Alice and the Diplomat
In 1989, the privately owned, formerly posh Diplomat Hotel was appropriated by the Absorption Ministry for the Soviet immigrants. It was called “a five-star slum” and a miserable place to live, especially for the old and infirm. Nowadays it is considered a Welfare Hostel. Today’s "guests" remain a group of people who cannot integrate into Israeli society. With nowhere to go, they are dependent on a benevolent staff.
Alice Jonah,the Activities Director there, works to create a Community among the residents. They have developed an on-site Ulpan, a library and thrift shop and an extraordinary resident choir. Alice coordinates activities and social services and looks for outside funds to give the residents some extras. The extras could be a special tutor, discounted tickets to a concert, a speaker, a special health care aide, transportation. There are no shops nearby and a public bus comes by only once a day.
Our Involvement
Hands On Tzedakah has been with Alice from HOT’s beginnings. Initially, we paid for emergency call buttons for some of the infirm residents and then funded a women’s group for the ‘younger’ residents (age 55 to 70). The needs range from paying for transportation costs for volunteer caregivers who travel with the residents to hospitals and clinics to grants for individuals to pay for dental work, after surgery care, special diets and adult diapers. HOT will continue to help with these needs and for 2006 the we will also subsidize a Hebrew (ulpan) class and Diplomat’s computer room will have internet services.
Contact Information:
Alice Jonah, Efrata. St., Jerusalem, 011-972-02-673-7217, aleph1@bezeqint.net
