For Frisch students, giving back is an important principle interwoven into the fabric of their everyday education. Students regularly participate in grade chessed days and programs like the recent Friendship Circle camp, in which students acted as counselors for children with special needs for a week while they had winter vacation from school. So, when students were offered the chance to participate in the 2016 Jerusalem Marathon to raise money for an important cause, you might say that they ran toward the opportunity.
The nine students who participated in the race raised money for SHALVA, the Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel. SHALVA offers high-quality care for individuals with disabilities, empowering their families and promoting social inclusion—completely free of charge. SHALVA’s amazing work, therefore, depends largely on the generosity of donors. Thanks to the combined efforts of Frisch students and Rabbi Andrew Israeli, a member of the Talmud faculty, they raised a whopping $33, 032.66, all of which will benefit SHALVA’s critical programs for children with special needs. In fact, Frisch was the top fundraising school from America for SHALVA!
“We are so inspired by the young people who get together and raise tremendous awareness and funds to help SHALVA’s children and families in Israel, ” said Fran Cohen, Team SHALVA Marathon Director. “Team FRISCH runners were such amazing ambassadors for SHALVA’s children and the wonderful amount they raised through their run will enable SHALVA to provide the much needed programs and therapies and the vital support for the families. We look forward to continuing this awesome partnership with Team FRISCH, and improve, together, the lives of hundreds of children with disabilities in Israel and thousands of their family members.”
“The young adults from Frisch who train and raise funds are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Rabbi Kalman Samuels, founder of SHALVA. “It’s their kind of energy, and sensitivity to real societal issues that’s going to generate real, tangible impact in the years to come.”
“Running in the marathon was amazing,” said David Lifschitz ’17, who ran the half-marathon in 2 hours and 50 minutes. “Being able to take a few days away from school to go out and do something that gives back in this major way is a great opportunity that Frisch gives its students. To the administration, it’s not just important that we do well in the classroom, but in life.”