Remove the walls: A first look at the "Alma" project at Neve Tirza Prison Israel today

“I am a repressed person who lives to satisfy others.

(from B.'s book, the lecturer is eight years in prison for robbery and assaulting an elderly woman. The book will soon become a play in Neve Tirza Prison)

For a whole year, S. did not see her only 14-year-old daughter.

They also barely spoke on the phone.

In the last decade, S. has been arrested countless times for drug trafficking, threats and various assault offenses, and when she was not in the Neve Tirza prison, she walked around the streets drugged.

She was arrested again four months ago, but underwent a metamorphosis for the first time.

The nerves calmed down, the tone of speech softened and the severe addiction subsided, meanwhile without stumbling.

She is now sitting on the blue sofa in the treatment room in Neve Tirza, her hair carefully gathered and her face lightly made up.

A childish voice emanates from the hallway and makes her tremble.

Her daughter enters the room hesitantly, and S. embraces her and hugs her.

The girl's black hair glides over the mother's face and absorbs her tears.

"Mom, how long have I not met you," the girl's voice choked.

They sit on the couch, glued to each other, and the daughter pulls out a collage she made, and above it an adult message: "Always believe that anything is possible, even if it seems not. I hope you understand what situation you were in and learn from it. Love and support."

Courtesy of IPS spokespersons

"I went through very difficult things," S. says to her daughter, and does not reveal that her partner turned her into a punching bag.

"Although from the age of 4 I do not raise you, because I was in a certain dilemma, but that does not mean that I do not love you. In 'Alma' I am prepared for life outside, and when I am released I will only raise you."

The encounter between S. and her daughter is unusual, since it does not take place behind opaque glass but face to face.

It is made possible thanks to the "Alma" program, which was officially inaugurated in Neve Tirza three months ago, and operates according to an innovative therapeutic concept that places the inmate at the center - and not the offense she committed.

The reason for the change in attitude, which is also considered rare in prison facilities around the world, is backed up by professional studies according to which 90 percent of inmates degenerate into crime because as children they themselves were victims of ongoing trauma, such as sexual assault and severe violence.

In ignorance, the prisoners learn to release their inner demons, and to conduct themselves alongside the mental and physical injuries they have experienced in the past.

The criminal offense is put aside for a moment, and will deal with its consequences when they are emotionally prepared.

The program, and the inmates participating in it, are revealed here for the first time.

"First of all a woman"

A'.

"My mother asked if he did something to me too and I told her everything. Instead of hugging me, she got angry and said, 'You are the prostitute who gives, they will drive you crazy for money,'" Photo: Efrat Eshel

The treatment wing of Neve Tirza, which also houses the Alma ward, is located at the end of the small prison, which houses a total of about 150 inmates.

When the gray iron door opens, a compound is revealed that looks like a combination of a prison and a kibbutz.

In the center is a large plaza with orange public telephones, on which are drawings of animals.

A huge mural of a woman whose hair turns into pink flowers, spread out along one of the walls.

Flower pots and fitness equipment were placed at his feet.

The rest of the walls are adorned with slogans such as "Obstacles are the things you see when you take your eyes off the targets," or "If you can dream it, you can do it."

Behind the phones is a shade sheet, and underneath it is a large wooden picnic table.

Imprisonment cells are also different from other prisons.

Two of them house the eight inmates from Alma, and another two are intended for seven inmates from the "Circles" department, which is designed to deal with violent problems.

One of the best-known inmates in the circles is Liraz Natan, the assistant to the abusive kindergarten teacher Carmel Meuda, who was sentenced to two years in prison.

About a year and a half ago, the idea of ​​establishing Alma was raised by the head of the care department in Neve Tirza, Rabbi Tali Tzobari.

"At first there was an addictions department here, but it was not successful and the prisoners refused to come to it," she says.

"They felt they had a stigma attached to them. We decided to rethink to understand what was not working here."

A steering committee was established at the IPS, which included members, including Zubari; Alma's director, Maj. Gen. Meital Levy;

And the prison officer officer, Rabbi Adi Elmaleh.

"We understand that the models of male prisoners, who participate in groups that deal with crime, are not suitable for women," Tsubari continues.

"Men suffer from trauma, but women suffer from ongoing trauma, which shatters the mind and changes behavior."

No men who have suffered from continuous abuse?

Zubari: "Yes, but it does not characterize the male prisoners in prison, compared to the women prisoners. In the committee we were looking for a department that would make a perceptual change, that would first deal with trauma and only then the criminal lifestyle. Of the inmates.It corresponds with the perception of women in the world today.

"Working in Neve Tirza, we found that most of the inmates were raped within the family or were victims of severe violence. Such trauma has long-term meanings. "Others, so in prostitution they feel they have control over it. And then they come here with a basket of complexities."

Alma was launched about a year ago as a running project, and the official launch took place on the last International Women's Day, March 8.

The name is a combination of several concepts.

"Alma is first and foremost a woman," Zubari explains.

"In Kabbalah the term expresses wholeness, and in Aramaic the meaning is world. It fits the range of treatments the prisoners receive here. They deal with addictions in an individual group rather than as a ward, participate in a psycho-drama group and learn to reconnect with the children. Alone, without a treatment factor from the IPS.

Once prisoners grasped the essence of the program, many sought to take part in it.

"The main condition placed on them is motivation, desire and a traumatic background," Zubari continues.

"We saw that they were starting to talk about trauma, and Alma's outer walls allowed the inner walls to be removed. From the Addiction Department, which no inmate is happy to belong to, Alma has a waiting list today. We can already list 20 alumni of the department. "For eight inmates. I wish it was different."

T.

"Taking care of myself, before I can take care of the children", Photo: Efrat Eshel

Sergeant Levy: "They have a very intense schedule here that starts at five-thirty in the morning, and sometimes includes six therapy groups a day, without mentioning classes like yoga or art. They are immersed in therapy, living, eating and sleeping together. Almost everyone knows "It's all about the other inmates, and there's no break. It's like the Big Brother house."

Were there any inmates who were ejected from the ward?

Levy: "Yes. They need to learn to control themselves, to conduct themselves in conflicts and not to break the tools. Here they run an event and do not explode. There are no curses or screams, because it is crossing a red line."

"I'm not alone here"

That'.

"I did not raise her for ten years. I walked the streets and was constantly stopped," Photo: Efrat Eshel

S. (36) lives in room number 2 in Alma together with three other inmates, one of whom is T. (37), a mother of four from two different fathers, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

T. was arrested two years ago after belonging to a gang of women who stole wallets and credit cards from seniors.

She was among the first to come to Alma, and spent the entire period of the run here.

"I grew up in an Arab village," she tells her story in fluent Hebrew.

"My father was addicted to drugs, and left home when I was a child. At first I was taken into foster care, but at the age of 13 I ran away and went back to my mother. I wanted to go to school, but had to work to help earn a living, fearing they would take me from mother. I only attended seven classes.

"At 21 I got married against my will. The extended family obliged me. Shortly after the wedding I found out my husband was addicted to drugs and alcohol. He was violent towards me, humiliated me and abused me. At one point I found out he took a loan on my name, bought himself a car and phones, and left me with Crazy debts I have not repaid to this day. I was afraid to divorce him. I worked in hospital cleaning, but because of his addiction he was always short of money.

"One day a saleswoman offered to make me easy money. We pocketed people and stole credit cards. I treated it like a one-time adventure, but my husband saw the money and forced me to continue. If I did not want to, he beat me. After the birth of the third child, I heard he was cheating. "I was with a girl from Lod. Six years ago he left her house and the police arrested him for drug trafficking. I took the opportunity to divorce. A few months later I met my partner. We have a child together but we did not get married. He is married and I am his second partner." .

Why did you keep stealing?

"Because I had no way to support the three children from the divorce. He did not pay alimony."

T. came to Alma after a year of imprisonment in the Savyon wing, which is intended for drug-free prisoners.

"At first I did not understand why they put me here, but over time I learned that my trauma was due to the abuse of the divorcee. Now I take care of myself, before I can take care of the children. At some point I will have to stand in front of them and tell them what I did."

Do they know what you're sitting on?

"No. I said I made a mistake and so I was punished."

Are you thinking about the release?

"I'm afraid I will not find myself, but the fear will also prevent me from repeating the criminal offenses. I will soon go on vacation, be with my children and try to get used to living outside again."

Tzipi Refaeli said in media interviews that the prison was like a summer camp for her.

Do you think so too?

"I know Tzipi and I was with her in the Savyon wing. She's the best there is and worked in the kitchen, but here it's not a summer camp. I do not think anyone has fun here. It's true that you have an agenda, therapy groups, work in the product center Call this place a summer camp when the kids are away from you? "

S. enters the room after finishing the meeting with her daughter, her eyes red and full of tears.

She looks around and turns to T.

"Did you make my bed again?" She asks.

"Sorry. I was very excited this morning and did not pay attention. I had so much fun, but when my daughter left, I burst into tears. I looked at her from the window until it disappeared from my sight."

Tzipi Refaeli came out of prison.

"This is not a summer camp here," Photo: Jonathan Shaul

How did you get into this situation?

"I did not grow up in a normative family, and my father sat in jail several times for cannabis trafficking. On one of his visits I met my partner, who sat on cases of violence. He was moved every time he saw me and it occupied me. I visited him secretly, without my father knowing. When he was released, I immediately became pregnant and gave birth before the age of 22. Very quickly I found out he was addicted to drugs, and I thought I could save him. It did not work.

"One day, when the girl was two years old, the kindergarten teacher told me that my partner got someone else pregnant. I left him and lived with the parents for a while, until they divorced. I moved to a small town where I met a new partner. His mother is Jewish and his father is Arab. His family She did not want us to be together and a conflict arose. His sister threatened me and beat me, so I gave her back twice. I had to defend myself. She complained to the police to keep me away. She opened seven cases for me.

"As a result, I became addicted to drugs and alcohol. I became addicted to Nice Guy. One time the girl came back from kindergarten with a blow to the eye. I got nervous and hit the teacher. In another case I took revenge on someone who ran over my family member and hit him too. I got lost. I did not raise her. I walked the streets and was constantly detained. Even when I was sent for rehab, it did not help. In my last detention, four months ago, I was placed in a dungeon. Myself without shouting and beatings.I work in the manufacturing center making office folders, and it saves me.So I do not think all the time about what I went through.

"I have decided to confess to all the indictments against me, and I hope to reach a plea deal and get released quickly. It is important for me to raise my daughter. In my opinion, she is a bit lonely. Her father is in prison and so is her mother. This is not a normal situation."

Perpetuate the circle

B'.

"I thank God for the beatings I received, otherwise I would have continued on the criminal path", Photo: Efrat Eshel

Since Alma was founded, the treatment of the eight inmates has been done like cotton wool.

So far they have been careful to hide the flaws, more than any Instagram filter.

Their consent to allow a journalist to take part in their intimate conversations is not self-evident.

Here their fragility is fully revealed.

Their condition is worse than that of the prisoners.

Men will almost always have a wife and children waiting outside.

Sometimes a criminal organization will stand by them, pouring money into the family and the canteen.

In women the situation is reversed.

Only a few are like Tzipi Refaeli, with a supportive and close-knit family.

Usually, the family cell of the prisoners falls apart, as happened, for example, to Etty Alon from the Commercial Bank.

Having no choice, some make contact with male prisoners, through a voicemail or through a third person, and allow them to socialize with them in exchange for money for the canteen.

In doing so, they continue to perpetuate the cycle of harm.

Alma's inmates gather every morning at a club that looks more like a shelter.

On the white concrete walls are stickers with the names of the women and the cleaning shifts that week.

The inmates sit on white plastic chairs in front of a facilitator from the Association for Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault.

On the side, the project manager, Sergeant Levy, oversees. After a brief introduction, T. wants to tell about a conversation she had with her father's wife. "This is the first time I have shared such a dilemma.

She asked me to arrange a visit for him, and I have not contacted him since, because I have no idea what to do.

I'm mad at him for my childhood. "

Q: "Call. Dad is Dad."

A: "But my relationship with him is twisted. He underwent surgery and suddenly talked to me. When he feels good, I do not interest him. I do not have the strength to connect and disconnect this every time."

R., who is serving a four-year prison sentence for violent offenses, agrees: "In the past I talked to my dad a few times and saw that he was only interested in himself, so I decided I did not need him alive. T., if he bothers you, then do not stay in touch."

S. insists: "I think it will be a miss. My father abandoned me, even though during his imprisonment I came to visit three buses. When I called from prison and asked him to come, he cursed at me and shouted that I would not call again. I walked away a little, but the truth is not wholeheartedly."

B., who has been running in Neve Tirza for six years out of the eight she was sentenced to after assaulting and robbing an elderly woman, admits that she longs for a relationship with her father: "I have not seen him for more than 20 years. In his eyes I do not exist. Dead. "Because my mother passed away, and my children were scattered among foster families. It's true that he beat me all the time, it's true that he does not care about me, but he is the one who gave me life. I do not want to judge him. If he wants, I will give him a chance."

T. can't stop the tears: "Do you know what hurts the most? No, my father asked to visit me, even though he had not seen me for more than two years. This is his wife. I do not even know if he wants it at all."

"I did everything to survive"

Right: Adi Elmaleh, Rabbi Tali Tzobari, Deputy Gondar Shula Abergil and Maj. Gen. Meital Levy. "We were looking to make a perceptual change," Photo: Efrat Eshel

It's hard to miss A., 39, who looks and feels like a little girl who is self-contained.

Her blue eyes are full of deep sadness.

She has been in Neve Tirza for three months, after stabbing her partner with a Japanese knife, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

She joined the program two weeks ago.

The heartbreaking story of her life can easily be turned into a series on Netflix.

She unrolls her beams in a float, like a machine gun without a guard.

"I immigrated to Israel from Ukraine at the age of 8, with a mother who suffered from mania-depression, and with my grandmother. My father stayed there because he was in prison for drug offenses and theft, and I haven't seen him since. We lived with a few other immigrants, and after school I went to play with a friend .

"A month after we arrived in Israel, I was sexually assaulted. The company's grandfather used to sit us both on his knees, and touched us under his clothes. He asked me to have oral sex. I was afraid of him. He said that if I told my mother, he would kill her. Then He gave me a shekel so I could shut up.

"The abuse stopped after a few months, when my girlfriend's mom caught him on hot with her daughter and kicked him out. My mom asked if he did anything to me too and I told her everything. Instead of hugging me or showing compassion, she got mad at me and said 'the whore who gives crazy In you for money. "When I said I was afraid he would kill her, she replied, 'You idiot, you should not have believed.' She blamed me for what happened.

"When I was 14 she forced me to work, and took me to her job with the elderly and disabled. Instead of doing homework, I cleared needs. She took the money I earned, and it didn't help when I begged to buy textbooks. One of the disabled we treated had a husband, about 60. All the time. "

When she entered tenth grade, A. demonstrated some independence.

One evening she rebelled and did not return when her mother asked, but stayed to sleep with a friend.

"When I came back in the morning, I saw that she had packed my clothes in a bag and put it by the door," says A. quietly and her body shrinks on the chair.

"She just threw me out of the house. I stayed in the building's stairwell for two days, and Grandma managed to steal some money and food from me. Then I slept with friends. For the first few days I still went to school but then I quit. One time she did not even say hello to me on the street.

"When I felt my stay was oppressive on the friendships, I went to the home of a disabled person I cared for with my mother, and her husband agreed that I would stay with them for food, lodging and let him touch me. I felt exploited, but I did everything to survive. I gave my body for shelter."

How long do you stay with him?

"A few months. After I begged, Mom agreed to come back."

At the age of 18, A. enlisted in the army, and served as a clerk in one of the headquarters.

She was recognized as a lone soldier, and on weekends stayed at the soldier's house.

Three months after her release, she became pregnant with her eldest daughter, who was then her partner.

"I was debating whether to have an abortion, because I wandered between houses again, and went to a gynecology clinic. Someone from the Efrat Association spoke to me there. She asked me not to appeal and suggested that I stay in their hostel. I stayed there three months after the birth."

Did you have contact with the baby's father?

"No, but I got help from the welfare services. I got a one-room apartment from Amidar and I was happy. The first time I had four walls of my own. I got a little help from non-profit organizations and GMOs or I found a casual job.

After four years I got pregnant again, from another author.

At that moment he left me.

I was only 25 and out of lack of choice I worked in prostitution.

One of the clients, a 60-year-old contractor, fell in love with me and became my partner.

We had a child together, but one day he returned to his ex-wife and I was left alone.

. me.

"Three months ago I tried to commit suicide and swallowed 14 sleeping pills. I thought the children would be better off without me. My friend took me to the hospital and dumped me there. When I was released, I called him and he said he was with me just to sleep with me. I was tired of him slandering me everywhere and reading "I had a prostitute, so I took a Japanese knife and tear gas and went to him. I was drugged and did not control myself. He bent down and injured him. I stabbed him in the back and back."

What made you react this time?

"I no longer cared about anything. He spoke to me like my mother, and I wanted revenge. I realized I was a victim of my neighbor, of my mother, of the men who exploited me, and I was tired. It was my cry for help. Only when I got to Alma did I learn in depth about The ongoing trauma I experienced. Here I decided I did not want to die. I renewed my relationship with my children and also with the contractor. I would be happy if he would give another chance to our relationship. In the meantime, I want to serve all my imprisonment. About a third, to exhaust all the treatments here. "

Are you in touch with your mother?

"I called her from here once, and as always she does not take responsibility for what she did to me and blames me. I know that every person wants contact with his parents, but she does me no good. I chose not to talk to her anymore."

Boiling representation for gardeners

Orly Davidovich and Daniel Leibowitz.

Living in separate rooms, Photo: Gideon Markovich

The Neve Tirza Women's Prison was established 54 years ago.

Unlike men’s prisons, it is small and has five wings: the therapeutic wing, to which alma mater and circles belong;

Integration Division A and Integration Division B, in which mainly unpunished detainees are lawyers and inmates with discipline problems.

One of them, for example, is Marie Fizem, who was convicted in 2008 of murdering her daughter Rose, along with her then-partner Roni Ron, who is also Rose's grandfather.

Pizam, who recently asked to move to the Integration Division to change the atmosphere, was sentenced to life in prison.

Batsheva Levy, who was exposed on the "Imposters" program after introducing herself as a young model, and extorted more than a million shekels from innocent people from the ultra-Orthodox world, is also staying at the same place.

She was arrested about six months ago and charged with receiving anything fraudulently under aggravated circumstances and extortion by threats.

Between these two wings is the Savyon wing, which houses quite a few famous inmates.

Here was Tzipi Refaeli, who was released in May this year.

Former MK Faina Kirschenbaum, who was convicted of bribery, money laundering and fraud and breach of trust, and sentenced to 10 years in prison, is currently on the scene;

There is extensive and boiling representation in Savyon of the abusive kindergarten teachers, headed by Carmel Meoda, who was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison.

Not far from her are Orly Davidovich and her daughter Daniel Leibowitz from the "Orly Lolly" nursery, who were recently accused of abusing helpless toddlers.

At their request, they stay in separate rooms.

Nor is Skibenko, the aide who was convicted of killing toddler Jasmine Vinta and sent to 17 years in prison, in a nearby cell.

At the other end of the corridor is Sapir Cohen, a kindergarten assistant in Haifa who was convicted of abusing infants less than a year old and sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Neve Tirza's headquarters, Deputy Gondar Shula Abergil, arrives every Wednesday in the five wings as part of her weekly tour.

She is thin, bouncy and devoid of manners.

"It's the time for the inmates to tell me everything they want, and to make any claim, without making an appointment with me in advance," she says at the entrance to the internship.

The cell doors, made of iron, are open.

She enters the cell of a 19-year-old woman who is heavily made up.

She worked as a prostitute and threatened to blackmail one of the clients.

"I heard you did a nice way here," the commander flatters.

"How about being a supporter of a new inmate who is at risk of suicide?".

The young woman smiles and quietly asks to consider the offer.

בקצה המסדרון נמצא מתחם סגור שבו עצורות חדשות הנמצאות בבידוד, כדי לוודא שאינן חולות בקורונה. אחת מהן שוכבת על המיטה ואינה קמה ממקומה כשאברג'יל נכנסת לתא. "קומי. את רוצה שאקים אותך בעצמי?", פוקדת אברג'יל. "אני צריכה אדולן (תחליף סם, ט"א), מה לעשות?", מתחצפת העצורה. "אני לא מרגישה טוב, אני בקריז". 

לפתע נשמעות צעקות מאחד התאים: "שולה, שולה, מתי את באה אלי? אני צריכה לצאת למרפאה". אברג'יל מחייכת ועונה: "עוד צעקה אחת ואת לא יוצאת".

לרגע יש שקט, ואז שוב הווליום עולה לדציבלים מחרישי אוזניים. "שולה, אני רוצה לצאת לעבודה. משעמם לי בתא", צווחת אסירה מבוגרת שמוגדרת בסיכון גבוה לבריחה, לאחר שבדיון האחרון בבית המשפט ניסתה לפתוח את האזיקים בעזרת סיכה שמצאה על הרצפה. "שולה, שולה, אל תגידו שאני יכולה לברוח". אברג'יל מתייצבת בפתח התא במבט מקפיא, והאסירה משתתקת  בשנייה. לאחר שיחה רגועה ביניהן, מבטיחה אברג'יל לבדוק אפשרות שתצא לעבוד. היא עושה את דרכה החוצה, ובדרך מתעכבת לרגע בתאה של בת שבע לוי, שיושבת לבדה על המיטה ועיניה נעוצות בטלוויזיה.

ליד היציאה מהאגף עוצרת אותה אסירה כבת 70, העוסקת בזנות כמעט 50 שנה, ונעצרת בכל פעם על עבירות רכוש או אלימות. היא מחייכת בפה נטול שיניים, ואומרת כי אין לה מושג מדוע עצרו אותה. "ישבתי מול הסופר וחתכתי לי אגס", היא מספרת. "פתאום קפצו עלי שוטרים ולקחו אותי לניידת. הם אמרו שהחזקתי סכין למטרת פשע. אולי חשבו שתקפתי את האגס".

"בציורים שלי רואים אותי"

בניגוד לסדרות טלוויזיונית, כאן הכתום הוא לא השחור החדש. המדים הרשמיים של האסירות הם מכנסי בד דמוי ג'ינס, וחולצות בצבע תכלת המזכירות תלבושת אחידה. באגפים הן מסתובבות בבגדים אזרחיים, וכתום ילבשו בעיקר לעבודה במטבח. היחידה בסביון שלובשת את המדים הכתומים היא מעודה, השוהה בתא 14 ובדיוק נמצאת בדרכה למטבח. היא ממתינה לביקורה של אברג'יל ומשם יוצאת לעבודה.

סביון נראה שונה מאגפי המשתלבות. דלתות התאים עשויות עץ ובמסדרון שורר שקט. רוב האסירות נמצאות בעבודה. חלקן ממיינות מדי צה"ל, אחרות תופרות ארנקים, מכינות תחתיות קרטון לסושי, עוטפות מארזים של בקבוקי ריח או משמשות עוזרות הוראה המסייעות למורות במרכז החינוך של הכלא, כמו למשל מארי פיזם.

אברג'יל נכנסת לחדרה של דניאל לייבוביץ' שמספרת כי בעבר עבדה כמזכירה רפואית. משם היא ממשיכה לחדר 4 המרוחק. ליד הדלת ניצבת עגלת ילדים. אחת האסירות, שעומדת לסיים את מאסרה, שוהה ביחד עם בתה הפעוטה בתא שונה מהשאר: ליד החלון ניצבת מיטת תינוק לבנה, ומעליה וילונות כהים מעוטרים בכוכבים לבנים. ליד המיטות האחרות מצוירת דמותה של מיני מאוס.

"למרבה הצער יש פה הרבה בנות שיכולות לעשות לה בייביסיטר", פולטת אחת הסוהרות בדרכה החוצה. "לא חסרות כאן גננות".

התחנה האחרונה של אברג'יל היא המתחם של עלמא. ב', שכותבת שירים, מבקשת שייכנסו אליה ויראו את הציורים החדשים שציירה. יש משהו פתלתל וקודר ברישומים שלה. באחד מהם נראות נשים ששערן הופך לנחשים הכרוכים זה בזה. מאחר ניבטת אישה שמזכירה את דמותה של ונוס, אולם במבט מעמיק נראות ברקע כמה מפלצות. "בציורים שלי רואים אותי", אומרת ב'. "ככה גם בספר שכתבתי, ונקרא 'תפילות לאלוהים'. אני מודה לו על המכות שקיבלתי, אחרת הייתי ממשיכה בדרך העבריינית. אני חושבת שכולן כאן מאמינות בזה. עלמא פותחת בשבילנו חלון חדש לחיים אחרים".

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"כל מי שנמצאת פה היא קודם כל בן אדם"

סגן גונדר שולה אברג'יל, נשואה ואם לשלושה המתגוררת בנתיבות, הצליחה לסגור מעגל בנווה תרצה. היא התגייסה לשב"ס לפני 25 שנים, ובתפקידה הראשון שימשה סוהרת בכלא הנשים. בספטמבר הקרוב, לאחר שנה וחודשיים כמפקדת, תסיים את תפקידה וטרם ידוע לאן פניה מועדות.

כמי שמוכרת בארגון כבולדוזר, היא דחפה בעוצמה להקמת עלמא. "זה אמנם בית סוהר, אבל אני מבהירה לכל מי שנמצאת פה, שהיא קודם כל בן אדם", שוטחת אברג'יל את משנתה. "מצד שני, האסירה ביצעה עבירה, וצריכה לשאת בתוצאות ולהרוויח מחדש את אמון החברה בה".

האם עלמא לא מאפשרת לחלק מהאסירות להתקרבן ולקבל על עצמן פחות אחריות למעשיהן?

"אסור לטעות. רוב האסירות פה הן קורבנות עבירה שמקבלות יחס אישי וטיפול רב־מערכתי, אבל אנחנו לא מאפשרים להן לשכוח שהן גם ביצעו עבירות, חלקן חמורות מאוד, ושעליהן ללמוד לתקן את חייהן. אחד מיעדי נציבת שב"ס, רב־גונדר קטי פרי, ומפקד מחוז מרכז, גונדר אביחי בן חמו, הוא שיקום אסירים ושילובם בחברה. לחלק מהאסירות אנחנו מסייעים במציאת תעסוקה, אחרות משתחררות להוסטלים. לאחרונה דאגנו שאסירה מבוגרת, ששהתה שנים לא מעטות בכלא, תשתחרר מכאן ישר לבית אבות.

"It should be remembered that in Neve Tirza there are only women, and it has long been necessary to change the perspective in relation to them. In Alma we give them a place as women, because some were oppressed because of their femininity.

tala@israelhayom.co.il

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