Page 25 - Jewish News_February-2021

ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD February 2021 25A

A new path for people with disabilities

By Benjamin Rosenberg
ynne Merriam has been a hopes and dreams.” much to them to see their child, who $1 million match February funding
staunch supporter of the dis- Yossi Kahana, director of the JNF- they thought would never have an op- challenge for its work in Disabilities
Labled community ever since her USA’s task force on disabilities, said portunity to belong and be part of this, & Special Needs. To support Special
son was born. children and teenagers in Israel look to now be a part of it.” in Uniform and ensure no Israeli is
Merriam is a Jewish National forward to entering the service after The month of February marks left behind, visit jnf.org/disabilities or
Fund-USA (JNF-USA) World Chair- high school. However, Israelis with Jewish Disability, Awareness, Accep- contact JNF-USA Western Florida Di-
man’s Council member and the pres- disabilities are not always able to tance and Inclusion Month (JDAAIM), rector, Joshua Mellits, at 941.462.1330
ident of JNF-USA in North Florida. serve. By helping Israelis with disabil- and JNF-USA is proud to announce a x865 or jmellits@jnf.org.
Her son, Rod Keskiner, was critically ities enter the IDF, Special in Uniform
injured at birth and diagnosed with ce- can help boost their self-esteem and
rebral palsy. He is non-speaking and give them confidence as they enter
writes only with great difficulty, but adulthood.
still surmounted all of his deficits and JNF-USA funds and trains the sup-
graduated from college. port staff for the program. The support
Keskiner was also a member of staff goes through six months of train-
JNF-USA’s affiliate, Special in Uni- ing before they begin working with
form, and was an honorary inductee Special in Uniform participants.
into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “It’s very rare that a blind person
Special in Uniform, a program unique will get to the army,” Kahana said.

Market expertise.
JNF-USA World Chairman’s Council Member Lynne Merriam plants a tree in Israel
with members of Special in Uniform (photo courtesy of JNF-USA)
to Israel although currently being rep- “Yet, Daniel Defur wants to be like ev- Concierge service.
licated in the U.S., enables people with erybody else. The army was convinced
physical and mental disabilities to that Daniel had this potential, and he
serve and volunteer in the IDF. fulfilled his dream. This is a break- “We were so lucky to get Rob Krasow as our agent. He was so professional,
“He had an induction in Israel through because from now on, many helpful, and supportive even during stressful times. We would recommend
and he has a uniform,” Merriam said. soldiers with sight impairment will fol- Rob in a heartbeat.” – Karen P.
“When we go to Israel, he goes to the low Daniel’s inspiration and also will
base, and he feels very much a part of apply to the army.”
it.” Merriam said JNF-USA helps max-
Special in Uniform achieved an imize her philanthropic impact. And al- HABLO ESPAÑOL
Rabbi Barbara Aiello’s most popular important milestone in 2020 when though the Coronavirus pandemic has MOBILE 941.363.6507

columns are now published in her new Daniel Defur became the first blind made it harder for her to connect with OFFICE 941.349.3444
male inducted into the IDF. Defur be-
the organization’s partners, she knows
RobertKrasow@michaelsaunders.com
book, Aging Jewishly, available on gan going blind just after becoming a that better days are ahead. RobertKrasow.michaelsaunders.com 5100 Ocean Blvd | Sarasota, FL 34242
According to Merriam, many
Bar Mitzvah at 13 and had fully lost
Amazon. It makes a great gift! his sight by age 15. Yet he completed Americans find it hard to understand
Special in Uniform’s two-year volun- how big a part of Israeli society and
teer training program, becoming a ful- culture the IDF is. Some young adults
ly-fledged IDF soldier last July. choose to do other forms of national
“It is always harder to lose an service, however, more than 90% of
ability than be born without an abili- 18-year-old Israelis go into the IDF.
ty,” Merriam said. “But he has adapted “It molds the rest of their lives,”
very well. Daniel is very bright and he Merriam said. “For people who were
does speak English beautifully, so he’s disabled and just told, ‘you can’t do
a wonderful spokesman for the pro- this,’ it was very sad. If you go to these
gram. To have him become a soldier inductions and you see the parents,
was the culmination of everybody’s they’re all crying. It means so very

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