Team Chagai is now in our 8th year!

In September 2018, Chagai joined the Hefetz Family at the age of 5 weeks old. Chagai's smile and giggles quickly earned him quite a fan base on Facebook and in our community. We run annually for Team Yachad because we believe that inclusion is essential for all involved. Yachad Israel provides social, educational and vocational programming for individuals with disabilities, and their typical peers who join them benefit perhaps even more! Chagai is a little young to join Yachad Israel programming but the other Hefetz children enjoyed volunteering with Yachad, and our family benefits greatly from the Yachad Family Shabbaton. Chagai has been the youngest participant in Team Yachad since 2019!

The Hefetz Family has been involved with Yachad for decades. Shayna began as a volunteer in high school and served on her Regional NCSY Board as the Yachad Representative. In college, Shayna worked as a Regional Coordinator for New England Yachad and recruited Dovev to get involved as an advisor. The Hefetz children grew up among individuals with disabilities due to Shayna's work in Jewish Special Education and their first Yachad experience was as toddlers when the Hefetz family joined Yachad Getaway for Shabbatot. When they got a little older, they became active participants in Jr Yachad in Baltimore and joined Yachad Israel when they made aliyah 10 years ago.

As in past years, our fundraising efforts began with Yachad Giving Days and culminate with the Jerusalem Marathon! We appreciate your sponsorship of Team Chagai - we will be running/walking 5/10K with Chagai taking breaks in the stroller, and or course he will run over the finish line! Thanks for helping us help Yachad Israel make inclusion happen!

We dedicate our fundraising efforts to the Refuah Shlayma of Rafael Moshe Tzvi Hirsh Ben Shayna Chavah, Elisha David Ben Deena Rachel, and Shayna Chavah bas Rasah Gittel ❤️