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Howard Blas

Howard Blas

Howard Blas is a social worker and special-education teacher by training. He teaches Jewish studies and prepares students with a range of disabilities for b’nai mitzvah. He regularly leads Birthright Israel “classic” and service trips for people with disabilities. His publications can be viewed here.

Home Front Command and “purple” initiatives help vulnerable populations access shelters, information and essential services.
Cheering on the now 20-year-old: the Israeli embassy, former NBA player Omri Casspi, players from the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club and National Team, and fans of Israel everywhere.
Best friends Uriel Levitt and Jacob Werbin, both with disabilities and who found themselves out of work and unable to go to camp last summer, founded a company with the help of their mothers and the support of their community.
The baseball 12-and-under set is preparing to compete for the Unity Cup in March, featuring Israel, the United Arab Emirates and potentially teams from other Gulf states.
The team members, who come from all over the world and are mainly not Jewish, not only cycle hard, they serve as ambassadors for the State of Israel.
Making friends, learning the city, sharing Hebrew, supporting local residents, even going for a Chick-fil-A run, the 19-year-old is knee-deep in getting to know American culture.
The Israeli basketball star notes that he is “excited to play against the NBA greats—all the guys I played against when I was little … in video games!”
“I thought, ‘Whoa, you are in the Barclay Center, playing against all those players you saw on TV, and now you’re just playing against them on the court,” said the 6-foot-9-inch Israeli forward.
With ties between the Mideast countries now official, two women are helping improve amenities, resources and accessibility for residents and visitors.