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ISRAEL'S PRESIDENT REUVEN ROBI RIVLIN HONORS YAD LALYELED HAMEYUCHAD

On March 18, 2015 President Rivlin honored the Maraton participants from the Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad –

"Lend a Hand to the Special Child" – who participated in the Jerusalem Marathon.

On October 31st, 2011 Israel's PM Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu honored disabled Children during theirSukkot (Pentecost) pilgrimage to Jerusalem which was organised by the association Director Rabbi Mendi Belinitzki who gave the PM the 4 Minim from Kfar Chabbad.

In the video we see PM Netanyahu with the kids with the 4 Minim (the 4 Species): The Lulav, of a closed frond of a date Palm (symbol of Josef), 2 mirtle branches (reminding of Mose and Ahron), 3willow branches (for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) and the Etrog (a citron) standing for David.

The "Special Children" were grateful for the unique human gesture of the PM of the State of Israelreceiving them. PM Netanyahu expressed his best wishes for the new year, "Shana Tova", and explained to the "Special Children" that the 4 Minim represent all groups of the people of Israel. When all stick together, the nation becomes strong. The kids returned their best wishes to the PM and were filled with joy by the warm embracing reception by Mr. Netanyahu.

The PM congratulated the Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad association and the donors for their helpful contribution to the needy in the israeli society.

On December 17th, 2014 Defense Minister Moshe Bogi Yaalon honored with a reception the delegation of volunteer soldiers serving in the project "Special in Uniform" of the association Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad – "Lend a Hand to the Special Child" – in cooperation with the IDF. Minister Yaalon embraced the "Special soldiers", thanked them for their unique effort and congratulated them for their contribution to the IDF and the israeli society.

Together with Rabbi Mendi Belinizki, the association Director, the second candle (out of the 8) of theChanukka Holiday was lit in the Chanukiah, the 9-branched candlestick. A "Special Soldier" sang the Blessing and then all were singing together the famous Chanukka song "MaozTzur Yeshuati". As you see in the fotos below, everybody was happy and deeply moved by the event which gave the "Special Soldiers" an unforgettable and highly motivatig experience.

2015 – Defense Minister Moshe Bogi Yaalon visited the Homeland Security Base where voluteering "Special in Uniform" Soldiers are contributing in the logistics of packaging the gas masks. Minister Yaalon heard from General Eyal Eisenberg, Chief of the Homeland Security Command about the project "Special in Uniform" of Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad. Yaalon appreciated the contribution of the "Special in Uniform" soldiers and their sharing the burden of Israel's security.

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a very meaningful mile-stone in a person’s life. The “Yad LaYeled Hameyuchad” (Land a Hand to the Special Child) association created a unique platform providing every boy and girl with special needs who reaches the “Mitzvah-Age” all the arrangements of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebration with family members and friends. Each such event is very exciting and emotional for the families and brings endless joy to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrants. The Bar Mitzvah boys are called “Chatan haBar Mitzvah” (a Bar Mitzvah Groom). The Bar Mitzvah girl is a “Kalat haBar Mitzvah” (a Bar Mitzvah Bride).

The project is available to young people with physical disabilities as well as complex mental difficulties. The service is provided even to people with severe degree of disabilities. Everyone receives a full-fledged ceremonial celebration generating genuine joy and happiness.

Priority is given to families where the parents would not be able to facilitate such events on their own.

For Bar Mitzvah grooms the special team of “Yad LaYeled Hameyuchad” offers the option of a ceremony with “Aliya” (Ascendance to read from the Torah scroll) at the Kotel (Wailing Wall). For Bar Mitzvah brides, a joyful party with well-known artists and guest singers is offered. Our team tries to provide creative individual solutions suitable to each person and to each family, in order to overcome the obstacles of disabilities and/or resources. So far, the association arranged dozens of such Bar/ Bat Mitzvah celebration ceremonies all over Israel. See on other page also Bar Mitzvah trip to Masada.

The Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad, "Lend a Hand to the Special Child", association was established in 2004 by a group of parents of children with special needs who believed that by joining forces they can provide their children with the tools necessary for dealing with their difficulties and disabilities so that their children may achieve growth, quality of life and happiness as much as possible and be integrated in the family and in society.

Over the years, we developed progressive, qualitative services and projects for children and youths with various disabilities, all this thanks to an array of thousands of volunteers countrywide.

We believe that a full partnership in the community coupled with a better quality of life promotes the independence of persons with disabilities and their integration in society.

Based on this concept, we act to integrate hundreds of young people with special needs in the IDF under the Special in Uniform Project. This is the greatest gift for these youngsters that leads them to an independent life with minimal dependence on family and community.

Thousands of families in Israel, from all walks of life, enjoy the variety of services Yad LaYeled HaMeyuchad offers thanks to the volunteers, private donors and charities.

We are present each and every day to fulfill the dreams of the association’s founders and to prove that a special child in the family, as challenging as it may be, is also an opportunity for empowerment of the entire family and of society in general.