Wine Therapy: A special occasion

There's something magical about Jerusalem at night. As the sun begins to set over the hills, the sky becomes a deep purplish blue, and the lights of the Old City begin to illuminate the night. At the nearby Mamilla Mall, shoppers mill about and diners fill up the restaurants. The night becomes alive. At Italian restaurant Luciana, it's hard to tell if it's the company that makes the night special, or the wine and food. The guests are two people who, in our eyes, symbolize more than anyone what the united city of Jerusalem is meant to represent – human connection, empathy and tolerance. Yossi Shar'abi and Sarah Salman work in the Jerusalem Municipality and share a 20-year professional partnership. Shar'abi is the head of the Culture and Recreation Administration, responsible for all the cultural life of the city and the community administrations, and Salman founded and manages an innovative and groundbreaking model project named Tzamid – a Hebrew acronym for “special needs” – that serves the city's special-needs citizens. Eight years ago, they initiated the “Yotzrim Tzamid” festival, a powerful international enterprise that spotlights artists with special needs. We met the pair ahead of the announcement that the festival would be opening for the eighth time – a wonderful opportunity to raise a toast. The objective: To explore the upcoming “Yotzrim Tzamid” festival The means: Cabernet Franc wine from the Psagot winery, and a meal at the Luciana Italian restaurant in Jerusalem's Mamilla Mall When did you meet? Shar'abi: About 20 years ago, I worked as head of the administration in [the] Pisgat Ze'ev [neighborhood], and one day Sarah appeared in my office together with singer Yehoram Gaon, who was then a member of the Jerusalem City Council. They had an idea that was considered revolutionary – to create in all the community administrations recreation centers for people with special needs. Salman: We were seeking the first “brave soul” who would open the door for the special population, and Yossi immediately rose to the challenge. Shar'abi: It's unbelievable, but before then, it simply didn't exist. No one thought that a person with special needs has his own desires. There simply wasn't a precedent, so we thoroughly researched the subject, including a true examination of needs. We wanted to give the special population a quality solution for their recreational needs, and we were aided by the experience of parents of special-needs children. I remember that there were a number of exemplary parents who became role models for us all. Salman: When we opened the first Tzamid center, it was a great success. Today we have 21 Tzamid centers, including in east Jerusalem and in the ultra-Orthodox sector. The lives of thousands of people have improved simply because people like Yossi had the courage to take the road less traveled. In what way is that expressed? Salman: We supply solutions for recreation and culture for anyone with special needs, regardless of his or her degree of disability. Whomever we can, we integrate into classes with regular people, and for those we can't, we create custom activities appropriate to their level. Everything is customized with a very high level of sensitivity. Each in his own way with the type of activity that will help him advance. How was the festival born? Salman: In recent years, some surveys were published that showed that 50 percent of Israelis think that people with retardation are a threat to the public, and 50% would not be willing to live as their neighbors. As people who work directly in this field and are closely acquainted with these wonderful people, we couldn't stand idly by, and we decided to spearhead a change in this situation of a society fearing those among them who are different. The festival is our answer to this reality. There is a term that defines lack of tolerance toward people with disabilities, known as NIMBY – “Not in My Backyard” – so we say, “Yes, in My Front Yard.” During all the days of the festival, our special artists will perform all over the city of Jerusalem. It will be impossible to ignore them. Only in this way will we remove the wall of unawareness and dispel the fear and the ignorance. Shar'abi: In our society, there are many stigmas connected to people with special needs. It's very easy for people to fall into that trap, and it's our role to be the liaisons and to bring together the community and the additional sections of the public we call “special.” We believe that the arts are best able to perform this service, because this is a territory with its own language. Over the years, we have learned that art is a highly efficient social bridge. Salman: Art creates a bridge of music, acting, and pleasure between the two worlds, so that the disability becomes irrelevant. If I just saw actor X on stage and I enjoyed his convincing acting, I no longer see his disability. And if I do, it will only move me more. What do you feel was your best moment professionally? Shar'abi: When I realized that the activity of Tzamid around the city is the greatest source of pride for the community administrations. In the framework of my position, I have been responsible for all the administrations in Jerusalem for many years, and only once did all the administration heads ask to meet me together. It was to initiate a raise in pay for the Tzamid coordinators. That's how important to them this subject is. Salman: Within the framework of our activity, we run the Tzamid Youth Council – a group of people with special needs who meet once every two weeks in the municipal council hall. They make decisions and initiate activities that make life easier for the special-needs residents of Jerusalem and in general deal with contributing to the community. Two couples met in this framework and married, with one of the weddings having taken place quite recently. I was so moved at the wedding. I think that beyond being a professional summit, it was one of the high points of my life. What drew you to work in this field? Shar'abi: I grew up as a child of parents who helped anyone they could and as much as they could. Sometimes even to excess. I could have chosen to follow my parents by becoming a businessman with a much higher salary, but my parents' legacy was strongly embedded in me and I chose a social field that strongly affects people's lives. Salman: I grew up in a poor household, and the awareness that you have to work hard to achieve results is deeply ingrained in me. Working with the special-needs population is also very challenging, and sometimes you have to work hard until you see results. But as opposed to any other work, here I feel that the big investment yields spiritual benefits that mean the world to me. Tell us a good joke. Shar'abi: A Jew goes traveling in the forests of South America and gets lost. Suddenly a big bear appears before him. The young man, trembling with fear, escapes into a nearby cave. Unfortunately for him, the bear is quick, catches up to him and enters the cave. He closes his eyes and begins to murmur Shema Yisrael.... To his great surprise, he realizes that the bear is also reciting a blessing, and in Hebrew yet! His eyes light up. “What a miracle!” he thinks. “To be trapped by a Jewish bear! He's one of ours! My life is saved!” And then the bear finishes his blessing: “... borei minei mezonot” [a blessing on food]. Salman: You know, I'm from the Persian community, and we're very attached to our money. They tell of a Persian who was on his deathbed with his whole family surrounding him. Suddenly he asks, “Moshe, are you here?” Moshe answers, “Yes.” He continues, “Ya'acov, are you here?” Ya'acov answers him, “Yes.” “Eli, are you here?” “Yes.” For a moment he pauses, and then asks, “Wait a second, then who's minding the store?” ■ The “Yotzrim Tzamid” festival will take place June 11- 20 all over Jerusalem, with more than 350 artists with special needs performing at 60 shows. Events include theater, dance, music and seminars, at venues including the Gerard Behar Center, the Jerusalem Theater, the First Station, the Israel Museum, the Cinematheque, the International Convention Center, Mamilla Avenue and the Beit Shmuel theater.

Wine Therapy: A special occasion

Ahead of the Tzamid festival, which highlights artists and performers with special needs, the organizers take a break at the Luciana restaurant in Jerusalem.

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