My brother is a hero

At the end of the summer of 2011, brothers Enosh and Hanan Kassel went on a three-week such trip through Nepal – but theirs was a little different from the norm, because Hanan has Down syndrome.

By DANA ZAX
At the end of the summer of 2011, brothers Enosh and Hanan Kassel went on a three-week backpacking trip through Nepal. (photo credit: YAIR RINGEL, ENOSH CASSEL, REUEL CASSEL)
At the end of the summer of 2011, brothers Enosh and Hanan Kassel went on a three-week backpacking trip through Nepal.
(photo credit: YAIR RINGEL, ENOSH CASSEL, REUEL CASSEL)
Extreme backpacking trips in faraway countries are common among young Israelis who have just finished their army service. At the end of the summer of 2011, brothers Enosh and Hanan Kassel went on a three-week such trip through Nepal – but theirs was a little different from the norm, because Hanan has Down syndrome.
Their incredible journey led Enosh and his friend, Itamar Peleg, to take this experience to the next level, and they came up with the idea of creating a group in the spirit of their trip.
Peleg, who is an extreme hikes entrepreneur, has been friends with Enosh for a long time, and says that he has always seen the special relationship he and Hanan have. Together, they wanted to create something big, something important.
They presented their idea at a conference for members of Yated, an association for children with Down syndrome.
“That was where we were first exposed to the idea, and it was so touching, it reached out to this dream that we all had and were never able to fulfill. The meaning of taking our siblings to an extreme backpacking trip outside of Israel, is taking their integration in society another step forward,” says Moran Zakshevski, who takes part in the project with her older sister, Reut.
That amazing connection that was created at the conference led to the first group meeting, in which 11 pairs of siblings got together at Peleg’s house. “Meeting 10 more pairs who are in the same place as you are in life, who understand you, created immediate chemistry,” says Peleg.
That meeting was the first step of making this fantasy into a real-live project.
The group members are people who have been through a postarmy- service trip, and have asked themselves why their siblings can’t do something like that, too. The purpose of project, called Ah Sheli Gibor (My Brother is a Hero), is to pave the way for other groups of people with special needs to take part in such experiences, and to raise awareness for this very important cause.
They want to show the world that integration in society for people with Down syndrome is possible, and that “they can do anything we can,” says Zakshevski. “This project gives them the opportunity to experience the very normal concept of a post-armyservice trip, which is something many Israelis have gone through.
Most likely, Reut would not have been able to go on a trip like that without Ah Sheli Gibor.”
The year and a half of preparation included extreme hikes all around Israel, in the Makhtesh Hagadol and Masada, and an overnight trip in the desert, all in anticipation of the biggoal destination – the entire group’s two-week journey to India.
During that year and a half, the group reached out to the media for financial help, in addition to benefiting from their parents’ financial support. Many individuals, as well as a lot of big companies, were touched by their vision, and donated what they could. In fact, the group managed to raise even more money than expected.
The journey was very physically and emotionally challenging. “We came across a lot of difficulties we have not been through before. I am always playing the role of the younger sister who is also the best friend. I never tell Reut what to do. She is very independent and very proud of being the oldest sister in the family, and we have found ourselves in situations in which I needed to be in charge. I am sure everyone experienced different difficulties, but that was my biggest struggle,” Zakshevski says.
“This trip has done wonders. I believe that after you deal with tough struggles, you grow into the greatest places. I think we have grown from this. We have always been close, but now we are even more connected than we have ever been.”
In addition to strengthening the complex relationships between the siblings and giving them the chance for a very special experience, this intensive and special journey is a symbol for the integration of people with Down syndrome into society.
Zakshevski tells us that the group still gets together all the time, and that they are planning to continue on with more amazing projects. “It is just the beginning,” she enthuses. “A very special friendship and lifelong circle of new friends was created.”