IsraelCast Episode 109

For the past 73 years, children in Israel have grown up following in the footsteps of their grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends by enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). But for those with disabilities and special needs, the dream of joining the IDF was, for a long time, unattainable. Enter Special in Uniform, an organization close to the heart of Lihi Lapid, author, journalist, and special needs advocate. In this week’s episode of IsraelCast, host Steven Shalowitz speaks to Lihi about how Special in Uniform deeply impacts youth with special needs by giving them a chance to join the IDF, as well as her life as a journalist and photographer.

Lihi Lapid is an author, photographer, journalist, wife, and mother of an autistic child. She has written three novels that were best sellers in Israel: Secrets from Within, Woman of Valor, and I Can’t Always Be Wonderful. Lihi has a son and daughter and lives with her husband, Yair Lapid who is chairman of the Yesh Atid Party, in Tel Aviv.