Mercaz Harmony is the pioneering educational program which
reaches out and includes children with special needs
alongside their typical peers. The amazing factor about
Mercaz Harmony is the fact that when someone enters their
facilities, one can almost be oblivious to the fact that the
classes are integrated.
Mercaz Harmony's purpose is simple and unambiguous. Children
with special needs might walk differently, talk differently,
or learn differently from typical children; but there is no
reason for their disabilities to set them apart from other
youngsters. Within the framework of inclusion, children with
disabilities can strive to higher goals, develop a better
self-image, and acquire new skills and interests. Children
without special needs learn to accept and relate to those who
are different.
Batya Feigenbaum is an outstanding example of why inclusion
is so important. That is why Mercaz Harmony decided to honor
her at their 18th annual dinner at the Citadel Hotel in
Jerusalem, on Sunday, September 21, 2003. Batya has surpassed
all expectations, except her own. She has set an example for
young people everywhere.
Batya was born in 1985 at Hadassah Har HaTzofim, with a
spinal cord injury that left her a quadriplegic. After time
in ICU and using various alternative therapies, Batya
regained use of her upper body but remained a paraplegic. The
Feigenbaums moved to Canada when Batya was two -- where she
was involved in standard and alternative therapies.
Batya was mainstreamed into the regular Bais Yaakov School of
Toronto, and graduated high school this past June. She was
active in her school's student council, and was editor of the
Grade 12 yearbook. She went to Camp Sternberg during summer
vacations, where she participated in canoeing, swimming,
white water rafting, and all the regular camp activities.
This past summer she was a counselor for seventh graders. She
gets around with crutches and braces, has an electric
scooter, and drives a car with hand controls. Batya has
spoken to various audiences about dealing with adversity, and
how to cope with life's challenges. She is presently
attending Meor Bais Yaakov Teachers Seminary in Jerusalem,
and hopes to pursue a career in the field of Jewish
education.
Batya is the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok and Lana Feigenbaum.
Rabbi Yitzchok Feigenbaum is the principal of Tiferes Bais
Yaakov High School and was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After
many years of study in Yeshivas Mir, Jerusalem, he helped
found Yeshivat Darchei Noam/ Shapell College of Jewish
Studies -- a yeshiva for university aged young men with
little formal Jewish education. In 1987, he and his family
moved to Toronto so Batya could receive the medical treatment
she needed. He has taught at Yeshivat Or Chaim and Ulpanat
Orot High Schools, lectured for Aish HaTorah and Or Somayach,
was the Scholar in Residence for NCSY and taught at the
Melton Centre for Jewish Studies. In September 2000, he
became the Principal of Tiferes Bais Yaakov, a high school
for girls. Over the past two decades, he has lectured
extensively in schools, synagogues and universities in North
America, Israel and the former Soviet Union. He is also the
author of "Understanding the Talmud" by Feldheim
Publishers.
His wife Lana Feigenbaum, also in the field of education,
teaches at Bais Yaakov Elementary School, and is involved in
many community projects. They have seven children (four of
whom are presently in Israel) and seven grandchildren.
Anyone who wishes to give a donation or place an ad in the
Mercaz Harmony Dinner Journal to honor Batya can send their
donation to Mercaz Harmony c/o 265 Moore Park Avenue, North
York Ontario M2M 1N5. Checks are to be made payable to Press
Foundation.
