Father's Day is a once-a-year occasion honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of dads in society. This year, a South African oleh seeks to inspire fellow dads worldwide by sharing how he received the greatest gift that any father could ask for—his child’s fulfillment and happiness.
Born to a family of South African olim, Mike Reizer, 24, is the youngest of four brothers. Despite his physical limitations, which include speech and mental disabilities, his parents always ensured to treat all their children as equals, emphasizing the similarities as opposed to the mild differences that set Mike apart from the family.
As Mike matured, his parents secretly fretted about would become of him after graduation. Proud Zionists who left their native country and settled in Maale Adumim to join their nation in the Jewish homeland, the Reiser boys grew up with a strong ideal of serving in the IDF. His older brothers had all served in the army, and Mike was committed to do the same. In twelfth grade, he was referred to Special in Uniform.
A collaborative effort of Lend A Hand to A Special Child, JNF-USA, and Israel Defense Forces, Special in Uniform offers extensive training to young men and women with physical and/or cognitive disabilities and incorporates them into appropriate roles in the IDF. The focus is on independent functioning, contributing positively to society, and the astonishing range of their abilities, as opposed to their disabilities.
Special in Uniform’s two-year volunteer training program culminates with graduating youths receiving their soldier’s IDs and being placed in military bases across Israel where they cull from the knowledge and skills that they acquired to perform important jobs on base, forget their disabilities and focus instead on their versatile abilities and talents. At Special in Uniform, kids with low self-worth mature into independent, confident young men and women who believe in themselves and their abilities. Throughout their years of military service, they acquire important social and life skills that empower them to meld seamlessly into society and, later, the workforce.
“We are so happy that he found this framework, which is beyond words!” expresses Mike’s dad Sam Reiser. “The staff is so professional, and they really take care of Mike. The IDF is woven into the fabric of Israeli society, indistinguishable from it, and as a father, I feel so gratified that he is a full-fledged member of Israeli society. Special in Uniform is one of the facets that makes Tzahal so incredible.
“The fact that Mike can be part of all this, and that the army allows him to be part of it, is one of the greatest things about Israel, unique to our country. The army is an excellent place to mingle with regular people whom he’d never come in contact with otherwise. It’s a marker in his life. We feel very lucky that he was able to join this program, and I’m so, so proud of him.”
Says Yossi Kahana, director of JNF-USA: “It’s kids like Mike and devoted parents like Sam and Ruth who remind us time and again just how special our country, army and nation really are. The IDF is more than just an army; and Special in Uniform is more than just an inclusion program. Together, we’re a culture of growth and giving that I don’t believe exists in any other army in the world.”
“Father’s Day is an opportunity to recognize and highlight the contributions that fathers have made in the lives of their children. It is clear to us that all the soldiers who serve so enthusiastically and loyally within Special in Uniform absorbed their love of Israel, along with their fervor, determination and willpower, from the parents who guided them, nourished them, cultivated their growth, and helped them overcome the numerous challenges strewn along their path. Today, on Father’s Day, I want to say thank you to all the incredible dads and moms out there whose endless love, support and guidance to their children make Special in Uniform possible.”