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In 2004, Dror Cohen won the gold covering thousands of miles from France He’s married to Yafit; they have twin
medal in sailing (Sonar Class) at the to Senegal. daughters, and he speaks to audiences
Athens Paralympic Games, along with around the world, inspiring them
Arnon Efrati and Benny Vexler, two But that’s not all. Dror was one of the (anyone, not just people with physical
disabled IDF veterans. founders of Etgarim (challenges), an
NGO that promotes outdoor sports for limitations) to believe in themselves,
In 2011, they were crowned World the disabled to enhance their physical, to dare, and – most importantly – to
Champions. social and recreational wellbeing. And he treasure those little moments.

Since then, he has become an is also associated with Tikvot (hopes),
accomplished snow skier, water skier, an organization that rehabilitates Israel’s
surfer, diver, rock climber, bungee wounded soldiers and terror victims
jumper, race car driver, basketball and through sports.
tennis player.
And he’s very involved with an Israeli
He even became the first-ever disabled start-up, Softwheel, which helps Run in the Jerusalem Marathon for
participant in the Paris-Dakar Rally, wheelchair users all over the world enjoy Tikvot with Mizrachi and Bnei Akiva.
the largest off-road rally in the world a more comfortable, bump-free ride. See back page for details.

Sivan Rahav-Meir

Power of the Sp r t

abbi Aharon Lichtenstein After the verdict, a cordon of police “Not the most romantic statement, I
once said that we can’t regard officers surrounded Edelstein, quickly know. I didn't even know if I would ever
R Hellenism as being something escorting him back to his cell. On the see her again.”
bad, senseless and superficial, as we way, he managed to shout something to
were taught in kindergarten. The his wife. That night, in his prison cell, Yuli
Greeks introduced advancement, Edelstein managed to scrounge two
intellectual wealth, sport, culture and What was the one thing so important for matches. He stood by the barred
art. So what is the great difference him to say? window, devotedly said the blessings
between Jewish culture and Hellenism? “who made miracles for my forefathers
Mitzvah. A human being has a task to Not “I love you.” in those days at this time,” and “for
fulfill. Not only esthetics but ethics. “Tania, what light is it tonight?” keeping us alive and existing and
Not only beauty and ornamentation bringing us to this time,” and lit the two
but commitment and hard work. His wife didn't understand at first. So matches.
he shouted it again, “What light is it
Not only body, but soul. tonight?” “And I stood there, by that window, for
a few seconds, until the fire scorched
Here’s one of the most powerful stories Only at the third try did Tania my fingers. I don’t know if that was
I’ve heard about Chanukah, and the understand, and quickly shouted back halachically okay but I do know that in
amazing thing is that it happened in our “Two!” Yes, it was the morning of the those precious moments, a little light
generation!
first day of Chanukah. Edelstein had really did disperse a lot of darkness.”
December 19, 1984. Yuli Edelstein, now already been incarcerated for three
Speaker of the Knesset, was sentenced months and didn't have a calendar, but
to three years hard labor in Siberia he'd heard the judge cite the Gregorian Sivan Rahav-Meir is a popular Israeli
for teaching Hebrew and promoting date and calculated that Chanukah was journalist, broadcaster and author of
Zionism. due around that time. #Parasha

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Photo of Sivan Rahav-Meir: Eyal Ben Yaish/Ma’ale HaYetzira