At Yad LaKashish, we believe that every person - at every age - deserves the chance to feel valued, supported, and connected. Since 1962, we’ve empowered some of Jerusalem’s most vulnerable elderly residents through meaningful, creative work, compassionate social services, and a warm, vibrant community.

What We Do
Each day, nearly 200 seniors arrive at Yad LaKashish’s art workshops, where they engage in skilled, hands-on work guided by professional artists. Participants are trained in bookbinding, ceramics, silk painting, metalwork, and more - creating beautiful handmade pieces sold in our Gift Shop.

In return, our artisans receive a comprehensive package of financial and social benefits. This includes a monthly stipend, a nutritious daily hot lunch, health insurance premium coverage, a warm community, a renewed sense of dignity, and a healthy, daily routine.

Yad LaKashish is also a place of learning and connection for the younger generation. Through our tours, students and visitors from around the world witness firsthand how much older adults still have to contribute. It’s a powerful message. One that reshapes attitudes and builds deeper intergenerational respect.

Who We Serve
To make sure our support reaches those who need it most, our elderly participants are both above retirement age and living below the poverty line. Many of those we serve are immigrants from around the world, including the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, South America, and Iran. Approximately half are Holocaust survivors. Others made heroic journeys on foot to reach Israel, driven by war or famine. Arriving in Israel full of hope, they faced steep challenges including cultural differences, language difficulties and trouble finding work in their professional field.

Almost all experience deep loneliness and food insecurity. Yad LaKashish offers them more than just a second chance. We offer them a place to belong. With training, encouragement, and care, they become part of a community of elderly artisans who create, grow, and thrive together. Each has a powerful story.

Our model is simple yet transformative: when people feel needed and valued, they thrive.