The FounderRabbi Naftali Rosenfeld z"l, founder of the home. He led it from 1949 until his passing.- The Story of a Door That Has Never Closed120 girls in one home.Hundreds of girls. Thousands of graduates.
120 girls in one home.Hundreds of girls. Thousands of graduates.
Held, every day, by thousands of partners.
“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.
- The full arc
Seventy-five years, in sixteen moments.
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.
- 5709 (1949)The Door Opens
Rabbi Rosenfeld gathers 24 girls who survived the Holocaust
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 girls - 1955Ateret Banot Boarding School
Dedication of the Second Campus
The 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
- 1962Baharan 1
The construction of the large building at 1 Baharan Street in Jerusalem
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.
- 1966Nivcheret
With the waves of immigration from Georgia, Bukhara and Russia - a new wave of girls who need a warm home arrives
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.
- 1972Beit Hachlama
The establishment of a 'recovery home' for Bayit Lepleitot graduates
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.
- 1973Girls Town
Inauguration of the 'Kiryat Banot' boarding home
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 - 1980The school
Inauguration of the 'Kiryat Banot' school
'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
- 1985Second generation
Rabbi Moshe Yona Rosenfeld stepped up to the wheel
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.
- 1987Kiryat Ye'arim
'Convalescent Home' moves from its temporary quarters to a magnificent building in Kiryat Yearim
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.
- 1997Enrichment and trade
Purchase of space for the extracurricular classes and vocational studies program
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.
- 2005Third generation
Rabbi Chaim Elazar Rosenfeld is appointed CEO
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
- 2016Room to grow
Expansion of a wing and an additional floor following the growing demand
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.
- 2020Nivcheret
The 'Nivcheret' organization for orphan girls of tender years was opened
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 today - 2022Bishvilech
'Bishvilech' - a day framework for girls from single-parent families
The 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
- 2023Beyachad
'Beyachad' for boys, with its own building in Jerusalem
'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 combined - 2026Today
The work at Bayit Lepleitot continues with momentum, for the daughters of Israel
Graduates 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
- From the archive
The letters have yellowed. The promise hasn't.
Paper from the home's first decades: the original letterhead, and the recommendation of HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth ztz"l, Chief Rabbi of Antwerp.
From the archive
HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth ztz"l
Chief Rabbi of Antwerp · a letter of recommendation from the home's early decades
1950s
The home's original letterhead
"Bayit Lepleitot - Orphan & Refugee Girls Home, Jerusalem, Haye Adam St."
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