People visiting the Yad LaKashish workshops often ask ”Can I sign up?” or ”Please reserve a seat for me when I retire!” And no wonder, because the atmosphere at Yad LaKashish is so positive and the work being done is so beautiful, that everyone wants to be a part of it.

Yet being a Yad LaKashish artisan is an incredible commitment for needy elderly people. Our program runs every weekday morning of the year, and for people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s, commuting to Yad LaKashish by public transport in the heat of summer or the hailstorms of winter every single day, can be very hard. Nevertheless, in a recent independent evaluation of our program, it was established that most artisans attend our program for many years. 30% have been coming to Yad LaKashish for 10 years or longer, and 10%, (or 31 individuals), for 18 years or longer. The length of their attendance is one of the main indicators of just how significant an impact Yad LaKashish has had on the artisans’ physical and mental health, financial situation and overall wellbeing.

As was written in the evaluation, ”Participation in artistic activity has been generally proven to increase health and wellbeing among older people. Indeed, research has shown that social and recreational activities, including artistic ones, can help older adults to live longer, healthier lives.” Read the full independent evaluation . . .

For us, there is no better proof of this research than the fact that the artisans are still coming to Yad LaKashish after 18, 20 or even 23 years. The combination of significant financial support, a warm social framework, and challenging, creative and dignified work opportunities makes Yad LaKashish literally a life-line for these needy seniors. We hope that with the help of friends like you, they will stay in the Yad LaKashish community for many years to come.