The Israeli Arab city of Kalansua in central Israel last week held a fundraising event called "A Smile of Hope" for leading Israeli disabilities organization, Beit Issie Shapiro and their Sindian Center, which serves the Kalansua community and Arabs from across the Southern Triangle.
The event is believed to be the largest fundraiser of its kind in an Arab community for an established Israeli charity, with 700 people in attendance and 300,000 NIS raised ($87,000).
Organizer Nawaf Zmiro is a lifelong campaigner for disabilities in the Arab community and recipient of the President's Prize for Volunteering. "As someone with a disability myself, I have a great appreciation for Beit Issie Shapiro," says Nawaf.
"Together, we do such good work for the population with disabilities in the Southern Triangle. The social change needed is already being felt in a very impressive way because we have been working for so long and so hard on inclusion. Beit Issie Shapiro has helped me realize my ambitions, and to show my abilities for people with disabilities," explains Nawaf.
Photo: Courtesy / Description: Nawaf and his team of volunteers who organized the fundraiser for Israel's Beit Issie Shapiro.
"This event is testimony to how the community is committed to helping people with disabilities," says Jean Judes, Executive Director of Beit Issie Shapiro. "I remember when we first started working in Kalansua, there was great stigma towards the people with disabilities. Today the situation is reversed."
The event was hosted by the well-known Arab news and sports reporter Zohir Baalul, with speakers including Beit Issie Shapiro's Executive Director Jean Judes and Advisor on Arab Affairs to the Minister of Education, Mr. Nasser Abu Safia. Mayor of Kalansua Mr. Albassat Slama, and Dr Zeid Abou Moch, Head of the Islamic Department of the Interior Ministry attended the event, as did Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi, leader of the Arab Movement for Change (Ta'al) party.
"It was moving and emotional to see everyone working together as partners towards a joint mission, as well as the commitment to ensuring the financial sustainability of this important community service," says Judes.
"We felt that, in addition to raising funds, we were creating an unprecedented cross-cultural dialogue between Jews and Arabs and between people with disabilities and without," says Nawaf. "We all have a common goal and want our children to be healthy and happy. Through a language understood by all, Jews and Arabs united under the common banner of giving. My heart was overwhelmed throughout the evening."
Photo: Courtesy / Description: Beit Issie Shapiro's Executive Director, Jean Judes at the fundraising event.
The Beit Issie Shapiro Sindian Center in Kalansua is a model in the Arab community. It was the first disability organization of its kind in Arab society to care for the entire family as well as children with disabilities. Beit Issie Shapiro provides workshops for the families of children with disabilities, mainstreaming children with disabilities into local schools, and providing workshops for local Imams and community leaders.
Beit Issie Shapiro facilitates cooperation between Jewish and Arab professionals, including those within the Palestinian Authority, in order to ensure that each child receives the best therapy suited to them.
Based in Ra'anana, Beit Issie Shapiro is a nonprofit innovator of therapies for children and adults with disabilities across Israel and globally. It serves 30,000 people in Israel annually. In 2012, Beit Issie Shapiro became the first Israeli disabilities charity to have been awarded the Special Consultative Status to the UN's Economic and Social Council in 2012.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
The Wartime Updates You Need To Know
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
HuffPost is dedicated to covering the devastating war between Hamas and Israel. We've broken news on the famine in Gaza, the State Department's turmoil, as well as what Hamas is thinking now — and we're far from done. HuffPost is committed to bringing you the critical updates you need to know. Would you consider contributing as little as $2 to support our reporting? Thank you for your support.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.