Thousands of children, teenagers and adults with special needs found themselves flailing, together with the rest of the Jewish nation, after the horrific events of Simchas Torah 2023 and the ensuing days. Every person with a disability is an entire world, and each needs individualized support, tailored care, and a consistent, safe routine.

At Seeach Sod, readiness measures are practiced all year long, and so an emergency system was quickly set up. This system continues to evolve even now for the benefit of this population, that needs it most but so often cannot seek it themselves.

Before anything else, preparations were made to absorb children with disabilities from the areas under fire. Seeach Sod's beautiful respite center opened its doors to accommodate hundreds of children and adults from the North or South who need a safe haven, hot meals, and proper medical care. Parents of such children share the enormous relief of knowing that their most vulnerable child is well taken care of at this time, allowing them to turn their focus to their other traumatized children.

In an unprecedented move, Seeach Sod registered over 30 children into Seeach Sod's various schools at once. One distinguished father from Netivot shared: "The war brought us to Yerushalayim, and I enrolled my son in Yeshivas Otzar Hatorah. We are astounded at the professional level of the school. Had we known about this yeshivah, we would have moved here long ago!"

Seeach Sod's counseling center expanded its services and the informational phone content. The emergency hotline received and effectively addressed over 10,000 calls to date, while tens of thousands of calls were reported to the content lines, which offer chizzuk and guidance on coping and resilience. Seeach Sod also created a special webinar for parents of children with disabilities, including a workshop with an SLP on cognitive accessibility and linguistic simplification of emergency situations; a lecture by an OT on executive functions as tools for maintaining healthy routine; and practical guidance on keeping the children busy and engaged. To facilitate this, Seeach Sod prepared and delivered beautiful packages to all the students' home with learning materials and crafts, and even a video recording of the best pick-me-up: Seeach Sod's latest Simchas Beis Hashoevah celebration which the children recall with tremendous fondness. These packages join Seeach Sod's dynamic learning space which is constantly being updated and available for the public.

One major problem that the ongoing war created was the students' transportation to their schools and workplaces. With many bus lines reduced due to concerns of sudden missile attacks, and many parents apprehensive about sending their children to school via regular transportation, Seeach Sod published a call for volunteer drivers to transport the children to school. The response was astonishing. Rabbi Shimon Levy, CEO of Seeach Sod, said: "The numerous drivers who offered to drive a child or adult with disabilities and help them maintain their normal routines have warmed our hearts with their devotion. We still call on any person who is available to do chessed with his car to call and be part of this effort to care for every Jewish child at this time, when our enemies wish to weaken us."

He added, "This is a time of emergency, and children and adult with disabilities deserve special treatment, with careful analysis of their needs and an effort to provide them. We have made it our goal to see every family as unique and to see which solution is most appropriate for their individual needs. We are not set on one particular solution. We open all suggestion before the parents and let them choose between sending their child for respite care, accepting him into a home, or registering him in a school – whatever their need may be.

"The community plays a huge role during emergencies – both in volunteering, as well as in opening their eyes and hearts to notice specific needs around them, referring to the right agencies, and helping every child or adult with a disability integrate socially. Personally, I am convinced that this is one of the most beautiful ways to increase our zechuyos at this time."