N. Shore in NSHAHS run

A select group of students from the North Shore Hebrew Academy HS (NSHAHS) journeyed to Israel last month to run in the Jerusalem Marathon in support of Shalva, an Israeli organization that focuses on helping individuals with special needs. NSHAHS participants worked hard to raise a whopping total of $50,000 to donate to this worthy organization.

The students arrived in Israel early Thursday morning, checked into their hotel, and immediately went to the Shalva grounds, located in Jerusalem. There, they were treated to a magnificent pasta lunch and were entertained by the playing and singing of the Shalva Band.

Eleventh grade participant Matthew Schecter commented, “Shalva was an amazing experience and is an amazing organization. Shalva is so well organized and good at what it does best: helping those children who need it the most.”

The next day was time for the marathon. The students all wore their “Team Shalva” shirts and began the race. Mrs. Debra Gold, NSHAHS Director of Student Life, who chaperoned the trip, commented, “The most powerful moment for me was at the end of the race. Not only was I proud to come in at number 42 out of the 1696 women in my age group, but knowing that I was running for such an amazing cause made it all the more worthwhile.”

After spending a restful Shabbat in Jerusalem, the North Shore group headed home on Sunday morning. They look forward to a continued relationship with Shalva and the opportunity to participate in the marathon again next year.