The ALYN Hospital for children's rehabilitation joined the Agron School in Jerusalem for an end-of-the year concert. Students from both the hospital's Shahar - Rehabilitation Educational Medical Day Care and the Agron school performed on stage together after a series of session together throughout the year.
"Music is a great way to connect people," stated Tal Cohen, director of Shahar. "When we challenge the students by playing together we learned about tolerance and unconventional ways of producing music," Cohen said.
Some of the Shahar students are in wheelchairs or have other physical limitations. "We learn that even through minimal or unusual movements, one can sense rhythm and produce music," Cohen explained. "Love for music brings us closer and creates a shared experience."
One of those students is 10-year-old Lina, who studies at Agron after having received treatment at Shahar.
"Lina's integration into the Agron School was very successful," said principal Dina Yariv. "She is a full partner in all school activities." Yariv said she hopes to expand the school's outreach to other disabled and recovering children.
Mirit Shalom – arts coordinator at the Agron School, which organized the music meetings between the students – said that all parties contributed to the feeling of accomplishment. "The children of ALYN receive moments of joy and the children of Agron implement in practice the important values of giving, tolerance and acceptance of those who are different."Founded in 1988, Agron School was named after Gershon Agron, founder of The Jerusalem Post and mayor of Jerusalem from 1955-1959.