THE APARTMENT COMPLEX ON NORDAU STREET, RAMLA – AMIT HOSTEL
THE BEGINNING
THE DREAM AND THE WAY
Many ways lead to the dream, many dreams pave the way
WINTER 1988 – THE PROPOSAL
In the winter of 1988, the young couple Solly and Raz Levi, former dancers, former entertainers, were students in the university.
Then came the proposal.
Twenty years after Izac and Amalia Levy’s work managing the renowned “Gil & Gal” resorts lead them to the world of the developmentally disabled, Izac offered his son Raz to join them on this track.
“Let us join my knowledge on education and developmental disabilities with your knowledge on art and entertainment, and create a new definition for the term recreation.
Solly and Raz Levi, Amit founders, in their youth.
Gil & Gal camp, 1988. On the left – Solly Levi, Amit founder.
“GIL & GAL” RETURNS
Solly and Raz Levi, “Bat-Dor” Dance School graduates, their dance careers interrupted by injuries, happily received Izac’s offer to renew “Gil & Gal” summer camp.
The venue was rented, a program was written, auditions were held, music was composed, dances were choreographed, costumes were sewn and sets were constructed. In the summer of 1988, the first 200 vacationers arrived at the resort village in Caesarea: developmentally disabled people and their chaperones. There they experienced seven joyful days, focused on empowering the vacationer’s talents and positive traits. Over the camp’s two years of operation, over 70% of developmentally disabled people in Israel have vacationed there, in true happiness.
COLD WINTER
Winters were cold on the beaches of Caesarea. The resort would close for the season, but the connection with the vacationers would hold on. The “Gil & Gal” artistic staff, led by Solly and Raz, would load their equipment onto an old van and go on tour, performing in facilities run by The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services. Plays, activities, field trips, as well as special projects integrating music and sensory stimulation as therapeutic tools, all this activity filled the artists’ schedule, but not their pockets, and the young couple expecting their first born realized their circus cannot last long.
Raz Levi, Amit founder, 1988
AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL AND A STYLISH BUILDING
“Many ways lead to the dream, many dreams pave the way, trust your way to guide you.”
AND INTERESTING PROPOSAL BUT…
In early winter 1990 Solly and Raz turned to the ministry in request for funding, to support “Gil & Gal” artists’ circus project, which specialized in creating and performing educational and therapeutic activities applying musical and theatrical means. “An interesting and worthy proposal,” replied the ministry, “but our main project is to release residents from our homes out to live in the community. Had you offered us a housing program aiming for community living, we might have found your offer more relevant…”
THE SEARCH
Raz and Solly went out to seek a proper building in which to establish a community hostel in the Ramla-Lod area. The search commenced in Ramla’s southern entrance and concluded 10 minutes later in the city’s northern exit, where a brokerage agency stood. “Hello. We are looking for a building proper for a hostel.” –“you found one,” answered the agent, and took the young couple to the building on 5 Nordau st.
“Who is the landlord? Where do we take it from here?” they asked. “I am the landlord, and we can sign tomorrow,” said the agent. The search was over.
THE BUILDING
The stylish building on 5 Nordau st., Ramla was constructed before the country was formed and was previously used as a youth center. In the winter of 1990, the landlord decided to renovate the building, aiming to create apartments for people performing Aliyah. The Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services sent a delegation to examine the building, which included Mr. Avner Zaken S., the section manager, Dr. Haya Aminadav, the head psychologist, Mrs. Adva Nave, district inspector, and Dr. Tova Bloch who was the head of the Community Integration Project, and later also Dr. Itzhak Kandel, section manager, and other Ministry officials.
The building was approved. Execution of the project began. Expected opening: 15.1.1991
The hostel building, 1991
GROUP HOMES DON’T START EASYLY
“Many ways lead to the dream, many dreams pave the way, trust your way to guide you.”
CHALLENGE
We started down a new path and encountered challenges of international scale. The hostel’s expected opening date was also the expiration date on the ultimatum placed by American president George W. Bush on Iraqi president Sadam Hussein, and two days later the Gulf War broke out… the renovations had to stop. During the war the work resumed under special conditions: a contractor and his workers worked in the morning, and in the evening Solly and Raz would come with their newborn and continue to dye and renovate with their own hands. At the end of the process 7 apartments stood, renovated and fully equipped to receive the first wave of former Ministry Home residents ready to start being incorporated in the community.
Hostel residents in its early days
FIRST WEEKEND IN THE HOSTEL
On 1.5.1991 the first residents were received in Amit.
The plan was to receive five residents in the first week. For reasons long forgotten only one showed up. On the first weekend of its existence Amit hostel housed one resident, and at his disposal were two staff members: Solly and Raz, who fulfilled all the professional functions, including management, guidance and treatment, housekeeping, cooking and cleaning. Over the following weeks things moved forward, the hostel slowly filled with residents and workers.
FROM HOSTEL TO HOUSING ARRAY
The hostel’s building included seven separate apartments, enabling independent social frames, and a common lobby which enabled shared social activities that include all the residents. On the first year of its existence, until it reached full capacity, the place was used as a hostel where all the residents form a single social group. Over the hostel’s second year it became more of a housing array, in which seven apartments function as separate social frames with independent regulations and norms, and it operates in this manner to this day.
DREAM ON
“Many ways lead to the dream, many dreams pave the way, trust your way to guide you.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
On a weekly resident conference in 1995, four years after the hostel’s establishment, few of the residents asked “What’s next? We moved here from the boarding homes, the hostel is a housing array, we work and spend time out with the community, so what now? What’s next?”
In June 1995 two apartments formed on Moshe Rabenu st., Ramla and received 10 of the hostel’s residents. Amit grew to accommodate the residents’ needs.
In 1995 Amit Boarding Home, Lod was formed, but that’s a different story…
A NEW WAY AND A NEW DREAM FOR IT TO LEAN ON
In the winter of 1990-91 Solly and Raz Levi’s unique circus dream melted away and a new way gave birth to a new dream: to form a communal program for developmentally disabled residents which will be guided by the spirit of joy, friendship and personal empowerment that characterized the Levi family’s professional way. The way and the dream which led it continue to exist side by side and the program continues to change and develop according to the residents’ needs.
A new place of joy and friendship opened in May 1991 – Amit Hostel, Ramla, a special home in a special building led by a dream of joy and friendship.