XIII. Projects Relating to People with Disabilities

A. Shalva — A Special Place for Special Children ($19,300)

Shalva (Hebrew for “peace of mind”) is a dream-come-true for the visionaries, Malky and Kalman Samuels.  Shalva provides respite care, activities and sleepover accommodations for children with special needs. This program allows parents and families time to take care of other necessary pieces of their lives and to have some free time to relax.

It is true that Shalva is a wonderful place, a nice place, a beautiful place overlooking Jerusalem’s hills. Indeed, it is a simply magnificent building with the latest techniques and technology for developmental, therapeutic, and fun activities. But what is most important is that all of this is combined with Ultimate Caring, by Kalman, Malky, and their incredibly talented and devoted staff. Techniques, technology, and a beautiful building mean little without the caring, and Shalva has just the right combination of all these elements. A recent note from Kalman gives a sense of just how remarkable a place it is:

Snow is falling on the Hermon, but the sun is shining in Jerusalem.

I just popped over to Shalva and the view of the sun lowering over the Judean hills is breathtaking, but even more moving is the sight of 24 youngsters getting ready for Shabbat. They will be staying until Sunday morning when their school buses will pick them up to take them to their various special education schools. 

Some are ready in their Shabbat best, playing and swinging in the courtyard; others are being helped to shower and dress. Excitement is in the air.

Two of the children are emergency cases referred by the city agencies yesterday. One, a girl of 8 with Down Syndrome whose mother is critically ill and hospitalized, the other a 15-year-old boy with Down whose mother passed away one year ago, and whose older sister with whom he now lives is expecting a baby this weekend and cannot cope.

Even when the temperature does drop, it remains very warm at Shalva.

                                                                Kalman

Our donation was used for the “Me and My Mommy” program and other activities. Me and My Mommy is designed to provide mothers of disabled newborns and young toddlers with a weekly program at Shalva. The program includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy for the child and offers support and advice to the mothers as they face the difficulties that come with raising a child with special needs.

A must place to visit when in Jerusalem.

[Kalman and Malky Samuels, c/o Shalva, POB 35199, Jerusalem (street address: Evan Denan St. 6), phone: 02-651-9555, fax: 02-653-5787, cellphone: 051-SHALVA (742-582), mailto:kalman@shalva.org, http://www.shalva.org/. Tax-exempt contributions: American Friends of Shalva, 1170 Broadway, #806, New York, NY 10001, 212-921-8947, fax: 718-692-1233.]

B. Housing for Disabled Individuals ($15,500)*

We were very excited when we learned about the efforts of Miriam Freier, a Jerusalem-based woman who has been working tirelessly for many years on behalf of disabled people in Israel. Shalhevet was founded six years ago with the goal of providing housing for disabled individuals who had been institutionalized but wanted to live independently. Since that time, Mrs. Freier has been successful in providing a warm, caring environment which includes not only housing but special trips, Passover Seders, computer lessons, a special van for transportation and many more services.

Shalhevet means “flame” — a wonderful name with many apropos connotations for this beautiful project.

Most of our donation was recommended by a US-based foundation and donated to allow some physical modifications to the new apartments Shalhevet provides for its residents. Other funds have been designated for the group’s Passover Seder.

[Shalhevet-Housing for the Handicapped, Miriam Freier, Chel Nashim 5, Jerusalem, 93320, Israel, phone/fax: 972-2-563-1604]

C. Hadassah Levi’s “Kids” ($2,250)

Hadassah’s “kids” are kids no more.

Through our reports and through visits by many teen-agers and other visitors over the years, her story has become well known. Years ago, Hadassah was responsible for rescuing more than 40 babies with Down Syndrome who had been abandoned by their parents in Israeli hospitals. With love, caring and an innate sense of what was right for these special children, Hadassah raised them to be productive, working members of Israeli society. Today, “Hadassah’s Kids” are grown, and many live in group homes. Though she is no longer responsible for their daily wellbeing, she provides them with many “extras,” be it birthday and holiday presents or new clothing or…the “necessities” of young men and women in Israeli society — CD players, cameras, and similar items.

[Hadassah Levi, 26 Arnon St., Ma’alay Shomron, Israel, phone: 09-792-9265, cellphone: 09-767-1825, fax: 09-792-0327. Contributions made payable to “Ma’on LaTinok.” Hadassah is not officially associated with The Swedish Village/Jerusalem Elwyn.]

D. Abilities ($500)

Etgarim (“Challenges”) offers thrilling sports opportunities such as parasailing, water skiing, sailing, and bicycling for adults and young people with disabilities. In recent years, they have made many important inroads in providing programs for children with disabilities in the Israeli school systems. Our good friend, Nahum Prital, is one of the founders of Etgarim, and we are constantly dazzled by his stories — only to be matched by watching Etgarim’s activities on site visits to the programs.

Ziv’s contribution has provided much-needed scholarships allowing more individuals to participate in their programs.

[Etgarim, 7 Ravnitzky Street, Tel Aviv, mailing address: POB 53169, Tel Aviv, 61531, 03-561-3585, fax: 972-03-561-3586, mailto:etgarim@etgarim.org, http://www.etgarim.org/. Nahum’s e-mail: humip@etgarim.org.]

E. The Wild Is Calling ($750)

Greg Lais’ project, Wilderness Inquiry, provides exciting outdoor adventures in remote and beautiful areas of the natural world for both disabled and able-bodied people. Their awesome trips challenge the participants no matter what their abilities. Our contribution was used for scholarships.

[Wilderness Inquiry, 808 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis, MN  55414, Attn: Mike Miller, phone: 612-676-9433 V/TTY/TDD, fax: 676-9401, mailto:info@wildernessinquiry.org, www.wildernessinquiry.org.]

F. Learning Differently: It’s All About Talents, Not About Disabilities ($224.38)

Samantha Abeel can’t tell time, and can’t do anything else with numbers beyond the most elementary operations.  The technical name for her disability is “dyscalculia,” and it affects her life daily. The astounding thing is this: she is an exceptional poet, and her book, Reach for the Moon, tells her story in her own words, as well as those of her parents and teachers. It is a standard resource for educators and others working with people with various learning disabilities (“LD” – which Samantha says means “learns differently”). Last year Scholastic Publishers assumed publication of the book. There is also a video of Samantha teaching and talking about her life and her work. Check your local bookstores, or contact Scholastic, Inc. at 800-242-7737. 

The manuscript of her second book — a more straightforward biography of her personal struggles and triumphs — is now at Scholastic, to be published in the coming year.

Samantha is also available to speak to audiences interested in learning disabilities and their impact on the individual and society. For information about speaking engagements, contact Betsy Abeel (Samantha’s mother), 231-947-2058.

We have purchased copies of Reach for the Moon and make them available to individuals and schools where the book’s lessons will be meaningful.

G. A Fine Place to Get Together, to Schmooze, and to Enjoy Life ($250)*

Gvanim is an urban Kibbutz, an association of young Israelis who have committed themselves in a city setting and without agricultural ties, to a Kibbutz-type of arrangement of collective work and financial sharing. What is particularly striking about Gvanim’s work is that they nurture, advise, and develop an astonishing variety and range of Mitzvah projects covering many aspects of need in the community.  We chose to fund one of their many programs — Kafe Keshet —a coffee shop run by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. Our Tzedakah money was used to purchase dishes for the coffee shop. Gvanim has achieved considerable acclaim for all of its work, including its prize-winning puppet show for children. What is particularly exciting about this project is that the puppeteers are individuals recovering from mental and emotional difficulties. 

The idealism of these young Israelis is uplifting, heartwarming, and just plain beautiful to observe.

[Gvanim Association for Education and Community Involvement, Attn: Gali Bessudo, Hashaked 5, POB 346 , Sderot  87013 Israel, 08-662-1333, fax: 689-2638, mailto:gali@migvan.co.il, www.gvanim.org.il.]