JEWISH-ARAB CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

The first center designed to help Israeli Arab children with disabilities and answer their special educational and medical needs was inaugurated at the St. Vincent French Hospital in Nazareth on Wednesday evening, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. The Irwin Green Family Child Development Center is named after Jewish philanthropist and retired businessman, Irwin Green, 94, of Florida, who donated NIS 4 million for the project. Green, who has contributed to many projects throughout Israel, participated in the ceremony together with his son Don Green. He was awarded honorary citizenship of Nazareth by Mayor Ramez Jeraise. MK Rabbi Michael Melchior, founder of the Citizens Accord Forum that was instrumental in initiating the project, said it was the beginning of the realization of a dream of what could be achieved between the state, Arab citizens and the Jewish Diaspora. The center will provide special care and treatment for some 600 Arab and Jewish children from Nazareth and nearby Upper Nazareth. The treatment given will include occupational therapy, physiotherapy, communications clinics and psychological development.