It seems that charity and loving-kindness really runs in some families and communities.

Take the Judelmans, for example. This past September, Adina Judelman chose to donate to SHALVA as her Bat Mitzvah tzedaka project, raising money and awareness for our special kids, culminating in a beautiful celebration here at SHALVA.

Inspired by her little sister’s efforts, this March her sister Sarah will be participating in this year’s Jerusalem Marathon, as a member of Team SHALVA! It’s truly inspiring to see the familial dedication these sisters and their family have shown to our organization. We are honored by the friendship they and their community have shown. Their synagogue, Shaarei Tefilla Synagogue, has even built a large tzedaka box with the funds raised being sent to SHALVA to continue our life-giving work with the special-need community. A board member from the synagogue, Jodie Katz, recently visited SHALVA as a participant on her local JWRP (Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project) trip to Israel, and was equally taken with the facility and the kids we serve.

SHALVA feels so privileged to have friends and supporters like the Judelmans and their Canadian community, and we look forward to our friendship only growing in the future.