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Students from the Diaspora who spend a year or two in Israel on an overseas program often return to their country of origin with a mission: to return to Israel as soon as they possibly can. It’s common for alumni to return to their “alma maters” at every opportunity, coming back for the month of Elul, Chanukah vacation of Spring break. Midreshet Lindenbaum’s Chana and Yaacov Tilles Campus is no exception to this phenomenon; throughout the year one can spot former students poring over Jewish texts in the beit midrash, catching up with faculty, reconnecting with old friends, hiking across Israel and generally re-charging their Zionist batteries.

For the young men and women on the Darkaynu Program, however, fulfilling the dream of returning to Israel is not taken for granted. Students with severe learning and developmental disabilities face logistical challenges which prevent them from just packing their bags and coming “home.”

“The Darkaynu students missed being here terribly,” says Elana Goldscheider, founding director of the Darkaynu Program. “They craved the injection of Torah learning and Zionism, the feelings of independence and love. There’s no reason they should not be able to realize their dreams,” she says. And so, in October, the first group of Darkaynu alumni arrived in Israel, just in time to celebrate Sukkot.

Darkaynu was first established seven years ago as the result of Goldscheider’s determination to enable students with special needs to have the same experience as their mainstreamed peers. “They are now alumni,” she says, “and they want to have the same alumni experience, too.”

The jam-packed program included a stop at the Kotel, hikes, a visit to the Machane Yehuda market to buy a lulav and etrog and a snorkeling adventure in search of the snail that produces the techelet used in tzitzit. Time was also dedicated to volunteering in a soup kitchen, a hallmark of the Darkaynu year program. “Studying in the beit midrash, attending classes, talking with old friends and meeting new ones gave participants new memories that will accompany them when they leave,” notes Goldscheider.

“It is so great to be here,” said Tikvah, one of the program’s pioneering students. “Eretz Yisrael, friends, the best staff and fun! What more could you want?” adding wistfully, “It is hard to be back because I know I will have to leave.”

Marnie acknowledged that the Darkaynu Program “allowed me to grow in all directions. But it’s been hard being back in America.” This was echoed by Devorah who said, “Friends in Darkaynu are the best, the staff is great and girls are great. But I do not have friends like this at home.” All of the program participants expressed their wish that they could still “be here full time,” as put by Bassi, who remarked, “I cannot believe it has been three years since I was here.”

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