The Foreign Ministry, along with Israeli singers, Olympians and politicians, opened a special photo exhibition this week to mark Israel’s Disability Awareness Month and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The Upside Down exhibit – or “hafuch” in Hebrew – at iconic sites in Israel features famous Israelis with children with disabilities doing handstands or posing next to their more agile colleagues.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs together alumot side (rays of light), Center for Jewish Influence, and Haredim Laktsev inaugurated the exhibition. The project is the brainchild of Ambassador Dan Orion, director of the Ministry of Balkans and a certified gymnastics coach.
Orion said in his speech, “This exhibition was designed to raise awareness of the public at large, telling the story of the unique partnership between the world of art and some truly amazing young people who are both courageous and humorous.” with the challenges of his disability.” at the opening ceremony on Monday.
Israeli singers Gila Almagor, Ronnie Somek, Tal Sondak, Leah Sheked, Gadi Rabinovich, Meski Shibru, Kobi Osharat, Oshrit Bani and Ronnie Nadler all attended the opening ceremony, as did windsurfer Nimrod Masiach and Paralympian Nadav Levy.
Sondak, Shaked and Oshrat took the stage to sing along with children with disabilities.
The exhibition, curated by photographer Shlomi Amslem, will be moved to Israeli embassies abroad throughout the month of December. Israeli NGOs advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities and working for better integration into society will also be highlighted in the international exhibitions.
Orion said, “If it is possible to stand on our hands together, we can do almost anything together. That is the motto of the exhibition, which puts children with disabilities at center stage and at the center of photographs.”
Ambassador Dan Orion (left) joins Energy Minister Karine Elharer (middle) and Israeli capoeira champion Mickey Hayat (right) and children with special needs for the State Department’s Upside Down exhibition. (courtesy)
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
“The photographs at the exhibition, and especially the people who made them, tell us: anything is possible,” he said. “When we are together, of course anything is possible. It is possible to overcome difficulties, it is possible to overcome almost any limit. I don’t know how to stand on my hands, but I’m proud to inaugurate this exhibition here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I love that you’ve come from Israel and around the world. Anything is possible because of you.”
The “upside down” exhibition is one of the most valuable things we’ve done. The joy on the faces of all who participated in it is indescribable in words. pic.twitter.com/SNHQWnyt24
— Alon Ushpiz (@AlonUshpiz) December 7, 2021
“The Upside Down exhibition is one of the most ethical things ever done,” tweeted Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Ushpiz. “The joy on the faces of everyone who participated in it is indescribable.”
“We have created a language that is understandable by all and ties everyone together,” said Mickey Hayat, CEO of Haredim Leketzev.
Ambassador Dan Orion (right) joins Israeli capoeira champion Mickey Hayat (left) and the Israeli disabled at the Upside Down exhibition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (courtesy)
As Israel’s envoy to North Macedonia, Orion began a series of events surrounding children with disabilities. He invited children to help him cook at Israel’s Independence Day celebrations, and flew young people with special needs to participate in the March of Life to commemorate Macedonian Jews killed in the Holocaust.
“Israel’s Foreign Ministry attaches great importance to the issues of inclusion and protection of the rights of people with disabilities,” Orion said.
Other celebrities and public figures in the photos include Croatian, Albanian, Kosovar, Serbian and Bosnian envoys to Israel; Salim Jaber, head of the Abu Ghosh Regional Council; Jerusalem Santa Claus Issa Anis Kasisiyeh; and singer/actor Idan Amedi.
They were joined by Olympic gymnasts Leonoy Ashram, leader Rivkin, Artyom Dolgopyat, Nikol Zeligman and Alex Shatilov.
In 2019, Orion began a photography project called Jumping Together, in which he was filmed mid-jump in front of famous sites with young people with special needs.