{"id":37230,"date":"2014-08-12T16:43:08","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T16:43:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/?p=37230"},"modified":"2014-08-12T16:44:45","modified_gmt":"2014-08-12T16:44:45","slug":"yadbyad2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/life\/inspiration\/yadbyad2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Yad B\u2019Yad 2014: Inclusion and Friendship Know No Borders"},"content":{"rendered":"

In one week, the staff of Yachad was able to accomplish what normally takes months of planning. When recent events in Israel rerouted summer plans to the West Coast for 190 Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> participants, the message was loud and clear that inclusion and friendship know no borders.<\/p>\n

Hebrew for \u201chand in hand,\u201d Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> (YBY) is one of Yachad\u2019s most popular summer programs, which brings typical high school students together with Yachad members for a four-week Israel experience.<\/p>\n

\"YBY<\/a>
YBY Bus #1 hiking the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in California.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cYad B\u2019Yad<\/em> is much more than an itinerary–Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> really could take place anywhere. We wanted it to be in Israel, we prayed for that, but it wasn\u2019t meant to be,\u201d noted Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad, on a conference call to YBY parents.<\/p>\n

Yachad\/the National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD), the flagship agency of the Orthodox Union, provides unique social, educational and recreational programs for individuals with learning, developmental and physical disabilities. Its goal is to promote their inclusion in the life of the Jewish community.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a world of sound bites and Instagram, it\u2019s hard to grapple with what\u00a0you experience here,\u201d Dr. Lichtman shared with parents. \u201cYoung individuals who think one way come into contact with others who think another way.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard for some to hear differently. And during these weeks together, we see them coming out of themselves, growing. Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> is an opportunity for young people to come together, to learn together, to learn from one another; an opportunity for those who are quieter to find a voice and speak up. They learn not just about inclusion, but also just appreciating that we all have challenges just as we all have gifts. It\u2019s all about perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first year, YBY created a second trip to accommodate the growing demand of interest. Registration for Yachad summer programs generally opens in late October and by early winter YBY tends to be filled up, noted Rebecca Schrag, MSW, director of Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n

To accommodate all physical needs of participants across Israel, inclusive activities are mapped out and reserved months and weeks in advance. The second trip was scheduled to leave a week after the first, with participants overlapping at various points but keeping each experience on their own itinerary.<\/p>\n

Change of Plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> begins with an orientation and sensitivity training for the mainstream high school students to better understand the point of the trip and how to better understand the Yachad members; the entire group spends a Shabbat together to bond as a group before flying to their final destination. As orientation began for the first bus in early July, rocket fire in Israel began to escalate. At first Yachad staff chose to reschedule the flight dates to Israel, hoping the hostilities would quickly quiet down. \u00a0Staff coordinated alternate plans for YBY participants to tour the greater New England area, with the hopes of flying to Israel a few days later.<\/p>\n

\"YBY<\/a>
YBY Bus #2 at Red Rock Canyon in Nevada.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As rockets continued to be launched toward central and southern parts of Israel, and ground forces entered Gaza, Dr. Lichtman, together with top professional and lay leadership of Yachad and Orthodox Union, ruled that the program would not be able to continue with original plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we were certainly concerned for safety issues, YBY is an inclusive touring program and the Israeli touring company didn\u2019t think they could provide four weeks\u2019 worth of activities to do up north,\u201d noted Nechama Braun, administrator of Yachad summer programs. \u201cYad B\u2019Yad<\/em> is not a \u2018sitting and learning\u2019 program. Plus, the northern part of the country was quickly inundated with every other youth program in Israel at the time, in addition to Israeli senior citizens and recent olim<\/em>. We wanted to still give our participants a top-quality experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

A mass effort was launched by all Yachad staff to figure out what to do in order to make alternate arrangements. \u00a0Could tickets still be booked? Where could wheelchair accessible buses be found? Who could cater food? What options were available during the Three Weeks, the Nine Days and Tisha B\u2019Av? \u00a0Every bit of manpower at Yachad, from top leadership to interns, was vital to make Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em> 2014 successful. Some planned the Shabbatons, others oversaw the daily itineraries, others were in charge of researching activities, hotels, etc.<\/p>\n

\"Outside<\/a>
Outside the NewYorkNewYork Hotel in Las Vegas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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<\/em> wasn\u2019t a simple matter. Bus drivers are only able to drive 12 hours a day and be on call 14 hours a day.\u00a0 Each bus needed a sefer Torah<\/em> to travel with, to be used for daily minyanim<\/em> and Shabbat.<\/p>\n

With YBY bus two program due to begin, the Israel option was officially aborted and switched to the West Coast.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the planning in the world could not have foretold the ominous situation that Israel would have to endure this summer,\u201d noted Michelle Sitzer, of Brooklyn, whose son Akiva attended YBY 2014. \u201cYet Yachad rose to the occasion and organized a magnificent trip, an amazing experience that my son will treasure forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the primary reasons I come back to YBY is because of the attitudes and values the program instills,\u201d shared Jacob Shamash, of Deal, NJ, and a second year YBY counselor together with his brother Saul. \u201cInclusion should be the goal for everyone. As a college student, I lack seeing inclusion on my campus. I love being recharged and bringing it back with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

In one week, Yachad staff rearranged the entire itinerary for a four week inclusive touring experience of the West Coast.<\/p>\n

The Spirit Out West<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A hands-on experience at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From San Francisco to Las Vegas, Phoenix to San Diego and Los Angles, teens from across the United States have been experiencing America.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel that every activity we do everyone is included in different ways, and our group is getting close every day,\u201d shared high schooler Abby Stiefel of Teaneck, NJ. \u201cIt\u2019s the people who matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The YBY groups visited famous tourist experiences such as Disneyland, Warner Brothers\u2019 Studios, the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance, Hoover Dam and the San Diego Zoo. Participants went tubing in Arizona\u2019s Salt River; took jeep rides through Nevada\u2019s Red Rock Canyon; visited Sunset Crater, a dormant volcano; and held a kumzitz<\/em> at the Grand Canyon. They rode the Palm Springs Tramway and held a scavenger hunt at Newport Beach in California. They experienced Shabbat in the communities of Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Los Angeles and San Francisco.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m having so much fun on Yad B\u2019Yad<\/em>. One of my favorite experiences has been horseback riding,\u201d said Ted Cohen, of Monsey, NY, a returning Yachad member on the program.<\/p>\n

\"YBY<\/a>
YBY participants on a train ride through Calico Ghost Town,\u00a0an Old West mining town in California.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But more important than where they went and what they did, every activity was inclusive. Weekly emails are sent out to parents with various highlights contributed by participants.<\/p>\n

Participant Merrill Brenner of Los Angeles, recently wrote, \u201cOn 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\u2019Yad<\/em> as a one-of-a kind organization. For me, this was by far one of my most meaningful lessons. Although this YBY trip emphasizes growing as an individual and using these skills to become a better leader, our attention continues to look for opportunities to bring out the best in others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI find myself amazed over and over again at how this program is running, and all at a moment\u2019s notice,\u201d wrote Tami Drapkin of Skokie, whose son Eitan is a first time participant. \u201cIf I’m<\/em> feeling so grateful for this program, I can only imagine how the participants are feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Lichtman recently joined the YBY groups as he does every year. He shared with parents on another conference call, \u201cYachad is blessed with amazing staff,\u201d emphasized Dr. Lichtman. \u201cRebecca and Ron, our young professionals leading each trip, are amazing professionals, highly competent, and doing a wonderful job. Working with all the counselors, they are not just taking care of participants but supporting and facilitating growth as a group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pamela Shuman, of Milford, MA (outside of Boston), whose daughter Jessica is a new Yachad member on the program, agreed. \u201cThe level of care and love that was given to Jessica this past month is incredible and to be able to see Jessica smile and feel like part of a group is all that any parent wants,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lichtman ended the call saying, \u201cWhen your children come home, hopefully you will have time to see how much they have been positively affected. \u00a0Ask them about the experience\u2014not just where they went, but what moved them? What did they learn? I think you\u2019ll be amazed at how much they will have grown over the past few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n