Social Advocacy and Engagement
Shalva’s advocacy initiatives, community events, and disability research inspire a more inclusive society.
People from around the world are engaging their communities and joining Shalva in changing the way the world understands, cares for, and embraces disability.
Team Shalva in the Jerusalem Marathon
Running for hope, love and human dignity
Team Shalva is the largest charity team in the Jerusalem Marathon. The team, a diverse group of over 600 runners, travel from all over the world to Israel to participate in the Jerusalem Marathon in support of Shalva. Along with international and local runners, the team is comprised of Shalva’s children, families, and staff; who participate in the marathon’s community-run which includes a disability track. The disability track is a Shalva initiative and an asset unique in Israel to the Jerusalem Marathon.
Following months of marathon training and fundraising for the Shalva cause, the team members come together for a weekend of Shalva tours, events, and the marathon itself. Running side by side in Shalva running gear, Shalva’s team of children with disabilities and marathon runners represent a beautiful demonstration of a community that promotes health, inclusion, and celebration of life.
The Shalva Band
Music That Changes Lives
The Shalva Band is comprised of eight talented musicians with disabilities who perform to the highest musical standards. Inspiring crowds throughout Israel and around the world with its musical repertoire and charm, the band is one of Shalva’s most celebrated inclusion programs. The Shalva Band is regularly invited to perform at cultural venues, dignitary events, with celebrity artists and is at the forefront of popular music forums. They perform at schools, Shalva dinners and various community events all over Israel as well as in the US, Canada, UK, Mexico and Russia.
The band takes listeners on a cultural journey using music as a language to unite people of all countries and abilities. The concert is an opportunity to experience inclusion of people with disabilities in a positive and inspiring way; to think differently about challenges, achievement, bravery, and acceptance; to appreciate the greatness made possible through motivation, hard work and the human spirit; and to discover a world where people are first and foremost people, united by our humanity rather than separated by our differences. It’s a path to discovery of creativity and the potential to make the world a better place through inclusion and accessibility.
To see videos and pictures of the band, visit their website www.shalva.band.
Cafe Shalva
Delicious. Inspiring. Revolutionary: Café Shalva
Cafe Shalva is a boutique café that is also an equal-opportunity work setting where an inclusive staff work as managers, waiters, and hosts. The cafe’s menu and management was developed in partnership with elite culinary establishments, Derech Hagefen in Beit Zayit and Café Itamar, and its interior design is artistically crafted to inspire newfound understandings of inclusion and acceptance.
Come on over. You’ll find the menu full with vibrant salads, rich pastas, fresh fish, mouth-watering desserts and a restaurant staff that will etch its way into your heart forever.
Events at Shalva
Events with a Lasting Impact
Shalva’s state-of-the-art facilities are popular venues for municipal and national conferences, seminars, and special events in both public and private sectors. While generating much needed income for the organization, these facilities expose the broader community to the world of disabilities through a direct experience of reverse inclusion. Featuring an Auditorium, Boutique Café, Conference & Events Hall and multi-purpose Seminar Rooms, hosting an event at Shalva offers added social value to any event or conference.
To schedule your event, contact celebrate@shalva.org
Bnei Mitzvah Twinning Project
Celebrating Together
Becoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a tremendous milestone and the best way to transition into adulthood is by doing something meaningful for the community. Shalva offers two inspirational ways to uplift the Bar/Bat Mitzvah occasion.
While participating in the ‘Come Dance With Us!’ program, Bnei Mitzvah join Shalva in Israel where they will celebrate with the children of Shalva as their guests of honor. Through the ‘Build a Bridge!’ program, the Bnei Mitzvah don’t have to travel to Israel to pass on the inspiration. Creating a mitzva project to raise money or sharing a portion of your gifts with the children of Shalva can enhance your celebration. Bnei Mitzvah receive an honorary plaque and a place on Shalva’s Scroll of Honor.
This tremendous statement of support for Israel and inclusive values is a meaningful and memorable way to celebrate the occasion of becoming Bar / Bat Mitzvah.
Hapoel Shalva Basketball Team
Shalva-Hapoel Jerusalem Basketball Team: A Community of Equals
The Shalva Basketball team is part of Hapoel Jerusalem National basketball association’s youth league. The basketball team is a forum for players to develop important motor skills, like coordination and stamina, as well as social skills that are essential for facilitating teamwork and performance. The valuable Shalva-Jerusalem partnership is based on a mutual appreciation for the social inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
- Weekly practices led by a Hapoel Jerusalem coach
- Games against basketball teams of teens with typical developmental patterns
- Hapoel Jerusalem dedicates their annual Chanukah basketball game to Shalva
- Shalva’s presence at the Hapoel games helps breach socio-cultural stigmas
- Social inclusion and bonding over a common passion
Ambassador Program for Gap Year Students
Leaders of Tomorrow
Spearheaded by the renowned Sammy Schaechter, Shalva’s overseas volunteer coordinator, the Ambassadors Program gives key students at Yeshivot, seminaries and gap-year program the chance to be influential members of their respective student bodies, coordinating between their peers and Shalva’s packed event schedule. These ambassadors receive special access, branded swag, meetings with internationally sought speakers, personal tours, luncheons, Shabbatonim, fund-raising aid and more.
