Vision
Ma’alah is an innovative Child Development Center in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood, providing diagnosis, support, and treatment for Yiddish-speaking Ultra-Orthodox children. Founded by Rabbi Yona Klepfholz 11 years ago, the center addresses a critical need for developmental services within this community. With professional expertise and a holistic, culturally sensitive approach, Ma’alah offers specialized care in a variety of therapeutic fields, empowering children to thrive and succeed in life.
Activity
We, at the Ma’alah Child Development Center have launched a special project, “Light for Orphans,” aimed at supporting 120 orphans across Israel who suffer from visual disabilities. Children with visual challenges often experience symptoms such as headaches, blurry vision, and eye strain, yet they may not know how to express these difficulties. These issues frequently manifest as educational struggles or concentration problems, leading to incorrect diagnoses and missed opportunities for early intervention.
At Ma’alah’s Reading Center, our team of specialists focuses on diagnosing and treating reading difficulties that often stem from visual impairments. Through comprehensive assessments—including visual focus tests by optometrists, emotional, cognitive, and motor evaluations, as well as reading assessments—we identify the root cause of each child’s challenge. Our specialists then work one-on-one with the child, helping them develop reading fluency and fostering a love for reading.
Dr. Norman Aronovitz, a leading expert in visual focus, uses a unique method to provide children with specially designed glasses that train the eye to improve focus, eliminating the need for traditional exercises. This treatment typically lasts one to one and a half years, resulting in improved reading skills and visual focus.