Not long ago, ORT Horowitz lost two of its recent graduates: Avi Ben Herus lost his life in the Binyamina Train Station bombing on July 16, 2001, and Zvika Golombak was killed in the attack on the Sbarro Pizza restaurant in Jerusalem on August 9, 2001. When terror attacks aren’t just heartrending news on the TV screen but reach into your school community—indeed, into the classroom where you study—it makes learning an arduous task.

With its more than 1,300 students, ORT Horowitz has identified a large group of students currently experiencing social, emotional and psychological problems in need of professional counseling and support. In addition to this "at-risk" group, other students have been traumatized due to being in the vicinity of a terrorist attack or by having a personal connection to those killed or injured.

To meet the increasing need, the ORT Horowitz Comprehensive School plans to create a counseling service that will use techniques such as psychodrama and music/art therapy as a counseling tool. By adopting a community approach to counseling (the center will work not only with students, but with parents, teachers and employees, as well), ORT will ensure that all components of the student’s support system are involved and work together.

Contributions to this project will allow ORT to:

• Retain professional counseling and advisory staff;
• Construct or restructure space for a self-contained advice center;
• Equip and furnish the space accordingly; and
• Develop counseling mechanisms to ensure that all students, parents, teachers and staff can perform to the best of their abilities.