Dear Donor: As a Person with a Physical Disability, I Never Thought a Trip Like This Was Possible

Dear Birthright Israel Foundation Donor:

Growing up, I was raised as a reformed Jew. I went to Sunday school and synagogue, celebrated the different holidays, and had a Bat Mitzvah when I came of age. As a Jewish teen, I knew I wanted to participate in a Birthright Israel trip to be able to explore the environment and culture of the land that is so important to our people. However, as a person with a disability and mobility issues, I didn’t know how this would be possible due to all the hiking, physical activity, and constant moving around involved in a traditional Birthright Israel trip.

At eight years old I had cancer in my cerebellum. Your cerebellum controls your motor skills, and thus, it has caused me to have balance issues and difficulty walking to this day. I use a walker, and luckily, Birthright Israel was able to provide me with a wheelchair on the trip for areas that were more crowded and required a lot of walking.

Fast forward several years, and I met a friend who told me she was able to go on an accessibility trip. An accessible Birthright Israel trip—it was something I had never heard of. So, I did a little digging, and although I didn’t end up going on the same type of trip my friend went on, I found a similar organization called YALLA (Young Adults Living Life Always) that partners with Birthright Israel to provide accessible trips for young Jewish adults with disabilities.

This leads me to the letter I am writing today. I want to thank the donors of Birthright Israel Foundation so much for giving me the gift of being able to see and experience Israel in a way that was physically attainable for me. Not only that, but thanks to your contribution and YALLA’s planning and dedicated staff, I was able to explore this beautiful country and learn more about Jewish history and what it means to be a Jew; with a group of people who truly understand what it’s like to live life with a disability, and having to approach life differently simply to have access to things that other people take for granted. Having this opportunity was truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and I am extremely grateful.

One big takeaway and learning opportunity that I had on this trip was the day we visited Yad Vashem. I knew about the Holocaust from what I learned in school, and I had a little more background knowledge on it than most of my peers because of the things I learned in Temple and the different field trips I’d taken with my Sunday school classes to Holocaust museums. Yad Vashem was an entirely different experience.

The things I saw and learned there changed my entire outlook on this horrible time in our history. It made me realize just how bad things were during this time and that it wasn’t only Jews being targeted and persecuted. The images we saw, increased my understanding of exactly how horribly and disgracefully people were being treated. I have always remembered the over 6 million Jews that died during the Holocaust and have been greatly saddened by the events that happened during this time, but this experience increased my knowledge and understanding tenfold.

Birthright Israel has truly been the most amazing trip I’ve had in my life. Not only did I get the chance to experience the gorgeous environment and vibrant culture of Israel, but I was able to share this opportunity with a group of people who truly understand what life is like when you face physical difficulties every day, and that made this trip even more special. I know on this trip, I have made memories and friends that will last a lifetime. I hope other young Jews have the opportunity for similarly wonderful experiences.

Again, thank you so much for your contribution.

Yours truly,
Alyssa Shangold
2023 Birthright Israel Alum