Crossroads in the Media...and at the Knesset!
Crossroads was recently featured in an article in Mekor Rishon by Zvika Klein. Klein joined Crossroads social worker Leah Sacks-Hagelburg for a night of street outreach and tour of the Center. You can view the original article or read a synopsis in English on our site.
As a result of the publicity from this article, Crossroads Director Robbie Sassoon was invited to speak at the Knesset in a meeting with the Committee for Aliyah and Absorption. The subject of the meeting was immigrant teens and the challenges they face in educational and social welfare system.
Sassoon explained the importance of Israeli support for its struggling immigrant teens. "We used to think it was the Anglo-saxons that needed to support Israel and not the other way around, that Anglo immigrants don't need help...but this is simply not correct." Frequently, these teens' families struggle financially and cannot provide support. Without collaborative support within Israel, our programs are at-risk of closing down.
He also explained Crossroads attitude toward its teens. "Contrary to what most people believe, these teens don't need Zionism. They don't need religion. They need, more than anything, a secure environment that will accept them as they are."
