Masorti Empowers Israelis with Disabilities

Masorti Israel ensures that children and adults with disabilities are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve in a warm, welcoming Jewish environment. They are counted as an integral part of the minyan in contrast to ultra-Orthodox practices in Israel.

They are helped to pray with the use of iPads and other technological tools. The innovative, award-winning B'chol D'rachecha egalitarian siddur for people with disabilities helps them participate in prayer and study through the engaging use of language and pictographs. This is among the special prayer books that enable teens with special needs to celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs with the entire community.

"Dancing the Hora at a festive Bar or Bat Mitzvah for a teen with disabilities is always a joyous experience," said Ronen Ben-Abraham, director of ADRABA Center for Israelis with Disabilities. He added, "I will never forget the smiles on the faces of family members, many of whom have never heard Mazel Tov prior to their childs Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Masorti supporters help make more of these memorable and inspiring moments happen."

Following its mandate to create a more caring, kind, pluralistic Israel welcoming to all Jewish people, the Masorti Foundation provides people with opportunities to support such life-affirming programs as:

-- Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program for Youth with Disabilities offered by Masorti's Adraba Center for People with Disabilities.

This is Israel's only national Bnai Mitzvah program for children with disabilities. It is tailored to provide each boy and girl with a meaningful, enriching educational experience during the Bar/Bat Mitzvah year. Thanks to this program, thousands of Bnai Mitzvah students in Special Education schools and their families have celebrated this meaningful milestone in Jewish life. This remarkable program includes spiritual care and support services for Bnai Mitzvah as well.

-- Masorti's Avivim - Inclusion of Children & Teens with Disabilities program - enables children with special needs to actively participate in NOAM Youth Movement activities. Avivim participants attend the Ramah-NOAM overnight summer camp that provides children with the opportunity to interact with their peers in a welcoming, egalitarian environment.

Betzavta provides accessible study groups for people with cognitive disabilities. Its heart-warming to see groups effectively grappling with Jewish texts, both ancient and modern. This is made possible by often using music, art and theater to bring Jewish texts alive and make them accessible to students with disabilities.

To address the growing isolation of elderly Israelis with disabilities during the Covid-crisis and its aftermath, Masorti Foundation donors are now supporting the Movement's K'Sharim program (part of the ADRABA Center) that is helping to preserve the cognitive abilities of older adults with Alzheimers and dementia.

** With your help in reaching our $36,000 goal, we will be able to unlock a match to provide $72,000 for Masorti's Adraba and community services. **