communities
Yad Leah sends clothing shipments to 23 cities in Israel, from Tzfat in the north to Sderot in the south.
Some cities are more charedi, and some less, yet in the spirit of ‘achdut’ - togetherness, we supply them all with clothing regardless of head-covering type or political affiliation. Whether they are Russian or Ethiopian immigrants, olim from the US and anywhere else, or native sabras, they’re all our family and we’re ready to help them.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Kfar Tapuach
Kfar Tapuach is a small town of approximately 1,200 residents. With families from Yemen, Russia, America, Peru and Israel, Tapuach is among the most ethnically diverse Israeli settlements.
Yad Leah’s involvement with Tapuach began with the desire to assist one family. David and Raaya Bloch have six children of their own. However on December 31, 2001, Raaya’s sister and Brother-in-law, Talya and Binyamin were shot and killed by a terrorist in a drive by shooting.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Kiryat Arba
Kiryat Arba is the famous biblical city adjacent to the Marat Hamachpela, the burial ground of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people.
A developed urban area with a population of over 7,000, Kiryat Arba is a magnet for the ingathering of the exiles. New and old immigrants from Russia, Ethiopia, France, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, India, America and Canada alongside native born Israelis all have come together to rebuild Jewish life in this ancient city.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Beit Shemesh Gowns
In the Sheinfeld section of Beit Shemesh, sits Rayim Ahuvim, a gown gemach dedicated to the memory of Joy Rochwarger and Ahuva Prager.
Founders and managers, Elyssa Aftel and Mimi Rochwarger created the gemach to ease financial burdens while allowing for beautiful celebrations of family simchas.
It is here where women from all across the religious spectrum shop, schmooze and share in each other’s joy of celebrating a wedding or a bar/bat mitzvah while taking home a perfect dress that makes them feel special and beautiful.
Kiryat Arba
Kiryat Arba is the famous biblical city adjacent to the Marat Hamachpela, the burial ground of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people.
A developed urban area with a population of over 7,000, Kiryat Arba is a magnet for the ingathering of the exiles. New and old immigrants from Russia, Ethiopia, France, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, India, America and Canada alongside native born Israelis all have come together to rebuild Jewish life in this ancient city.
Beitar
Yad Leah’s first thrift shop began in Beitar, a large ultra-orthodox community on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Established by Yad Leah’s founder, Karen Thaler, the thrift shop began in the Thaler living room. It is now housed in a 4 bedroom apartment, complete with a bridal room, a baby layette department and a large supply of clothing for children, teens, and adults.
Yad Binyamin
Located in Central Israel, Yad Binyamin provides much of the business, governmental and social services for the surrounding towns.
It is here where Yad Leah has partnered with grassroots efforts to provide affordable clothing for families in the entire region. Many of the families were evacuated from Gush katif. The Yad Leah thrift store has provided an ongoing essential service in helping these families rebuild their lives.
Nave
In 2005, 15 families founded Nave in the Western Negev along the Egyptian border. Back then it was a complete desert. Now, it is home to over 130 families and acres and acres of green. The community has brought the desert to life growing tens of different types of vegetables and fruits.
Elon Moreh
Elon Moreh was the first place that the patriarch Abraham stopped on his way into the Land of Israel.
It is here where God first promised the Holy Land to the Jewish People. Then, over 5,000 years ago, it was a barren field full of promise. Today, Elon Moreh is home to 250 families who are committed to establishing schools, synagogues, social services and industry to foster the growth of the town.
Among the community offerings is a large beautiful and inviting thrift shop. In a remote town plagued by the ongoing threat of terrorism, the Yad Leah shop alleviates the need, danger and expense of traveling to large distant citys to search for affordable clothing.
Itamar
Itamar is a small Yishuv in the Shomron that has endured an unusually high number of losses to terror attacks including 5 members of the Fogel family in 2011.
Through a partnership with Itamar community activists, Moshe and Leah Goldsmith, Yad Leah provides clothing to orphaned and needy families in Itamar.
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With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
Raaya and David adopted all six children including an infant girl. Struggling to provide for the social, financial, and emotional needs of a devastated family, Raaya requested clothing from Yad Leah. After an initial shipment, Raaya decided to further broaden her heroic acts of altruism. Raaya now oversees regular clothing distribution to the entire Tapuach community.
With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
Housed in the industrial section of town, The Kiryat Arba Yad Leah thrift store resembles a small department store. The Yad Leah thrift store offers a wide variety of different types of clothing to accommodate the diverse religious and cultural population in this large town.
Beautifully decorated and organized, the shop includes designated sections everyday basics, special occasion wear, shoes, purim costumes and many shelves and racks for children. There is also a large section for linens and towels to accommodate the thousands of guests that annually flock to Kiryat arba to be near the ancestral burial ground.
With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
With an inventory of over 400 dresses ranging in size from infant through adult and a personal volunteer staff member dedicated to assisting each client, this unique place feels more like a boutique than a gemach.
Housed in the industrial section of town, The Kiryat Arba Yad Leah thrift store resembles a small department store. The Yad Leah thrift store offers a wide variety of different types of clothing to accommodate the diverse religious and cultural population in this large town.
Beautifully decorated and organized, the shop includes designated sections everyday basics, special occasion wear, shoes, purim costumes and many shelves and racks for children. There is also a large section for linens and towels to accommodate the thousands of guests that annually flock to Kiryat arba to be near the ancestral burial ground.
This shop is primarily tailored to meet the needs of a population that struggles to obtain basic necessities. By simulating the shopping experience, families feel comfortable to browse, try on, and bring home clothing they feel proud to wear to school, synagogue or work.
Additionally, the Itamar gemach services a network of small outer lying communities that are not able to access the aid available in large well established cities and towns.
Many work either in education or in agriculture. Yet even with a dual income, it is hard to get by. Daily living expenses are exponentially higher when residing so far from essential services The Yad Leah thrift shop eases the financial burden of clothing and allows families to use their hard earned income to pay for other basic necessities and make it through the month while supporting their families with dignity.
Additionally, the Itamar gemach services a network of small outer lying communities that are not able to access the aid available in large well established cities and towns.
"She came with her two teenage sons. One of them was wearing a torn shirt.
The three of them looked like they hadn't bought new clothing for a while. They left with new shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and even belts!! They were all so pleased with the quality and style of the clothing. Thank you all so very much."
—Leah Goldsmith, Yad Leah Coordinator, Itamar