, finishing with the rank of Captain. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of BSEC, making sure that the students have warm, nutritious meals, the best possible teachers, and warm, safe, and pleasant surroundings in which to learn and grow together.

“We employ a unique educational concept that puts a student’s responsibility as a teenager at the top of the pyramid of priorities within a loving and supportive environment that pushes the child forward.

“Our school has adopted the name ‘Buds of Courage’ [Nitzanei Oz] because we want to develop students who will start our program as buds and finish with courage – with a feeling of heroism complemented by focused determination.”

A graduate of the prestigious Eli Military Preparatory School, Azran served as a company commander in an elite army unit. Having previously directed a national program in the Circles organization for the empowerment of high school youth and in their preparation for meaningful national service, Azran brings with him a distinctive educational approach on which the path and values of the school are based.

“We believe that first and foremost we have to help each student become a “mentsch” – a person with good values and proper behavior, a person that believes in himself and his abilities and acts with respect and appreciation towards his fellow students. We will then help him grow and mature spiritually and build his own emotional connection to the Torah and the Mitzvot.”

Rabbi Tunik serves as Rosh Yeshiva of the Bet Shemesh Educational Center’s Secular Education Program for at-risk Hareidi (Ultra-Orthodox) boys. Rabbi Tunik has more than 15 years of experience in working with adolescent youth and addressing their specific needs. Rabbi Tonic trained under the renowned lecturer in pedagogy, Rabbi Yehoshua Eichenstein, at Yeshivat Yad Aharon and holds a bachelor’s degree in education and Jewish tradition from the Jerusalem College of Technology.

“Giving a second chance to every young person is our moral duty as a society and as individuals.”

Mr. DaJong serves as Director of the Bet Shemesh Educational Center’s Secular Education Program for at-risk Hareidi (Ultra-Orthodox) boys and was one of the original founders of the program. With over 10 years of experience working with at risk youth in various fields, Mr. DaJong received his education at Yeshivat Birkat Yitzchak in Bnei Brak and studied pedagogy at Achva College, where he received a BA in Special Education. Mr. DaJong has extensive experience in improving the lives of so-called “detached youth” and often employs his skills as a certified Life Coach.