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ALEH'S HISTORIC JERUSALEM MARCH PROMOTES 'BRIDGING GAP' BETWEEN DISABLED, ISRAELI SOCIETY

HUNDREDS BRAVE HOLIDAY TRAFFIC TO ATTEND FIRST-EVER MARCH OVER JERUSALEM CHORDS BRIDGE

(JERUSALEM, Israel – April 26, 2011) On Thursday, April 21, a procession of over 300 marchers, including children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities under the care of ALEH (www.aleh.org), their families, caregivers, and volunteers and friends from around the globe, set out from ALEH's Jerusalem facility to cross over the Jerusalem Chords Bridge in a powerful and symbolic display to encourage the integration of Israel's disabled community within Israeli society. Israeli radio personality Menachem Toker set a celebratory tone as the event's master of ceremonies.

The festivities were capped off with singing, dancing, a rousing address by Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav, and a ceremony during which over 500 balloons were released into the air to signify the buoyant spirit and unrestricted potential of Israel's disabled children.

Dubbed "ALEH Marches Forward," the event was the organization's first Jerusalem march to increase public awareness of the disabled as well as the first march ever held on the Jerusalem Chords Bridge.

High-resolution copies of these (and other) photos are available upon request.

Photo credits: Meir Zarovsky and Yiftach Paltrowitz for www.yruas.com

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ALEH (www.aleh.org) is Israel’s largest network of residential facilities for children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities, providing 650 children from around Israel with high-level medical and rehabilitative care in four residential facilities. ALEH is their home and their family – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

ALEH’s goal is to enable each child, regardless of the severity of the disability, to realize his or her potential and live a quality life on par with the rest of society.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Elie Klein

Ruder Finn Israel for ALEH

Cell: + 972-54-467-6967

Office: + 972-2-589-2013

Email: elie@ruderfinn.co.il

Ted Belman
Jerusalem, Israel