An emotional ceremony by Simchat Beit Hashoeva opened the events to salute Ohel Sarah on its 40th anniversary: Hundreds of family members filled the Bat Sheva Hall in the Armonot Chen building, accompanying their sons who are part of the large Ohel Sarah family - which provides education, housing and employment for children and special people.
This year, unlike any other, was also the opening shot for the events marking the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the association, which has become a symbol and model for the integration of people with disabilities into society and the world of work.
In the large crowd that filled the hall, one could see campers of various ages - from small children to adults who participate time and again in the events.
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The event began with an educational performance illustrated by an artist using puppetry, and managed to elicit bursts of laughter and cries of solidarity from the special children who filled the hall. A short time later, when the chairs were cleared, the hall was filled with dancing circles that testified more than anything else to the integration of the special children and campers into the society around them.
Gilad Patolsky from the 'Shelhevat' orchestra took to the stage as a full volunteer with keyboardist Moishe Zlats, in order to make the dancers happy. Many circles were formed and the many instructors of 'Ohel Sarah' did not leave a single participant behind. The participants' brothers also found themselves on their shoulders, actively participating in the Simchat Beit Hashoeva which was, it seems, happier than any other holiday celebration.
Later, the orchestra was joined by singer Yoni Berger and singer Rolly Dickman, who came simply to give from the bottom of their hearts to the special children.
The special occasion was attended by yeshiva heads and rabbis, who danced with the trainees and faculty, showered them with blessings and expressed their appreciation for the activities of Ohel Sarah as it entered its fifth decade of activity - including: members of the Council of Torah Elders, the Gaon Rabbi Dov Pobarsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovizh, the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Slobodka. The Admor of Modzitz, the Gaon Rabbi Menachem Ernster, Rosh Yeshiva of Vizhnitz and son-in-law of the author of 'Yeshuot Moshe' zt"l, the Gaon Rabbi Hezkiyahu Mishkovsky, superintendent of the 'Orhot Torah' yeshiva, the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Polak, superintendent of the Slobodka yeshiva and member of the 'Ohel Sarah' board, since the beginning of time.
Among the public figures, supporters and volunteers who danced with the campers were members of the Bnei Brak City Council, including the Social Welfare Minister, Rabbi Menachem Mendil Eisenberg, and a member of the city administration, Rabbi Shlomo Kostlitz.
S., a student in his twenties, said at the end of the event that he felt "just like in the Temple. I was most excited when Rabbi Povarsky came to dance with us.".
Director of Ohel Sarah, Malka Weinberg: "There is no way to express the great contribution of an event like this to the progress of the campers at all levels. It was the joy of a mitzvah that is itself a joy, a joy whose impact on the campers' lives is difficult to describe.".
A., a parent of two special children, said that since the holiday was consecrated, the children have not stopped asking when "our" Simchat Beit Hashoeva will take place.
""There are thirty- and forty-year-old campers here who were among the first cohorts of children helped by Ohel Sarah. You can see how connected and connected they are to the organization and how much it contributes to them to this day," he said.
Photo: Kobi Har Zvi
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