Last week, over 700 people — including children, volunteers, medical staff and supporters — came together in Eilat for Simcha Layeled’s winter camp, a week filled with adventure, friendship and inclusion. For 400 physically disabled children, this camp was more than just a fun getaway. It was a rare opportunity to experience the kind of trip that so many of their peers take for granted.

A Trip Like No Other Because Everyone Could Participate

Across Israel, schools organize an annual overnight trip (טיול שנתי), a rite of passage for students. But for 90% of physically disabled children, these trips are simply not an option. Whether due to accessibility challenges, a lack of trained staff to care for them, or logistical concerns, these children are often left behind, excluded from an experience that their classmates cherish.

This is why Simcha Layeled’s winter camp is so crucial. Here, every single child — no matter their physical limitations — was able to participate fully in everything. From jeeping through the breathtaking desert landscapes to exhilarating water sports in the Red Sea and the first-ever fully accessible hike, this camp proved that adventure should be for everyone.

Everything was meticulously planned to be accessible to all the kids despite their physical challenges:

Buses: Outfitted to accommodate electric powered wheelchairs, every child had a safe and comfortable way to travel.

Hike: Using a specialized all-terrain specially outfitted wheelchairs (ordered special by our organization for this and other similar trips), and with the help of IDF soldiers from a nearby base, our children were able to experience a nature hike for the first time.

Water Sports: Every child had the opportunity to feel the thrill of the water. Adaptations were made to ensure safety while maximizing fun.

Jeep Tour: The children explored the rugged beauty of the Eilat mountains, feeling the excitement of an off-road adventure, something they had never imagined possible.

For these children, this wasn’t just about having fun. It was about feeling included. Feeling equal. Feeling capable.

A Hike That Changed Everything

One of the most powerful moments of the week was the opening of the accessible hike. Tal Rubinstein, the widow of Sagi, HY”D, a devoted Simcha Layeled volunteer who was killed fighting on the front lines in Lebanon, led the ceremony before the hike began. Sagi had dedicated himself to making these children feel valued and included, and this hike, where children in wheelchairs could navigate the trails for the first time, was a tribute to his legacy.

With the help of IDF soldiers, volunteers and special adaptive equipment, children who had never been on a hike before got to experience the joy of exploring nature. The smiles, the cheers, the pure joy on their faces — it was a moment that symbolized everything Simcha Layeled stands for.

A Mother’s Message: Turning Pain Into Smiles

Another message that helped encapsulate the importance of this camp came from a mother who watched her son board the bus to Eilat.

“The entire goal of Simcha Layeled is ‘Yachad Nechalifa Ke’ev Bechiyuch’ — ‘Together, we will change pain into a smile.’ Today, I saw that firsthand. The drop-off point for the buses was at Schneider Children’s Hospital. Usually, when we go there, it’s terrifying. It’s full of difficult appointments, needles, doctors; it’s a place of pain. But today, that same hospital was the starting point of something incredible. Today, that same place represented joy, because my son was on his way to Eilat to have the best time of his life with his friends from all over the country.”

This is the power of Simcha Layeled. These children, who often feel different or excluded, suddenly felt like every other child their age. Again and again, they told us: “When we’re here, we don’t feel sick.”

In this camp, every child was not only invited to participate: they were empowered to do so.

More Than Just a Camp — A National Mission

While the winter camp is a life-changing experience, it is just one part of what Simcha Layeled does. Across Israel, we support over 450 children every single week and reach 20,000 children in 18 pediatric hospital wards nationwide.

From the north to the south, in hospitals, schools and communities, we work tirelessly to ensure that physically disabled children are not forgotten. Whether through educational programs, emotional support, hospital visits, mentorship, or accessible trips like this one, we are committed to changing lives.

For these children, Simcha Layeled is not just an organization — it’s a lifeline. A national movement that ensures they are seen, supported and given every opportunity to experience life to the fullest. Because every child, no matter their challenges, deserves a chance to feel the wind on their face during a jeep ride, to float on the sea, to climb a mountain — to feel limitless.

Check out the website at www.israelspecialkids.org.

Joe Klein is executive director, Israel Special Kids Fund, at Simcha Layeled.