Who We Are | Friends of Yad Sarah

The People of Yad Sarah

Noa Wachtel-Spector, an Occupational Therapist and Professor at Haifa University, is also the Volunteer Director of Yad Sarah’s Guidance & Exhibition Center in Tel Aviv. Noa thrives on seeing the bigger picture when a client comes to Yad Sarah for help, saying: “I always say to the volunteers: maybe a client is asking about a wheelchair, but we are doing more complicated—and more rewarding—work than just showing them this equipment.”

The People of Yad Sarah

Michael Benson, originally from the UK, retired from a long career in Education, only to find himself as Volunteer Manager of Yad Sarah’s Beersheva Service Center—Yad Sarah’s central branch in the Negev. There, he oversees 160 volunteers and a variety of Yad Sarah programs, but closest to his heart is Homebound Outreach, in which Yad Sarah volunteers visit people who are isolated at home. Michael said: "These people never, never, never leave their homes. They wait for weeks just for someone to talk to.”

The People of Yad Sarah

Jeannie Gadish, is the Director of Yad Sarah’s Play Center, where families come to play together to advance the development of a child with special needs. An artist-turned-Occupational Therapist, Jeannie brings her creative sensibilities to the unique work of the Play Center. Jeannie glowed when she talked about one child who reached his goals, and another whose rapid progress seemed inexplicable. “Special things happen here,” she said. Learn how you can help >>

The People of Yad Sarah

Elaine Pomrantz, manager of Tourist Services, handles all requests from people with special needs who are traveling to Israel. She arranges for transportation, equipment loans, and outfitting hotel rooms with adaptive equipment before a traveler's arrival. Spring is the busiest time of year, says Elaine. "The simcha season brings in people from all corners of the world." Yad Sarah strives to help everyone remain active and independent. For Elaine, this means helping someone realize a dream to visit Israel for the first time. Plan a visit to Israel >>

Friends of Yad Sarah USA

Friends of Yad Sarah represents the mission of Yad Sarah to its friends in the U.S. and to the international community at the UN. The New York office assists individuals, families and communities with dedication opportunities, chesed projects, planned giving, equipment collections and other new initiatives, raising much needed funds to support the work of the Yad Sarah organization and its dedicated corps of volunteers in Israel.

To volunteer through our New York office, send us an e-mail and let us know if you have any special skills. shalom@friendsofyadsarah.org>>

Mission Statement

Yad Sarah is the leading volunteer-staffed organization in the State of Israel. With the assistance of over 6,000 volunteers in more than 100 locations, Yad Sarah provides help to over 400,000 people every year, addressing the home and health care needs of the frail and the disabled as well as victims of terror, children with special needs, and the homebound.

How Yad Sarah Began

From humble beginnings, a compassionate organization grew. A young Jerusalem high-school teacher, Uri Lupolianski, needed to borrow a vaporizer from a neighbor to help a sick child. As such appliances were hard to find, he bought a few to lend to others. People started dropping off items they no longer needed, and his small apartment was soon overflowing with the kind of things people need for only a short time: crutches, walkers, vaporizers, even a couple of wheelchairs. In 1976, Uri incorporated his ‘chesed vision’ as the Yad Sarah organization, named for his grandmother who had perished in the Holocaust. The organization that began in a Jerusalem apartment has become Israel’s largest lending service of medical equipment. Find out about our services>>

> News & Media

You can learn more about Yad Sarah from our archive of Inside Yad Sarah newsletters, published articles, and other media coverage. For all media inquiries, contact Abbey Marks at abbey@friendsofyadsarah.org >>

> Contact Us

Yad Sarah has an expansive and international presence, with over 100 branches in Israel and Friends of Yad Sarah offices around the world. Contact our New York office or any other Friends of Yad Sarah organization worldwide>>