By Rivka Levine

This past weekend I was given the great privilege of co-organizing Tiferet's annual Darkeinu Shabbaton. Darkeinu is an amazing program that gives girls with special needs the unique opportunity of spending a year (and often times 2 or 3 years) in Israel after they graduate high school. I was very excited when I was offered the leadership position in helping to organize the Shabbaton, especially because of the experience I've had in being a liaison for the Etta Israel Center.

I've gained so many useful skills in working with the special needs community throughout my four years in being involved with Etta Israel and it was exciting to once again put them into practice with this Shabbaton. One of the most inspirational points of the Shabbaton  was the Kumzitz we had after our Friday night meal. All the girls wrapped their arms around each other and our voices joined together as we sang the beautiful Shabbat Z'mirot. It was truly inspirational to watch both the Tiferet girls and the Darkeinu girls take control in leading the songs. After the Shabbaton I got such great feedback from the Tiferet girls telling me how at first they were a bit nervous for the Shabbaton but in the end it was one of the most inspirational Shabbatonim that they've ever been on. Hearing this made all the stress and hard work that went into the planning well worth it.

It was so exciting to be able to build on my experience of volunteering for four years with the Etta Israel Center and use those skills to help create something very special for the girls in my seminary along with the girls of Darkeinu. I couldn't have done it without the experience I gained from volunteering with the Etta Israel Center and I look forward to putting those skills to good use again in the future!