By Batya Rosner
Hands on experience at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona
Some of life’s most important moments occur when you take someone’s hand and begin your journey together. Many toddlers take their first steps hand in hand with a parent. Newlyweds start their lives together, literally or figuratively, hand in hand. Hebrew for hand in hand, Yad B’Yad (YBY) is one of Yachad’s most popular summer programs. This groundbreaking program brings typical high school students together with Yachad members for a four-week Israel experience.
Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad, shared with parents: “In a world of sound bites and Instagram, it’s hard to grapple with what you experience here. Yad B’Yad is an opportunity for young people to come together, to learn together, to learn from one another. This is an opportunity for those who are quieter to find a voice and speak up. The youngsters learn not just about inclusion, but also to appreciate that we all have challenges just as we all have gifts. It’s all about perspective.”
For the first time, this past summer, YBY created a second trip to accommodate the growing number of applicants. “Registration for Yachad summer programs generally opens in late October and by early winter YBY tends to be full,” noted Rebecca Schrag, MSW, director of Yad B’Yad programs and Yachad coordinator of high school programming. Rebecca leads one bus, while the other is under the leadership of Ron Hirschhorn, program director of Junior Yachad.
Jacob Shamash, of Deal, NJ, a second year YBY counselor together with his brother Saul explained, “One of the primary reasons I come back to YBY is because of the attitudes and values the program instills; inclusion should be the goal for everyone. As a college student, I miss seeing inclusion on my campus. I love being recharged and bringing the message back with me.”
Tami Drapkin of Skokie, Illinois, whose son Eitan was a first time participant wrote, “I find myself amazed over and over again at how well the program runs; if I’m feeling so grateful for this program, I can only imagine how the participants feel.”
The trips in summer 2014 were to the West Coast due to the unrest in Israel.
The Spirit Out West
From San Francisco to Las Vegas, Phoenix to San Diego and Los Angles, Yachad teens from across the United States experienced America this past summer.
High school student Abby Stiefel of Teaneck, NJ said, “I feel that in every activity we had everyone was included in different ways, and our group got closer every day. It’s the people who matter.”
The YBY groups visited famous attractions including Disneyland, Warner Brothers’ Studios, the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance, Hoover Dam and the San Diego Zoo. Participants went tubing in Arizona’s Salt River; took jeep rides through Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon; visited Sunset Crater, a dormant volcano; and held a kumzitz (sing-along) at the Grand Canyon. They rode the Palm Springs Tramway and held a scavenger hunt at Newport Beach in California. They experienced Shabbat in Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
“I had so much fun on Yad B’Yad. One of my favorite experiences was horseback riding,” Ted Cohen, of Monsey, NY, a returning Yachad member enthused.
But more important than where they went and what they did, every activity was inclusive. Weekly emails were sent out to parents with various highlights contributed by participants.
Participant Merrill Brenner of Los Angeles wrote, “on YBY, we learn when to lead, and when to step back and allow others to showcase their abilities and talents. This style of leadership is what identifies Yachad and Yad B’Yad as a one-of-a-kind organization. For me, this was by far one of my most meaningful lessons. YBY trips emphasize growing as an individual and using these skills to become a better leader.”
Yad B’Yad participants on a train ride through Calico Ghost Town, an Old West mining town in California
Dr. Lichtman joined the YBY groups as he does every year. On another conference call with parents he emphasized that, “Yachad is blessed with amazing staff. Rebecca and Ron, our young professionals leading each trip, are amazing; they are highly competent, and do a wonderful job. They not only take care of participants but also supervise and mentor staff and support and facilitate growth as a group.”
Pamela Shuman, of Milford, MA (outside of Boston), whose daughter Jessica was a new Yachad member on the program, agreed. “The level of care and love that was given to Jessica was incredible and to be able to see our daughter smile and feel like part of a group is all that any parent wants,” she said.
Dr. Lichtman ended the call by saying, “When your children come home, hopefully you will see how much they have been positively affected. Ask them about the experience — not just where they went, but what moved them? What did they learn? I think you’ll be amazed at how much they will have grown over the past few weeks.”
A Change of Plans
When events in Israel last summer rerouted the 190 Yad B’Yad participants to the West Coast, the message was loud and clear that inclusion and friendship know no borders. In one week, Yachad’s remarkable staff was able to accomplish what normally takes months of planning.
As rockets continued to be launched toward central and southern Israel, and ground forces entered Gaza, Dr. Lichtman, together with the top professional and lay leadership of Yachad and the Orthodox Union, reluctantly agreed that the program would not be able to continue with its original plans to tour the Holy Land.
“Yad B’Yad is much more than an itinerary — Yad B’Yad really could take place anywhere. We wanted it to be in Israel, we prayed for that, but it wasn’t meant to be,” noted Dr. Lichtman, on a conference call to YBY parents.
Ron Hirschhorn points out, “this is a barrier-breaking trip and a leadership program for teens. Every participant walks out with 100 friends. It’s the people who make the program. Inclusion is not a place or a trip, it is a mindset and an attitude.”
To accommodate all physical needs of participants across Israel, inclusive activities had been mapped out and reserved months and weeks in advance. A mass effort was launched by the entire Yachad staff to figure out how to make alternate arrangements. Could tickets still be booked? Where could wheelchair-accessible buses be found? Who could cater the food? What options were available during the Three Weeks, the Nine Days and Tisha B’Av? Every bit of manpower from top leadership to interns was vital to make Yad B’Yad 2014 a success. Some planned the Shabbatonim, others oversaw the daily itineraries, others were in charge of researching activities, hotels, etc.
Challenges definitely existed. In the summer especially, the West Coast is a popular destination for conventions, concerts, and general vacations, so finding hotels that could accommodate 45 rooms, along with space to eat and daven wasn’t a simple matter. Bus drivers are only able to drive 12 hours a day and be on call 14 hours a day. Each bus also needed to be equipped with a sefer Torah, to be used for daily prayers and Shabbat.
A conference call was held with parents explaining the decision and how the YBY program was scheduled to proceed. Yachad offered a full refund to any participant who wished to opt out; not one did.
“All the planning in the world could not have foretold the ominous situation that Israel would have to endure,” noted Michelle Sitzer, of Brooklyn, NY, whose son Akiva attended YBY 2014. “Yet Yachad rose to the occasion and organized a magnificent trip — an amazing experience that my son will treasure forever.”
In one week, Yachad staff rearranged the entire itinerary for a four-week inclusive touring experience of the West Coast — and a good time was had by all.
Batya Rosner is a staff writer at the Orthodox Union.
This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.