This is our 6th time running together as Team Chagai! 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 are running 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 regular Yachad Israel programming but the other Hefetz children have enjoyed volunteering with Yachad, and our family greatly benefits from the Yachad Israel Family Shabbaton. Chagai is 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 8.5 years ago.
We appreciate your sponsorship of Team Chagai in the Jerusalem Marathon! We will be running/walking the 5K with Chagai in the stroller, although as in past years he will get the opportunity to step over the finish line at the Marathon all by himself! Thanks for helping us help Yachad Israel make inclusion happen!
We dedicate the funds raised by Team Chagai in the merit of a refuah shlayma for Rafael Moshe Tzvi Hirsh ben Shayna Chavah
