Written by Benjy Forester
After a mentally and physically exhausting day visiting Tel Aviv, our group had the privilege of visiting one of Israel's most heartwarming and breathtaking sits. Cafe Kappish and Na Lagaat are places that help empower and inspire Israelis with disabilities through various vocational opportunities. Our evening began with dinner at Cafe Kappish, which is a restaurant in which all the waiters are deaf. They brought out course after course of delicious dishes, and we all did our best to express our gratitude by mouthing "Todah Rabbah" or smiling. At the end of our meal, our two waiters stood on chairs and demonstrated for us some basic Israeli sign language, and we were sure to communicate to them our deep gratitude for such a lovely and moving meal.
Na Laga'at is a play performed by adults who are either partially or fully deaf and/or blind. The actors all radiate strength, warmth, and support for one another. They share stories about themselves, joke, and perform a truly impressive play that highlights their motivation, courage, and skillset.
As a counselor at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, I have had the privilege of working with the Tikvah program for campers with special need. This performance was a tremendous source of pride and inspiration for me. My campers are all sweet, fascinating, and talented young adults, and getting to know them has been meaningful beyond words. Our Tikvah program understands that with the right encouragement and training, our campers can grow into independent, successful adults, and our Atzmayim vocational program is an excellent example of how our special needs participants shine.
Part of the goal of our Tel Aviv experience was to focus on innovation, and begin to reimagine elements of Jewish education. Na Laga'at provides an excellent example of how creativity and passion can bring the Jewish community a wonderful opportunity that ultimately benefits every member of the community.
