JNF-USA Event to Highlight the IDF’s “Secret Weapon” Transforming Lives of Teens with Disabilities
BOSTON, January 28, 2022 — In recognition of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAAIM) which takes place annually in February, Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) is inviting residents in New England and the Capital Region to participate in a special virtual event highlighting one of its most treasured affiliates in Israel that is paving the way for teens with disabilities to reach their full potential.
On Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 7:00 pm ET, the Director of Special in Uniform, Major. (Res.) Tiran Attia, will virtually join JNF-USA live from Israel to take community members behind the scenes of the revolutionary program that integrates Israeli teenagers with disabilities into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a milestone often considered a rite of passage among Israeli adolescents.
“Special in Uniform makes young individuals with disabilities feel like they belong. They feel the pride of serving their country alongside their able-bodied peers and are recognized for their capabilities, rather than their limitations,” said Rhonda Forman, a member of JNF-USA’s Boston Board of Directors. “In addition, Special in Uniform helps these soldiers with special needs integrate into the workforce and Israeli society in meaningful ways following their service. Seeing them on equal footing with their peers is incredibly inspiring.”
As part of JNF-USA’s focus on improving the quality of life in Israel for all its citizens, the organization is ensuring that no member of Israeli society is left behind. In addition to Special in Uniform, JNF-USA partners with three other affiliates to provide cutting-edge rehabilitative services, special education, and medical care for people with special needs, and makes Israel’s nature trails and recreational facilities inclusive for visitors of all ability levels.
There is no cost to attend this virtual event. To register or if you have questions, visit jnf.org/TransformingLives or contact Dar Nadler at dnadler@jnf.org.
In recognition of JDAAIM, all donations will be matched up to $1 million through February 28, 2022, thanks to a generous anonymous donor from Arizona.
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Media Contact:
Jennifer Milton
561.447.9733 x 875
About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.