JNS
“This place embodies the best of Israel,” said President Isaac Herzog. “It’s a testament to innovation, inclusion and the belief that every child deserves a chance.”
A quiet revolution in early-childhood education was unveiled recently with the inauguration of Beit Raz, an inclusive early-childhood campus launched by Beit Issie Shapiro in Ra'anana.
Designed to integrate toddlers with and without disabilities from birth to age 3, the campus has the potential to reshape the landscape of early intervention and inclusion.
The June 4 ceremony, held at Beit Issie’s Ra’anana campus, brought together personal stories and glimpses into the ambitious future of the campus. The morning began with mingling over coffee and pastries, followed by a program emceed by Israeli journalist Ben Shani.
He shared with JNS an emotional connection as a parent of a child who attended Beit Issie: “Every time I come here, I remember our first time—Keren and I, pushing a stroller with our son Ori, our firstborn, who was just one year old. That was 24 years ago. We were confused parents, with no idea what path lay ahead of us. And here, for the first time, we met warm, smiling faces (some of whom I see here today)—people who welcomed us during one of the most dramatic times of our lives.”
Attendees heard opening remarks from Beit Issie CEO Ahmir Lerner, Ra’anana Mayor Haim Broide and a video blessing from Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
“This place embodies the best of Israel,” said Herzog. “It’s a testament to innovation, inclusion and the belief that every child deserves a chance.”
Named in memory of Raz Fisher, a former Beit Issie child with a rare genetic condition, Beit Raz reflects his parents’ determination to build a place of hope. “Beit Issie saw Raz as a child first, not as his disability,” said Tamar Fisher during a moving on-stage interview. “We wanted to give other parents what we received: love, care and a place where children can thrive.”
‘This is more than a building’
Beit Raz was carefully designed with that vision: a facility that feels like home, built with safety, light and accessibility at its core. Tamar and her husband Adam, who worked closely on every detail, even brought in the architect who designed their home. “We paid attention to everything—from the colors to the height of the windows,” she said. “We wanted to create a space filled with light.”
The new campus includes an early intervention center; a mainstream daycare center; inclusive indoor and outdoor play areas; the Wohl Therapy Center; and Israel’s new National Center for Emotional and Mental Health for people with disabilities and their families. All services are woven into the children's daily routines.
Lerner said the amenities would help countless children realize their potential and give families support during the fragile early years.
"From its humble beginnings in 1980 to its current impact on more than 180 early-intervention centers across Israel and its consultative status with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Beit Issie Shapiro continues to pioneer solutions, leading by example," he said. "Like Beit Issie Shapiro’s other innovative programs, the goal of Beit Raz is to share the model for replication in Israel and around the world."
Jo Cohen, Israel director of Wohl Legacy, praised the initiative, saying “what inspires us about this new building is the seamlessness and accessibility of all the services and treatments children need. They’ll go to their therapies at the Wohl Therapy Center and return to their classrooms to learn, all within the same building and at the highest professional standards.”
“This is more than a building,” said Beit Issie founder Naomi Stuchiner. “It’s a new model of inclusion, of resilience and mutual respect, that will shape how our society supports all children.”
Board chair Sasha Weiss Trump echoed the sentiment: “Here’s where you meet the beautiful Israel, in the heart and soul of Beit Issie, where every person with a disability has the right to equal opportunity.”
A highlight of the morning was a musical performance by Michal Greenglick, whose brother Shauli, a soldier killed in Gaza in 2023, had once aspired to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest. “He taught us to pursue our dreams, even when we can’t see what’s ahead,” she shared with JNS. “That’s what Beit Issie does every day.”
The ceremony also introduced the Shlomut Wellbeing Prize, a $25,000 award recognizing excellence in emotional therapy for people with disabilities. Initiated by Merav Mandelbaum, it was awarded to two professionals: Dr. Ran Neuman, developer of a humanistic “Seeing the Person” model now adopted nationwide that empowers professionals to support people with disabilities; and Ronit Argaman, founder of ELA and the Argaman Institute, and a pioneer in socio-sexual therapy and advocacy.
“This prize is for those who help others see light,” said Mandelbaum. “Beit Issie sees people—and helps others do the same.”
