On our Jerusalem campus, Zion Orphanage has pioneered the successful "Mishpachtone" group family home. A young, energetic couple lives in an apartment with their own young children, along with twelve Zion boys, ages 7-14.

This intimate family setting – often the boys' first encounter with caring, responsible adults worthy of trust – has transformative impact on the boys' physical and emotional health. These surrogate parents role model the value of taking moral and social responsibility, while transmitting a strong Jewish value system.

The boys benefit from a predictable day-to-day routine, replete with Jewish family rituals and traditions around birthdays, holidays and vacations. This stable, secure, loving, trusting and respectful home heralds life's new beginning.

Each Mishpachtone includes a living room/dining room, kitchen, computer, reading corner and game center. There are four boys' bedrooms, plus a room for the “house parents.”