Thursday: Southern Exposure

Southern Exposure

We arrived late Wednesday night in Tel Aviv. Of course the rational thing to do would be to go directly to sleep. But -- of course -- I didn't. Instead I took a quick shower and met Lauren, my oldest daughter's friend and day school classmate, for a drink. She happened to be in Israel for a Jewish National Fund social media committee trip and we overlapped in Tel Aviv. So once again, sleep was becoming elusive.

Thursday was another day packed with important site visits. But first we had a briefing from Udi Sommer, a professor of political science from Tel Aviv University, specializing in American and comparative politics and political methodology. 

He spoke about U.S. - Israel relations, framing the presentation by acknowledging three tectonic shifts in recent years: First, the U.S. is becoming less and less dependent on foreign oil. Second, international relations are shifting due to the Arab Spring. And third is the deal with Iran that was just signed by the P5 +1. He spoke about paradigm shifts in Middle East conflicts: the rise of power of non-state actors (e.g., ISIS); the ongoing power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran; extremists v. moderates; Sunnis v. Shiites. After an overview of Israeli politics and some history of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict through Operation Protective Edge, Udi focused on Iran, the Iran deal, and U.S. - Israeli relations. It was entertaining, thought provoking and informative to be sure.

We then boarded the buses and headed south. This leg of the mission was to learn about how the region has fared in the year since Operation Protective Edge. We split into a few different groups so that we could visit a variety of sites. Our bus focused on programs for people with disabilities. 

First stop: the Accessible Health Zone program, which helps people with disabilities embrace a healthy lifestyle.  Think for a moment how difficult it is for people with physical or mental disabilities to go to the gym, exercise, cook healthy meals. This program, funded in part by Federation dollars, empowers people with disabilities to do just that by providing support systems for the disabled; ensuring that health programs and infrastructure for people with disabilities are accessible; and building a leadership network of successful people with disabilities.

Here we met Dror and Ida, two incredibly inspiring individuals. Dror started to go blind as a teenager due to a congenital condition. A high-tech professional, he turned this loss into a personal gain for himself and for others.  Dror was matched with a regular (sighted) running partner; he now runs frequently, and has gone on to hike the Israel Trail which traverses the entire country north to south, and has even done a ½ Iron Man! Now a peer facilitator, Dror conducts workshops encouraging other disabled people to embrace a healthier lifestyle and follow his example.

Paralyzed as a result of a spinal injury, Ida works for the Ministry of Welfare, which partners with the Accessible Health Zone. During a physically and emotionally difficult rehab period which lasted a year, Ida became clinically depressed and would not leave the house. She had difficulty coming to terms with the fact that life around her continued without her. A counselor put her in touch with the Accessible Health Zone. Not only did she learn how to become more independent, but eventually, understanding that her accident affected not only her but also her husband and children, she created a support group for disabled mothers. She went on to make her local beach Wheelchair accessible so that she could take her children out. Ida is such a powerhouse that she is credited for making Ashkelon one of the most accessible city in all of Israel.

Our next stop was at the Center for Independent Living, where we met another inspiring woman. Dalia, a Moroccan Israeli who, despite her own physical disability, helps residents of Be'er Sheva gain the skills and create the community necessary to live independently. Her disabilities do not define her; rather they motivate her to help others feel included and empowered.

The Center has a wonderful restaurant called Inca, where we ate lunch. All of the employees have disabilities. 

Dalia is known in Be'er Sheva as the go-to person for any questions or concerns about the disabled and works tirelessly to see that they lives lives with dignity and respect. Remember that Be'er Sheva is not too far from Gaza. During the war last year residents would have 90 seconds to find shelter once the sirens went off. This, as you might imagine, would be extremely stressful for an able-bodied person. But imagine how difficult it was for Dalia, Dror, Ida and the people they work with and care about. These three are true heroes and are models of resiliency and strength for others.

After lunch we continued our site visits meeting two young adults who work in a Youth Village, where at-risk teens go to school, live and receive support services. The young interns are there as part of the Onward program, which is a post-Birthright program that lasts for 6-10 weeks. The Federation, through the Jewish Agency, provides partial funding to bring college-age Americans to see "real" Israel through a different lens. Although there are a variety of Onward programs, the one we saw was a service learning opportunity aimed at deepening the participants' understanding of contemporary Israel.

And then we went Onward ourselves...onward to kibbutz Kfar Azza, where we heard from a soldier who participated in Operation Protective Edge. He gave a heart rending account of his experiences, from the beginning search for the three Israeli teens who were kidnapped to the difficult and hazardous search for tunnels. He lost a member of his platoon, and another member was severely injured when a tunnel exploded. No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, it is hard not to be moved by the sacrifices that these young men and women have made. 

The theme of the day was to see how our Federation dollars help, both in times of crisis such as during Operation Protective Edge, and to support and sustain Israelis who need assistance. It is important to emphasize that the programs we visited are not exclusively for Jewish clients. The three centers serve Arabs, Christians and Jews in need. 

And finally, we gathered at the kibbutz for dinner and then a night of Israeli dancing.