Hundreds Release Wish Balloons at Western Wall for New Year
Over 400 participants, including approximately 200 young women with Down syndrome, gathered for the annual flagship event of the "Shluvot" organization near the Western Wall in Jerusalem. The event, held ahead of Rosh Hashanah, aimed to provide an empowering day of connection, uplifting music, and prayer for the participants and their families.
Attendees received personal kits and enjoyed a rich spread of refreshments. A special video summarizing a summer retreat for the young women, highlighting shared experiences and friendships, was screened, eliciting joyous reactions. Simi Erlich, director of "Shluvot," spoke about the organization's activities and the bonds formed between the participants, volunteers, and families throughout the year.
Rabbi Shmuel Alfa delivered words of encouragement, urging families and directly addressing the young women, stating their prayers to God for the well-being of the Jewish people in the coming year would surely be accepted. MK Rabbi Yonatan Mashriki, Chairman of the Knesset Health Committee, also attended, expressing his admiration for the participants and volunteers, emphasizing the strength of friendship and connection fostered by the organization.
The event featured a special program for the Day of Judgment with Rabbanit Rachel Klein, who shared her personal story. Singer Tehila Karvani performed emotional songs accompanied by a musical ensemble. The climax of the event saw the young women, families, and volunteers ascend to the roof of the "Ohr Hachaim" complex, overlooking the Western Wall.
Musicians R' Moti Vizel and R' Aharaleh Samet, along with the "Malchut" choir and child prodigy Ari Kraus, led soulful songs. R' Moti Vizel recited special rhyming verses expressing gratitude to donors, volunteers, and families, and offering wishes for a good year. The event culminated with the release of wish balloons, on which the young women wrote their hopes for the new year, as they stood before the Western Wall. Names were submitted for prayer, followed by a moment of collective prayer and emotion.
The "Shluvot" organization thanked "Ohr Hachaim" for hosting, philanthropist Rabbi Chuna Deutsch for his involvement in the production, and all those who supported the event.
