House of Wheels
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedIsraeli national nonprofit providing social and rehabilitative services for children, youth, and adults with physical disabilities.
Last updated September 28, 2026
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Overview
House of Wheels (Beit HaGalgalim) is an Israeli national nonprofit organization (amuta) dedicated to providing social, educational, and rehabilitative services for children, adolescents, and adults with physical disabilities. Founded in 1979 by Miriam Schwartz, the organization began as a weekend recreational activity for eight children in wheelchairs and has since grown into a nationwide network of six centers serving diverse populations across Israel. Its mission is to enable independence, develop social skills, strengthen personal resilience, and promote social and civic participation among people with physical disabilities, primarily cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. The organization operates six houses: the main branch and headquarters in Herzliya; a branch in Jerusalem (at Moshav Even Sapir, including a separate group for the Haredi sector); a branch in the Galilee (at Moshav Bustan HaGalil); a branch for the Arab sector in the north (located in Hadera); a branch in the Negev (Kibbutz Urim); and a branch for the Bedouin sector (Beit Al-Amal in Beersheba). Activities include weekend meetings with overnight stays, weekday clubs and workshops, vacations, summer camps, life-skills training, vocational training, and employment placement programs. The organization also operates a day center called Galgal HaTnufa for adults aged 21 and over, providing emotional and social support, paramedical services, leisure activities, and community integration support. House of Wheels is unique in its integration model, bringing together people with physical disabilities and volunteers without disabilities in a shared social framework. Approximately 500 dedicated volunteers from all sectors of Israeli society—Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, professionals and students—contribute around 200,000 volunteer hours annually. The organization serves about 496 active participants (chanichim) and employs a professional staff. Its programs span from age 9 through adolescence and into adulthood, with a strong emphasis on encouraging graduates to integrate into the organization as counselors, assistants, and board members. Funding for House of Wheels comes from a mix of government ministries, municipalities (about 30% of its budget), and private donations. The organization has received recognition for its work, including the President's Award for Volunteerism in 1987 and the Knesset Speaker's Award for Quality of Life in 2011. In July 2019, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted House of Wheels special consultative status. The organization continues to be led by a board of directors and professional staff, with Amir Peretz serving as chairman since 2025.
History
House of Wheels was founded in March 1979 by Miriam Schwartz, who took eight children in wheelchairs from the 'Tikuma' school in south Tel Aviv for a weekend of vacation and social activity by the sea. This initial outing, joined by young volunteers and Schwartz's own children, was the realization of a dream and the beginning of an initiative and model of operation that would later become 'Beit HaGalgalim'. For five years, Schwartz led and managed the activity with meager resources and a charismatic personality under the framework of the 'SHY Association' (Association for the Rehabilitation and Care of Disabled Children). She saw time outside the home as giving the disabled child additional opportunities beyond those in the daily family framework, and as a brief respite for the families caring for them. The group of counselors she gathered around her was chosen based on personal qualities rather than profession. The group framework expanded by age, and weekday clubs began operating. In 1982, attorney Aviezer Gruar joined the association as a representative of the Shimmel Fund for the Encouragement of the Disabled Child, which operated at the Tikuma school. After Miriam Schwartz's passing, he took over management and served as chairman for 25 years, during which the organization expanded and he initiated and led the vocational placement program for graduates. In 1983, the organization moved to a permanent but small and unadapted rented house in Herzliya Pituah, and the name was changed to 'Beit HaGalgalim'. In 1990, the first group of children reached adulthood, marking the end of the youth program. At this point, the organization decided to establish an adult division to continue activities in a new framework with content adapted to the needs of adults. In 1997, the Jerusalem branch was established in the Ramot neighborhood, later moving to Moshav Even Sapir. In 1999, the Southern House was established at Kibbutz Urim. In 2000, the Galilee branch was established at Moshav Bustan HaGalil. In 2008, the Bedouin branch was established in the south (Beit Al-Amal in Beersheba). In 2014, the Arab House was established in Wadi Ara, later moving to Hadera. Throughout the years, activities took place in rented buildings that needed adaptation for the disabled. Since the late 1990s, efforts were made to find a permanent home. In the early 2000s, the association approached the Herzliya Municipality to allocate land for a public building. Until then, it operated in a temporary rented building on Keren Hayesod Street. In 2001, the Herzliya Municipality approved the construction of the new building on David HaMelech Street in Herzliya Pituah near the industrial zone, but residents opposed and waged a struggle against the plan, petitioning the court. Opponents even established the 'West Herzliya Residents Association' which claimed the designated area. In May 2008, the Tel Aviv District Appeals Committee rejected the residents' appeal. Mayor Yael German supported the construction. In September 2009, a district court judge rejected the residents' request for an interim injunction against the building permit, and later the parties reached agreements in the form of a judgment. In June 2009, after 6 years of legal struggle, the cornerstone was laid for the Herzliya branch, which became the association's first permanent home. The building opened in 2009. Avrahami Torem served as CEO until 2016, leading the construction and establishment of the new house in Herzliya until its opening, establishing the Arab House, the Bedouin House, and initiating the establishment of the association's day center. He was succeeded by Yonatan Karni, who served as CEO for 6 years until 2022. Yehuda Friedman was elected CEO in 2022, and was replaced by Aviv Spiegelman in 2023. Dr. Pnina Shor (daughter of founder Miriam Schwartz) replaced Aviezer Gruar as chairwoman, serving until 2025. Starting in 2025, Amir Peretz became chairman, replacing Pnina Shor-Schwartz who served for 17 years. The organization's activities aim to integrate people with disabilities into regular social life despite their disability, including sharpening the ability to achieve independence as much as possible. Activities include weekend meetings (including overnight stays at the house and social activities), weekday clubs and workshops, vacations, summer camps, operation of training apartments, life-skills training, vocational training, and more. The 'Mitgalgalim Kadima' program for teenagers promotes participation in the employment circle in the community while acquiring tools and life skills for independent functioning in the community and leaving home. The 'HaChavaya HaMitgalgelet' initiative was created by graduates of House of Wheels to bring the non-disabled public closer to the world of people with disabilities through experiencing daily challenges and personal exposure to their lives. The 'Galgal HaTnufa' day center was established in cooperation with the Rehabilitation Division of the Ministry of Welfare and provides regular daily response to over 20 graduates aged 21+. The center provides emotional and social support, paramedical services (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy), leisure and enrichment activities, socialization, and active encouragement for integration into community life in cooperation with various community bodies and organizations. The association also encourages and assists in the integration of people with disabilities into society, including encouraging service in the IDF. In 1998, Gruar established the House of Wheels placement program, aimed at helping and encouraging each member of the adult group to integrate into the world of employment, mainly in the free market (but also in sheltered workshops and supported employment), and to work to remove legal and other barriers to the advancement of employment for the disabled. As part of this, Gruar filed a petition to the High Court of Justice for the implementation of the Judge Ephraim Laron report. In 1987, the association won the President's Award for Volunteerism, and in 2011 it won the Knesset Speaker's Award for Quality of Life. In July 2019, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted the association special consultative status.
- 2025
Amir Peretz becomes chairman, succeeding Pnina Shor-Schwartz.
- 2019
UN ECOSOC grants special consultative status.
- 2014
Arab House established in Wadi Ara (later moves to Hadera).
- 2011
House of Wheels receives the Knesset Speaker's Award for Quality of Life.
- 2009
Cornerstone laid for permanent Herzliya home after 6-year legal struggle; building opens.
- 2008
Bedouin branch established in the south (Beit Al-Amal, Beersheba).
- 2001
Herzliya Municipality approves construction of new building; residents oppose, leading to legal battle.
- 2000
Galilee branch established at Moshav Bustan HaGalil.
- 1999
Southern House established at Kibbutz Urim.
- 1998
Vocational placement program established by Gruar.
Products and positioning
National nonprofit providing a continuous social and rehabilitative framework for people with physical disabilities, promoting integration and independence.
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