As the world has learned, Hamas does not discriminate against even the most vulnerable Jews, as the world learned from their beheading of infants, brutal abuse of women, and even kidnapping and murdering children and grandparents. These terrorists, in their violent and inhumane ways, are happy to attack any and every Jew, even those with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. 

Those with special needs understand that we are in an unexpected war but are without the skills and abilities to independently coordinate their own escape and relocation from the dangerous areas. As the Jewish world responds to the Hamas invasion into southern Israel with tefilla, tzedakah, and united support for the Israeli soldiers, hard-hit Southern communities, and Israel’s humanitarian and life-saving emergency health organizations, the special needs community largely has been overlooked. 

The families of those with special needs often are unable to provide care for their sons and daughters throughout the year during peaceful times, how much more they cannot during this chaotic and horrific war. And the government agencies are overwhelmed with the murdered soldier and civilians, the kidnapped hostages, and the logistical organization of the largest military callup in the biggest confrontation between civilians and enemies since 1948.  

 “Someone had to step up to protect and support those with special needs during this war, because they cannot protect themselves,” said Rabbi Chaim Perkal, founder of Alei Siach, a front-line special needs organization in Israel since 1998 that provides housing, job training, work opportunities, and specialized programming such as gardening therapy and even their own music band.  

Over the past few days, the organization has helped rescue and relocate those with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities who were under threat of the violent Hamas terrorists.   

Explained Rabbi Perkal, “It’s not easy to relocate or support people with special needs. The Down Syndrome, handicapped, and others with special needs often require specialized transportation and supervision, and need housing, mental health professionals, physical and occupational therapists, and special employment or educational programs that accommodate and support their conditions and challenges.”  

Even with relocation to safety, with the country under a partial lockdown and schools and workplaces for special needs shuttered, these individuals feel isolated and their mental and emotional conditions can intensify far greater than average people.  

To fill the enormous void, Alei Siach stepped up. It secured protected transportation for those fleeing terrorists and brought them to safety. It opened its housing facilities to offer a supportive and supervised home during the war. For the rescued people and for the hundreds of individuals Alei Siach regularly helps throughout the year, more caregivers and health professionals have been made available and accessible. Since the war broke out, Alei Siach also established an emergency mental health support hotline to help those with special needs navigate this state of emergency and address their trauma. And the organization has provided games and activity packages appropriate for the special needs population to more than 150 homes, to help distract and entertain them during these difficult days. But it is not enough; the need continues to grow and increase the demand for greater services and support from Alei Siach. 

Amid air raid sirens and missiles, terrorists attacking Israel on two borders and infiltrating communities, and over 300,000 Reserves called up for emergency war duty, Alei Siach must allocate tremendous resources and increased staff for urgent services and heightened needs. Among those with special needs, anxiety and fear are rising.  Alei Siach is offering more programming than ever before to help calm and distract them from the realities of war. It needs to also provide more support from social workers, therapists, and mental health professionals, as well as added supervisory staff. 

Alei Siach is asking individuals and communities around the Jewish globe to “adopt a special needs buddy” by sponsoring additional support for each one affected by the war, and to undertake some of the costs of the rescue and relocation of those on the borders.

Donate at https://my.israelgives.org/en/fundme/Donatenow

Learn more at www.aleisiach.org or via email to [email protected].