The FounderRabbi Naftali Rosenfeld z"l, founder of the home. He led it from 1949 until his passing.“Bayit Lepleitot” was founded in 5709 (1949), when Rabbi Naftali Rosenfeld zt”l - a Holocaust survivor who lost his wife and four daughters HY”D - opened his home in Jerusalem to 24 orphan girls. Today it provides a home and support for over 1,000 boys and girls - and the home stands for one reason only: thousands of partners, from the benefactor who carries an entire wing to the family that sets aside a few dollars a month. This is the story of the home - and of everyone who takes part in sustaining it.
“Let every girl who comes through the gates of 'Bayit Lepleitot' know that she has found here a home and a shelter.- Rabbi Naftali Rosenfeld · The founding promise · 1949
The path of 'Bayit Lepleitot' was never ordinary. This is a home that opened with a big heart in תש״ט, and continued to expand consistently, as it embraced more and more souls who sought shelter over the years.
Rabbi Naftali Rosenfeld zt"l and his wife find 24 girls who survived the Holocaust, with no home and no family, and decide to establish a home for them. They locate suitable apartments for them and take upon themselves the entire commitment, so that they will begin to feel at home.
24 girlsThe vision expands from providing temporary shelter to creating a roof over their heads for life - encompassing education, vocational training and help in establishing a home, for decades it has given life and a home to thousands of girls
The large building at 1 Baharan Street was built and opened, furnished with all the necessary equipment. From then until today the building has become the beating heart of the home and provides an answer for tens of thousands of graduates.
Bayit Lepleitot discovers hundreds of daughters of immigrants from Georgia, Bukhara and Russia who arrived in the country - girls who need the answer of a home and a family. Accordingly, it prepares for them suitable apartments throughout Jerusalem, adapted to their needs.
Rabbi Naftali Rosenfeld establishes a 'convalescent home' for the girls of Bayit Lepleitot, so that they can receive there a full answer of rest after giving birth to a child. Later on, 'Bayit Lepleitot' expands and opens its gates to the general public as well, due to the great demand.
The vision expands from providing temporary shelter, to creating a lifelong roof over the heads of the girls of 'Bayit Lepleitot' - encompassing education, professional training and help in establishing a home.
~100 girls'Kiryat Banot' expands from a boarding facility alone into a school that includes vocational training and therapeutic support. The educational system moves inside the walls of the home and the girls receive a full response under one roof
Rabbi Moshe Yona Rosenfeld takes upon himself to continue the tremendous enterprise together with his great father. The girls of the first cohort, from תש״ט, are already mothers themselves, and many of them send their daughters to help and volunteer at the home that raised them.
From a small and temporary premises, the 'Recovery Home' moves to its magnificent premises in Kiryat Yearim and begins to provide a response, rest and recovery to every new mother from all sectors.
Bayit Lepleitot acquires a special plot of land in Jerusalem, for the construction of a permanent building for the institution's girls' enrichment clubs and vocational studies program.
The grandson, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Rosenfeld, took up the position of director general of the home, and carries forward the path charted by his grandfather and continued successfully by his father
The number of girls at Bayit Lepleitot continues to grow, and an expanded wing and an additional floor are being added to the house to accommodate them all.
The launch of Bayit Lepleitot's 'Nivcheret', with the aim of providing a warm residential framework intended for orphaned girls from age five and up. It initially opened for 40 girls, and today it is home to 200.
200 girls todayThe establishment of 'בשבילך', a day framework adapted for girls coming from single-parent families. It turns out that poverty and emotional distress do not skip over those who have not experienced physical orphanhood either, and it spreads its protection over the situation
'Beyachad' was established as the parallel framework for boys from single-parent families, who do not experience physical orphanhood, but need a warm and stable home. Along with the framework, the 'Beyachad' home building was constructed in Jerusalem.
600 children combinedGraduates who left here have built new lives of their own. One in social work in the sector, one in the classroom where she teaches, one in the home she built with a groom proposed through the institution's matchmaking system. The home has accompanied them since 1949, and continues to accompany them today as well. And the door - always open.
Generations of alumnae · girls and boys keep arriving in every annual cohort
Rabbi Naftali Rosenfeld zt"l lost his family in the destruction of Europe, and came up to Jerusalem in order to open a door and a new life for Holocaust survivors without a home or family. He navigated the home with great devotion for some 60 years
He expanded the home and steered its activity through challenging periods, flourishing and leveraging despite everything. He continues to accompany the home's management with advice and guidance.
The third generation, who adapted the activity to our times by establishing 3 frameworks: Nivcheret, Bishvilech and Beyachad. Continuing in the path of his grandfather and his father, and saving hundreds who will merit a real home and the embrace of a loving family
Everything this home gives - the bed, the hot meal, the schooling, the chuppah - exists because thousands of good partners choose, year after year, to carry it. From the benefactor who builds a wing to the child who sets aside one dollar from his pocket money: in this home there is no small donation, and every donor is a member of the household.
To be part of Bayit Lepleitot is a zechus - a privilege, and a responsibility. Hundreds of girls are growing up safe today because people like you decided they should. Their gratitude, and ours, belongs to you.
I want to take part in the merit