With the recently signed ceasefire tempering hostilities between Israel and Hamas, I decided to share some thoughts this week about organizations and experiences in Israel that helped broaden my perspective about Israeli society, its relationship to its neighbors, and hopes for the future.
One of my favorite memories of Israel comes from Ramat Gan, home to the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled (ISCD). For two years, students in our Tel Aviv twinning program journeyed there to meet with members of the Center and compete in wheelchair basketball to get a taste of some of the programs offered at the Center, which provides social and athletic experiences for children of all ages, as well as adults with Paralympic Games aspirations.
Like many nonprofits in Israel, the ISCD showcases Israel’s relentless and enterprising approach to inclusion, one that finds itself expressed through a variety of nonprofits and advocacy efforts designed to make Israel more livable for all its citizens. Few, however, share the long history of the ISCD.
Founded in 1960, the Center just celebrated its 60th anniversary. Wise School students in grades 4-6 support the center through fundraisers, while several B’nai Mitzvah have supported the center through their tikkun olam projects.
— Rabbi Josh Knobel