I am pleased to send the newsletter of the association, reviewing the last month. I will appreciate to get your feedback.
Happy and kosher pesach Mendi
Operation Purim has been successfully completed!
Thousands of Purim baskets were distributed to children with special needs across Israel and brought them the holiday atmosphere. The baskets contained books, games, and lots of sweets, donated by dozens of companies in Israel.
At the top of the headlines – ChaiEl’s Bar Mitzvah
The emotional Bar-Mitzvah celebration we organized for ChaiEl Elimelech from Tirat HaCarmel, went viral in the media and across the social networks, and touched millions of people. The Israeli news website YNET.CO.IL chose to run the story at the top of their news headlines.
A moving Purim Party for Scholarship Recipients
The students and special children in the “Aharon Scholarship” program, will not soon forget the exciting Purim party we organized for them in cooperation with the Rishon LeZion mayor’s office several days before Purim.
Mother’s Vacation at the Haifa Hostel
It has become a tradition: every couple of months we organize a Sabbath of quiet and relaxation for the mothers of special children. And the emotional responses leave no doubt as to the need for this project.
Bar-Mitzvah for three Autistic Children
This month we celebrated the Bar-Mitzvah for three youths with autism, who surprised everyone and cooperated beyond all expectations. For one of them it was necessary to give him a warm up of jumping and dancing before the “Aliya to the Torah”.
The Picture of the Month
Hapoel Eilat Basketball players Afik Nissim and Regi Backner came to visit their huge fan, Netanel Ochaion, a participant of “Special in Uniform” program at the Eilat Israel Navy base. They came together with all the other team players.
Special in uniform news
An IDF Swearing-In Ceremony – The first of its kind
On the Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem an IDF Swearing-In ceremony was conducted for 11 young soldiers with special needs of the “Special in Uniform” program. They serve at the Home Front Command base in Ramla. The reporter of Israel TV Channel-1 reported from there and let thousands of viewers share the touching event.
The Prime Minister is proud of “Special in Uniform”
An emotional Air Force Beret Ceremony at Tel Nof
A moving ceremony of receiving the IDF Air Force Beret took place at the Tel Nof air-base for soldiers in the new unit of “Special in Uniform”. This unit is sponsored by the Rotstein Inc. real estate company. I highly recommend you to watch the moving video clip of the event.
The Queen’s New Wardrobe
All week long, Vera Ravitz (29), from Netivot, waits for Wednesday to come.
On Wednesdays, she goes to the IDF airbase at Hatzerim. There, she volunteers to serve like any regular soldier. Vera is participating in the project “Special in Uniform” of the “Yad LaYeled Hameyuchad“, which is an initiative that integrates young people with special needs into the IDF.
Yesterday Vera was surprised to receive the Air Force military overall, tailored to her size, and with her name on it. In the picture above, we see Vera with her coach, A., a senior officer in the wing. It was he who arranged for her to get the same uniform as all other crew-members so that she can feel equal among equals.
When she came back to the “Maon Hashlosha” Hostel, where she lives, she could not stop telling everybody about the new uniform which she received. Miri Amar, the hostel director, told us: “The opportunity to go out of the hostel, and to be in another environment where there are soldiers, causes her a great deal of excitement.
Receiving the overall, is a very significant experience for her. All week she waits for the day on which she volunteers at the Air Force base. And the uniform she got was a highlight for her.“
Light unto the Nations
The Israel Embassy in the USA is proud of the “Special in Uniform” program and its Swearing-In Ceremony on the Ammunition Hill.