Enabling quality care at home for Israel's special-needs children

The challenges that face a family caring for a child with serious special-needs are never simple. Neurological disorders, severe illness and developmental problems in childhood change the lives of all the parties: the child, the parents, the siblings and - in some ways - the society around them. From experience we know that such families are rarely in a position to stand up to these challenges without sustained, targeted help.

THE MISSION of the Malki Foundation (in Hebrew: Keren Malki) is to empower the families of special-needs children in Israel to choose home care. We do this in three ways: by long-term lending of essential home-care equipment; by granting funds to greatly subsidize the cost of para-medical therapeutic care; and, via the Zlata Hersch Memorial Therapists on Wheels Program, by bringing therapists into the homes of special-needs children living in Israel’s periphery communities.

Behind Keren Malki’s work is the conviction that parents are usually the best advocates and caregivers for a disabled child. Their efforts deserve maximum encouragement and support.

Now in its thirteenth year of operation, Keren Malki was created to serve as a memorial to the life of Malka Chana Roth, killed at the age of 15 in the bombing attack on Jerusalem’s Sbarro restaurant in August 2001, and who adored her own special-needs sister. Malki dedicated herself to caring for people with disabilities.

Today despite, or perhaps because of, an efficient, low-cost structure and our dedication to making the most out of donated funds, Keren Malki plays a unique role in providing its special brand of tangible, concrete support to more than a thousand families in Israel.

The number of families we help grows steadily. But we know we have barely scratched the surface of the need. Our ability to do what we do is directly related to the support we receive from friends all over the world. More >

Keren Malki's Therapies at Home Program: Click to download the forms (in Hebrew)

Gratefully acknowledged

Updated to 19-Jun-13

Keren Malki acknowledges with thanks a grant from the Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area in support of its Therapists on Wheels program.

Keren Malki acknowledges with thanks a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix in support of the expansion of its Therapists on Wheels program to serve families in northern Israel

Keren Malki is proud to be a beneficiary of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona

Keren Malki is proud to be a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

Recent News

Updated to 19-Jun-13

Connecting a stolen life to constructive and meaningful action: Remembering Malki on Israel's Day of Remembrance, 2013: Keren Malki, and the special life of Malki, of blessed memory, were amongst the select few to be featured in the solemn 2013 Yom Hazikaron ceremony event in the forecourt of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and broadcast live on Israel TV's Channel One. The video is here (running time: 4 minutes).

[Note: Almost sold out] Keren Malki UK announces a Sushi Making Workshop: Join us for an evening of fun as we learn an oriental art from a leading chef and independent caterer, Ian Meltzer. Create, roll and take your very own hand made sushi home to share with your family and friends. Ian has cooked in some of London’s finest restaurants including Claridges and the Four Seasons. Date: July 4, 2013 at a private location in Bushey Heath, Herts (full address on booking). Click here for more details. Note that there are limited places available and most have already been reserved so please apply fast.

Rainbow of Music 2013: Keren Malki's second annual Rainbow of Music, an Enchanting Evening of Popular Songs, Opera, Hazanut, Hasidic Favourites... took place in the Jerusalem Theatre on Thursday evening, March 14, 2013. Here's a comprehensive report with photos and video.

From our archive of advocacy articles written by Keren Malki's insiders: The Right to Independent Living Frimet Roth's op-ed piece in the 17th March 2009 edition of the Jerusalem Post calls for a greater degree of support for the right of Israelis with special needs to live within the community rather than suffer the cruel kindness of institutionalization. "More than 600,000 Israeli citizens, over 10 percent of the population, have disabilities. They patiently await the arrival of full equality..." More

Patrick Carlyon writes a profile of Arnold Roth in the Sunday Herald Sun, April 08, 2012: "Roth feels far from powerless. He gives his talks. He shares his grief. And he lives his life... "We don't expect to change the world," he says. "We are constantly reinforced in our understanding of that. But there are things that passionate people outraged by this injustice can do. And that's what we do." More