Ziva founded Mercaz Rakefet over 10 years ago to initially provide occupational therapy services to local residents. Shortly after formation, it became clear that that parents and children with developmental delays have an acute need for coordinated care among various treatment modalities, kuppot cholim, and the child's teachers. Under Ziva's direction, Merkaz Rakefet has grown to service over 400 children a month in the greater Bet Shemesh area with a staff of over 40 professionals.
In 2005, Ziva and her husband decided to further enhance the range of populations served and the services made available by Mercaz Rakefet and formed Ligdol V'Lifroach, a non for profit Amuta which now manages Mercaz Rakefet. . Ziva oversees all clients at Ligdol V'Lifroach, ensuring full coordination between the child's therapists, parents, and teachers.
Ziva graduated in 1985 from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center program in Occupational Therapy. She is a member of the AOTA and ISOT and has completed advanced course work in sensory processing, play and management. Ziva has written articles and lectured extensively on sensory processing dysfunction and parental involvement in educational settings.
Penina Farkas manages the finances at Ligdol v'Lifroach overseeing its staff and operational aspects. She has many years of experience in marketing and financial management positions working in the high-tech field.
Penina has a B.A. in Business Development from Bar Ilan University.
Emma Link, Development Coordinator Emma is responsible for fundraising and development. Her work includes proposal writing to foundations to fund LVL projects and community fundraising to promote our work for children in RBS/BS. Before making aliya in 2000 she worked in Human Resources for a law firm in graduate recruitment and work/life balance in Australia and then for a local non-profit organization in Beit Shemesh before joining the LVL team in 2007.
Emma received her diploma in Management from Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Maayan Cohen, Projects Coordinator Maayan is responsible for implementing our programs in the community. Maayan is our liaison with community organizations, the municipality and participants and looks after logistics for all our events.
Maya Douglen, Office Manager Maya was born in Israel to English speaking parents. She has worked at MR for 5 years, lived in RBS for almost 8 years, and hasthree children. Maya not only loves working at Mercaz Rakefet but also enjoys the professional services for her own children.
Maya heads our team of secretaries working together with Rochel Black, Liat Levitt, Sivan Dahan and Ashira Cohen, our national service volunteer.
Zvi Klein, MD Dr. Klein studied at Downstate Medical Center and did a fellowship in developmental pediatrics at the University of Maryland. He taught behavioral and developmental pediatrics at Sinai Hospital and University of Maryland Hospital for over 20 years and directed the family medicine department. He was in private practice in Maryland for 26 years. Dr. Klein is trained in the neuro-developmental approach of Dr. Mel Levine and incorporates his testing tools in his assessments. Dr. Klein has vast experience with ADHD and learning disabilities as well as psychiatric disorders such as depression, ODD, OCD and the autistic spectrum. He made aliya in 2004 and works for Kupat Cholim Clalit as a developmental pediatrician and at Meir Hospital as an instructor in Behavior and Child Development. Dr Klein heads our Child Behavior and Development Evaluation Center at Ligdol V'Lifroach. During his free time he enjoys biking and swimming, especially with his grandchildren.
Dr Caroline Hacohen, Educational Psychologist
Caroline is the coordinator of psychosocial services at Mercaz Rakefet. She administers psycho-educational assessments, provides individual therapy and parent training and supervises the psychosocial staff.
Caroline received her undergraduate degree in psychology in London and completed her studies to receive a MA in educational psychology from the Hebrew University. She has extensive experience with kindergarten and school age children at the Educational Psychology Service in Jerusalem both in special education and regular frameworks. She received her doctorate in Educational Pschology from the University of Essex, UK.
One of Caroline’s areas of special interest is working with olim youth and studying the area of transitions. She provides family workshops as well as individual counseling sessions with the children.
Vardit Spiegelman, CSW
Varditis a clinical social worker specializing in treating children and adolescents, for whom respect for the client and confidentiality are top concerns. Her work at Rakefet - and her 18 years' worth of experience in the field - includes helping families, couples, adults and children cope with trauma and loss, marital discord, teen crisis, and learning and attention problems - as well as serving as a liaison to teachers. With the influx of olim to Bet Shemesh, Vardit works closely with Nefesh b'Nefesh.
Vardit has developed expertise in the field of learning disabilities and ADHD in people of all ages. She has completed a course in ADD coaching and a course at Bar Ilan university for social workers that treat children and adolescents. Vardit is heading the M'sikun L'Sikui integrative program for babies/toddlers with developmental delays. Vardit completed her MSW at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
D'vorah Klein, LCSW-C
D'vorah studied psychology and clinical social work with a specialization in families and children at the University of Maryland. She also did postgraduate studies in cognitive development. D'vorah has spent the past 20 years working in school settings (including Miamonides Academy in Baltimore) as well as in private practice. Her specialties include child and family therapy, parent education and teacher training. She has worked with children with a variety of school related learning and behavioral and issues including ADHD and sensory integration dysfunction. She often acted as a liaison between the family and the school in implementing recommendations of outside testing and developing appropriate programs in the classroom. She also has experience with couples therapy and dealing with grief and loss.
D'vorah made aliya with her husband in 2004 and is fluent in Hebrew, English and Yiddish. When not working at Ligdol V'Lifroach she is writing, teaching and enjoying her role as savta to her Israeli grandchildren.
Romi Braude
Romi has experience working with young children (ages 2-11) with various developmental setbacks. Her expertise is in gross and fine motor coordination and handwriting skills (dysgraphia.) She also serves as a supervisor to OT students at Rakefet.
Prior to her aliya from South Africa, she completed her degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Witwatersatand in Johannesburg, in addition to extra course work in child development.
Noa Adany, OT
Noa comes to Ligdol V'Lifroach after several years working with orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation patients. Her knowledge of cognitive dysfunction with adults enhances her work with learning disabled children. Her warm approach is loved by both the parents and their children.
Noa studied at Tel Aviv University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy with honors.
Tzippy Roseman, OTR
Tzippy has many years of experience in developing early intervention treatment for children with PDD and Sensory Processing Dysfunction. Tzippy also specializes in evaluating, treatment planning and intervention for children with CP, Learning Disabilities, and AD/ADHD. Tzippy has also worked with autistic children and parent education about child development. Tzippy received her masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University and also holds a degree in psychology.
Sara Glickman, OTR
Sara has experience working with young children (ages 2-11) with various developmental setbacks. Her expertise is in gross and fine motor coordination and handwriting skills (dysgraphia). Her calm and caring approach is appreciated by both the parents and their children.
Prior to her aliya from South Africa, she completed her degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of the Witwatersatand in Johannesburg, in addition to extra course work in child development.
Contact
Michal Rubin, OTR
Michal has experience working in special education day care centers and early intervention programs. She also ran sensory groups and provided support to families of children with sensory processing disorders. Michal received her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Kean University in 2004 and made aliya with her family shortly thereafter.
Inbar Shvinger, OTR Inbar has her expertise in child development, but has worked extensively with people of all ages. She is especially skilled in helping children with organizational and attention issues. In addition to being an OTR, Inbar is a Back Flowers therapist working with both children and adults who experience emotional difficulties.
Inbar, a native Israeli, received her degree from Haifa University.
Shellygraduated with honors from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.After graduating she emigrated to Australia where she worked with adults in spinal cord rehabilitation and neurological dysfunction and vocational rehabilitation.Prior to making aliya Shelly worked with children with developmental delays and cerebral palsy.
Osnat Levy, SLP Osnat has worked extensively with children of all ages in child development centers and special education pre-schools, and specializes in the evaluation of pediatric speech and language problems. She currently coordinates the speech and language department at Ligdol V'Lifroach.
For the several years, she worked as the evaluating speech therapist for Meuchedet's Child Development Center in Beit Shemesh and is currently serving a similar position for Maccabi Health Services.
Osnat, a native Israeli, earned her degree in 1991 from Tel Aviv University.
Michal Barel
Michal is a graduate of the communication disorders program at Hadassah College in Jerusalem. She has experience working with children who are diagnosed with developmental delays, as well as preschoolers with general language disorders and articulation difficulties. Michal is a native Israeli and is fluent in both Hebrew and English.
Gila Herst
Gila is a graduate of the communication disorders program at Hadassah College in Jerusalem. She has experience working with young children with language delays as well as children with articulation and oral motor difficulties.
Gila also has a B.A. in education and psychology from Bar Ilan University. On completing her teachers' training qualification she worked as a teacher in the Israeli school system.
Gila made aliya from England in 1978 and is fluent in both Hebrew and English.
Ayelet Weil, SLP Ayelet has years of experience working with pre-school and school age children with language disorders. Additionally, she treats children with articulation difficulties and since joining our team has acquired expertise in working with the bi-lingual child.
Ayelet, a native Israeli, studied speech and language pathology at Tel Aviv University and received her BA in 1998.
Einat Wultz, M.S/SLP Einat received her MS degree from Emerson College, Boston. She has experience working with children of all ages with general language disorders and/or developmental delays. She has a strong family centered approach to helping parents deal with their child’s challenges.
Einat is a native Israeli and is fluent in both Hebrew and English.
Esther Garfinkel, MA/SLP
Esther has 14 years of experience as a speech and language pathologist . Prior to her aliya, in 2000, she worked at a hospital treating adults and children, gaining expertise in swallowing disorders. She works at Mercaz Rakefet primarily treating children birth to 3 years old with a variety of language and communication disorders.
Esther received her MA degree from New York University in 1994.
Tova Novick, M.S./SLP Tova has years of experience as a speech and language pathologist and a teacher of hearing, language, and speech impaired children. She has worked with children of all ages with various communication handicaps, and has expertise in training teachers and parents in adapting to children’s special needs. She specializes in treating the 0-3 population, with pre-speech and oral motor difficulties. Tova studied speech and language pathology at Adelphi University and received her MS in 1996.
Faygie Waxman MA/CCC-SLP
Faygie specializes in treating feeding and swallowing disorders in infants and children. She gained her expertise thru her many years as director of the feeding program at Camp HASC, a summer camp for multihandicapped children. She treats oral motor issues as well as articulation and language in English. Faygie studied speech pathology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and made aliya with her family in 1999.
Nomi Lange, SLP
Nomi is a graduate of the communication disorders program at Michllala in Jerusalem. She has experience working with children who are diagnosed with developmental delays, learning disabilities, bilingual and general language disorders and articulation difficulties.
Noami is also trained as a remedial teacher and has experience in the school system in speech therapy and remedial teaching.
Elisheva Sarid, SLP Elisheva is a graduate of the communication disorders program at Michlala in Jerusalem. She has experience working with children who are diagnosed with developmental delays, learning disabilities, bilingual and general language disorders and articulation difficulties.
Elisheva is a native Israeli and lives in Bet Shemesh with her family.
Ariel Smith, SLP Ariel is a graduate of the communication disorders program at Hadassah College in Jerusalem. She has experience working with children who are diagnosed with developmental delays, as well as preschoolers with general language disorders and articulation difficulties.
Dina is a graduate of the Communication Disorders Program at Hadassah College, Jerusalem. She has experience working with children and language delays as well as children with articulation difficulties.
Physical Therapists
Shuli Kwas, PT Shuli has had many years of experience working with infants and children. She has vast experience working with children diagnosed with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, PDD, DCD and general developmental delays. She works together with the parents to create a team approach to treatment.
Shuli studied physical therapy and received her BS from Ben Gurion University in 1996.
Esti Morgenstern, PT Esti has had many years of experience working with children with a variety of developmental delays including PDD, ADHD, Down’s syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
Prior to her aliya, in 2005, Esti worked for many years in the New York City Department of Education in a school for children with special needs. Esti studied physical therapy and received her BS from State University of New York, in 1995.
Amy Kirschner, PT, graduated New YorkUniversity and worked for ten years at HadassahHospital in Jerusalem specializing in respiratory care and rehabilitation. She worked mostly in the intensive care unit and internal medicine. Amy is a clinical instructor and has instructed many students in Hadassah's adult neurological rehab and acute care units. She also worked in Hadassah's CF and premie clinics.
Since leaving Hadassah, Amy now works with infants in daycare and early intervention programs.
Remedial Teaching
Talya Cohen
Talya is the Coordinator of our Remedial Teaching program. She supervises and provides ongoing training to our staff in this area. Talya does the initial evaluation for each child entering our program and then builds a personal program to meet their needs. She has extensive experience working with the local education system and assisting children in Ramat/Beit Shemesh with learning disabilities.
Einat completed her studies in the Art Therapy program at the David Yellin Institute. She gained experience in both individual and family therapy through her work at the Women's Assistance Center in the Negev. She has also worked for the Ministry of Education with kindergarten children dealing with language, learning and emotional difficulties.
Ziva Schapiro, OTR -- Founder and Director 
Penina Farkas, Administrative Manager
Emma Link, Development Coordinator 
Maayan Cohen, Projects Coordinator
Maya Douglen, Office Manager
Zvi Klein, MD
Caroline Hacohen, Educational Psychologist 
Vardit Spiegelman, CSW
D'vorah Klein, LCSW-C 
Romi Braude
Noa Adany, OT 
Sara Glickman, OTR
Michal Rubin, OTR 
Inbar Shvinger, OTR
Shelly Katz, OTR
Osnat Levy, SLP
Gila Herst
Ayelet Weil, SLP
Einat Wultz, M.S/SLP
Esther Garfinkel, MA/SLP
Tova Novick, M.S./SLP
Faygie Waxman MA/CCC-SLP 
Ariel Smith, SLP
Shuli Kwas, PT
Esti Morgenstern, PT
Talya Cohen 