A Special Journey
Three local adults with disabilities experience a Birthright Israel trip that is memorable, meaningful, and fully accessible
This summer, a trio of Central Florida employees with RAISE – a work and social skills training program for adults with disabilities – joined other neurodiverse travelers on a unique Birthright Israel trip.
RAISE (Recognizing Abilities & Inclusion of Special Employees) is a program of Shalom Orlando and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando.
The travelers’ eight-day adventure was made possible through the Birthright Israel accessibility trips program, with participants forming friendships, building confidence, and forging stronger connections to Israel.
Rachel Slavkin, RAISE inclusion director, says the group consisted of 16 adults (ages 20 to 49) from the United States and Canada, including the trio from the Orlando area.
The accessibility trips are similar to standard Birthright trips, but the free program caters to adults who require more care. The group’s journey was a special one for several reasons, with travelers making memories that will last a lifetime, says Rachel, who was accompanied by four other staff members. The group was assigned a tour guide, a bus driver, a medic, and a soldier, with the entire team working to make the trip fully accessible for the travelers.
Making New Friends
What stood out most to Rachel was the unity of this neurodiverse group.
“They were thrust into a foreign country, and they came together so quickly through the magic of the land and the people of Israel,” says Rachel. “They made sure no one was left behind on our outings, including one participant using a wheelchair and another using a cane. They also rallied around a man who had just lost his father.”
Rebecca Fluke, a former RAISE employee who graduated in 2023, agrees with Rachel about the strong bonds formed.
“In less than 24 hours, the group became a family,” says Rebecca. “I now have friends from all over the country and Canada.”
The Central Florida contingent traveled from Orlando to New York to Tel Aviv, Israel, arriving on July 21 at their hotel across from the beach. They immediately ventured over to watch the sun set on the Mediterranean Sea before settling in for the evening.
“We would watch the sunsets, and we would talk about what we are grateful for,” says Katie Reents, a current RAISE employee who will wrap up her training this fall. “There was also a lovely park where we would sit and sing and say prayers.”
Lending a Hand
Over the next week, the participants experienced the wonders of Israel, but with an added component. Each morning, the travelers spent time volunteering before sightseeing.
“The trip allowed this population to feel like they were helping others while experiencing Israel firsthand,” says Rachel.
The group contributed by packing food for families and Holocaust survivors, planting trees near the Gaza border, harvesting vegetables on a therapeutic farm, and caring for rescued animals.
“I really loved harvesting crops on the farm, especially the hot peppers,” says Rebecca. “Volunteering was nice because we knew we were helping others in need.”
Katie, who went on a Birthright trip nine years ago, appreciated the fact that this experience put a great deal of focus on giving back.
“Volunteering was so meaningful, and everything was for a good cause,” says Katie. “I loved hearing people’s stories.”
An Unforgettable Experience
Evan Feldman, who will enter the RAISE program this fall, enjoyed sightseeing as well as volunteering. A Full Sail University graduate who enjoys photography, video editing, and making documentaries, Evan captured a lot of footage during the excursions.
“I loved everything about the trip,” he says, especially the group’s visit to the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall. “My father had been to Israel, and what he said was true about how the Wall has an emotional effect on you. Just physically being in Jerusalem was incredible.”
Rebecca agrees, adding, “Jerusalem moved me because it can be so peaceful. And we left notes of prayers and wishes in the Wall.”
Another impactful experience was visiting the exhibition, Dialogue in the Dark, which simulates being blind or severely vision impaired. The visitors slowly walked hand in hand through seven rooms in pitch darkness, led by a local man who had gone blind at age 55.
Especially poignant was the group’s visit to the Nova Music Festival Memorial site, where the attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, left 378 people dead and dozens more kidnapped.
“That was tough,” says Rachel. “The memorials to each victim were very moving, as was seeing how it touched people with disabilities. They are not immune to what is going on with the world.”
Evan’s mother, Sheryl Feldman, is grateful that her son had a chance to visit Israel through the accessibility program.
“I was nervous when Evan left for the trip,” says Sheryl, a former inclusion teacher. “But when he got back from Israel, he talked about his emotions at the Wall and how he enjoyed the trip so much that now he wants to sign up for a full Birthright trip to see everything. We are thrilled that he had this experience.”
When the travelers weren’t volunteering or sightseeing, they were opting for typical summer vacation choices: eating ice cream, swimming, watching the waves roll in, and strolling on the boardwalk.
“I think this trip taught them there is a place for everyone in Israel,” says Rachel. “And there is a place for everyone in the Jewish community. They learned that everyone belongs.”