In It Together
His Brother ’ s Keeper
By Sharon Gelbach
T hey sit side by side at the head table , two brothers , Shimon and Avraham Levy . Both are the sons of Rabbi Dov , z ” l , founder of the Seeach Sod special education network . A largish crowd has come to take part in the Zos Chanukah birthday celebration . Avraham , the focus of the party , is a dignified 54-year-old with Down Syndrome . He listens with obvious enjoyment to the heartfelt speeches given in his honor by his fellow supported residents . One by one , he graciously accepts the gifts presented to him .
“ This is a present that I ’ m giving you for the second time , because the one
I gave you a few years ago is all worn out ,” pronounces Moshe Bernstein , the coordinator of this supported housing program . He hands Avraham an ornate leather-bound book of Shabbos zemiros , wrapped in clear cellophane with silver ribbons .
With Seeach Sod now commemorating a half-century of continually developing activity on behalf of people with disabilities , these two brothers are seen as one composite . Since their father ’ s untimely passing 17 years ago , Rabbi Shimon has lifted the organization to its current position of leadership in the world of special education and
Photo : Elchanan Kotler
advocacy for individuals with disabilities in Israel . But it was Avraham , the Levys ’ firstborn , who sparked that mission . He gave Rabbi Dov and his wife the impetus to venture into the wilderness , and with remarkable mesirus nefesh , create a religious framework and a haven for children with disabilities where none existed before .
“ Growing up , he was my older brother , simple as that ,” recalls Rabbi Shimon . “ We shared the same room , he ’ d take me on the bus to our grandparents in Bnei Brak for Shabbos , he took me to the beach in the summer . It wasn ’ t until his bar mitzvah , when I was around seven , that I began to understand that Avraham was different .”
Avraham ’ s diagnosis was initially shattering for Dov and Miriam Levy and their extended families . But it didn ’ t take long for them to rally , and with the encouragement of the Beis Yisrael of Gur , ztz ” l , the parents made an uncommon decision for those times . They would keep their Down Syndrome child and provide him with as normal a life as possible . That resolve would ultimately have life-changing repercussions — not only for the Levys ’ future children , but the entire special needs landscape in Israel ’ s community of shomrei Torah u ’ mitzvos — and beyond .
Learning together
The Levy siblings , all of whom work in special education , have fond memories of Avraham when they were growing
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