Lifeline for the Old / Yad LaKashish

What Lifeline for the Old / Yad LaKashish does

Yad LaKashish (Lifeline for the Old) is a Jerusalem-based nonprofit organization founded in 1962 by schoolteacher Myriam Mendilow that operates a network of nine artisan workshops serving nearly 200 low-income elderly Jerusalem residents daily. The workshops span Bookbindery, Ceramics, Metal, Recycled Paper, Knitting, Silk Painting, Textiles, Children's World, and Paper Mache, each producing handcrafted Judaica, ritual items, and decorative goods. Approximately half of the artisans are Holocaust survivors; the remainder come from immigrant communities including the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, South America, and Iran. The organization operates under a "Model of Positive Aging" that pairs skilled creative work with comprehensive social services — monthly stipend, daily hot lunch, health insurance, and community membership.

Revenue is generated through three streams: handcraft product sales via an on-site Jerusalem gift shop and a global e-commerce store (yad-la.com); tax-deductible donations from individuals, Jewish federations, and foundations at tiered giving levels ranging from $36 (birthday basket) to $700 (special breakfast sponsorship), with a $420/month comprehensive welfare package as the anchor recurring gift; and paid experiential revenue from hands-on craft activities and celebration packages for tour groups of 15 or more. Distribution extends through partner synagogue gift shops, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Mitzvah Project student sales networks, and a global federation-based fundraising infrastructure anchored by Friends of Yad LaKashish, a US 501(c)(3) (EIN: 76-0734439), with parallel entities in the UK and Canada.

The organization is governed by an Israeli Board of Directors chaired by Gideon Neumann and led by Executive Director Ariela (Relly) Schwartz-Zur since December 2017. Marketing is primarily experiential and community-driven: artisan profile storytelling on the website, organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), TripAdvisor reviews, travel blogger coverage, Jerusalem Post features, and partnerships with at least nine US Jewish federations and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). The recent (Spring 2022) launch of the Education and Visitor Complex represents a capital expansion intended to institutionalize educational tourism alongside the artisan program. There are no venture, private equity, or institutional investor ownership stakes; the firm is entirely mission-funded.

Name

Lifeline for the Old / Yad LaKashish

Legal name

Yad LaKashish / Lifeline for the Old

Website

https://lifeline.org.il

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yad LaKashish is a Jerusalem-based nonprofit founded in 1962 operating nine artisan workshops that provide employment, welfare support, and community to nearly 200 low-income elderly residents through handcraft production, donations, and educational tourism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services for Elderly

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913), Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (32711), Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (339910), Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (459130)

SIC

Pottery & Related Products (3260), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Knitting Mills (2250), Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Elderly artisan workshops
• Social enterprise nonprofit
• Handcrafted Judaica products
• Donation-supported programs
• Community tourism tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Jerusalem

HQ country

Israel

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Handmade Product Sales: Sale of handcrafted items produced by elderly artisans including ceramics, textiles, jewelry, paper products, metalwork, and Judaica through on-site gift shop and online store
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, federations, and foundations supporting the organization's mission of empowering elderly artisans
3. Workshop Tours: Free tours of the workshop facility, with optional paid activities including hands-on craft experiences and celebration packages for groups of 15 or more

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Yad LaKashish operates a nonprofit social enterprise running nine artisan workshops (Bookbindery, Ceramics, Metal, Recycled Paper, Knitting, Silk Painting, Textiles, Children's World, Paper Mache) that employ nearly 200 low-income elderly Jerusalem residents producing handcrafted Jewish ritual items, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and decorative crafts sold through an online store and on-site gift shop. The organization provides artisans with monthly stipends, daily lunches, health insurance, and community, while supporting operations through donations and offering guided cultural tours.

Product overview

Yad LaKashish operates a non-profit social enterprise consisting of nine artisan workshops and a gift shop. The workshops include Bookbindery, Ceramics, Metal, Recycled Paper, Knitting, Silk Painting, Textiles, Children's World, and Paper Mache - each producing handcrafted Jewish ritual items, decorative crafts, and functional goods. The workshops provide meaningful employment, social support, and financial benefits to nearly 200 elderly Jerusalem residents. The organization also operates a Gift Shop selling these artisan-made products, and offers educational tours of the campus. A new Education and Visitor Complex is under development to enhance visitor experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Yad LaKashish Gift Shop (Online Store)
• Workshops Program
• Guided Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 elderly artisans supported daily with comprehensive social welfare package
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Jewish Federation of the BerkshiresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of multiple Jewish federations supporting Yad LaKashish through fundraising and awareness campaigns in the United States
• Jewish Federation of Broward CountyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida-based federation providing financial support and community connections for Yad LaKashish programs
• Jewish Community Alliance of Southern MaineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMaine federation supporting Yad LaKashish through regional Jewish community network
• Jewish Federation of Greater NaplesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida federation supporting organizational mission through donor connections
• Jewish Federation of Southern New JerseyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Jersey federation providing fundraising support and community engagement
• Jewish Federation of South Palm BeachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlorida federation supporting Yad LaKashish through donor network
• Jewish Federation of Greater PhiladelphiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhiladelphia federation supporting organizational funding and awareness
• Jewish Federation of Greater RockfordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIllinois federation providing support through regional Jewish community connections
• City of JerusalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner providing support and connections for Yad LaKashish operations; Recycled Paper Workshop collects used paper from City Hall
• Friends of Yad LaKashish (US)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2003 to support elderly artisans; accepts honorary and memorial donations, gifts of stock, and bequests; EIN: 76-0734439
• UK Toremet LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based organization facilitating donations to Yad LaKashish from British supporters
• Canada Charity PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian charity partner accepting donations on behalf of Yad LaKashish; located at 5785 Smart Ave, Cote St. Luc, Quebec

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yad Sarah: Israel's largest volunteer-based nonprofit supporting elderly and disabled populations. Most directly comparable as an Israeli nonprofit serving low-income elderly Jerusalem residents with complementary social services and a strong volunteer/donor model.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Fair-trade retailer selling handcrafted goods produced by artisans in developing communities. Directly comparable business model of selling artisan-made products with a social-mission narrative tied to the producers' stories.
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): Global Jewish social welfare organization providing services to vulnerable elderly Jews worldwide. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit operating donor-supported elderly welfare programs with strong international Jewish donor networks.
• SERRV International: Nonprofit fair-trade organization selling handcrafted products from artisan cooperatives worldwide. Directly comparable as a nonprofit that markets artisan-made goods (including Judaica-adjacent items) with a mission-driven donor/supporter base.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity: Large established nonprofit social enterprise operating retail stores (ReStores) that fund its core mission. Comparable model where donated/volunteer labor plus earned revenue funds community impact, though in housing rather than elder care.
• Goodwill Industries International: The archetypal nonprofit social enterprise combining vocational training with revenue-generating retail. Comparable because Yad LaKashish follows the same dual mission/social-enterprise model: meaningful work for disadvantaged populations plus product sales to fund the mission.

Emerging players

• Hebron Fund / Israel social-service NGOs: Faith-based Israeli and Jewish social-service nonprofits with similar donor-base characteristics (US Jewish federations, foundations, faith-driven giving). Comparable operating model of small staff executing mission programs supported by international Jewish philanthropy.

Regional players

• Museum of the Jewish People (Beit Hatfutsot): Tel Aviv-based cultural institution showcasing Jewish heritage and history. Comparable as a Jerusalem/Israel-based cultural-heritage organization that monetizes Jewish heritage through visitor experiences, retail, and donor support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yadlakashish
• Instagraminstagram.com/yadlakashish
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifeline-for-the-old-yad-lakashish

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lifeline for the Old / Yad LaKashish