Picture this: You’re an 18-year-old American studying in a seminary or yeshiva in Israel. It’s a new experience for you to spend an entire year away from your family and sometimes you’re a bit overwhelmed by unfamiliar surroundings. But then, walking down a street, you see a flyer for a Yachad Shabbaton. Yachad! You know Yachad; you loved Yachad Shabbatonim in high school. You loved having a Yachad program in your camp. But Yachad in Israel? You rush back to sign up for the Shabbaton, but you’re too late.
The Shabbaton is already sold out. That’s what happened at Yachad Israel’s last Shabbaton held in Ra’anana — sold out within ten hours, a testament to Yachad Israel’s success. “We had to close registration because we quickly had 94 people registered,” explains Yoel Sterman, Yachad Israel co-director.
While Yachad is well known throughout the United States — promoting its mission of inclusion for individuals with special needs in dozens of Jewish communities across the continent – Yachad Israel is relatively new. It was officially launched at the end of 2012.
The development of Yachad Israel was organic, says Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad. “We had wanted to start a chapter in Israel years ago, but just as we were gearing up to begin, the Intifada started and our plans had to be shelved until a better time. Later, following our initial success with Team Yachad’s participation in the Miami Marathon, I had this idea that we could use the Jerusalem Marathon as a foundation to start a chapter in Israel.” When Team Yachad announced its participation in the Jerusalem Marathon, more than 110 runners rushed to sign up. Since then, 215 ran in 2013, and 252 in 2014. With the funds raised from the Jerusalem Marathon, Yachad Israel was founded under the direction of Joe Goldfarb, director of Yachad Summer Programs, with Lisa (Rich) Galinsky and Yoel Sterman as Yachad Israel’s co-directors.
Team Yachad runners celebrate their completion of a Color Run
Part of the need for Yachad Israel came from the structure of services available for the special needs population in Israel, according to Joe, who now directs Yachad Israel along with Yachad Summer Programs. “Israel has some special needs services, but little that directly promotes inclusion,” he says. “There is a vacuum in those services for English-speaking people who made Aliyah.”
The first inclusive program was a Chanukah party, followed by weekly events and four Shabbatonim that year. Yachad Israel quickly realized the tremendous value and popularity of Shabbatonim: monthly Shabbatonim were quickly introduced alongside the weekly events such as “Pizza and Parshah” and bowling.
To design programs, Yachad Israel recruited two boards, made up entirely of young men and women spending the year in Israel; the leadership board composed of four members; and a larger board that has representatives from major seminaries and yeshivot.
Akiva Marder, 19, a student at Yeshivat Har Etzion, was active in Yachad during high school and in Camp Moshava. He serves as co-president of Yachad Israel along with Racheli Weil, a student at Nishmat.
“I think our message of inclusion is one of utmost importance. It’s both exciting and meaningful to see that message come to fruition and watch it spread here in Israel,” Akiva says.
Among their other activities this year, Yachad Israel participated in the Jerusalem Color Run with more than 800 runners. Enthusiasm for Team Yachad during the Jerusalem Marathon increases each year, with our largest group to date running this year.
“Today Yachad Israel is a fast-growing chapter, providing unique programs and services of inclusion, and responding to unmet needs,” says Dr. Lichtman.
Having Yachad established in Israel was a dream fulfilled for families with special needs members. “Parents of Yachad members are thrilled,” explains Lisa. “Yachad gives individuals an opportunity to feel like anyone else. Yachad Israel is a warm, supportive home where members are able to gain lasting friendships, which is the most important thing.”
For more information about Yachad Israel contact Lisa Galinsky or Yoel Sterman at yachadisrael@ou.org.
Michael Orbach is a staff writer at the Orthodox Union.
This is an article from Belong Magazine 2014. For more information, or to receive your own copy contact belong@ou.org