Parents from Beit Aviv Elementary School in Even Yehuda refused to allow Maayan Shachar to attend the school Purim party a year after she was seriously injured in an accident on a school trip. Her mother, Esther, decided not to fight the decision and instead is organizing an alternative party, supported by the municipality, to celebrate Purim with local disabled children with the attendance of celebrities.
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Arguing for Shachar's exclusion, the parents claimed that "the matter could cause trauma to their children who were involved in the accident;" an explanation which was accepted by the Education Ministry.
"I decided not to take her to the party on Friday," said her mother. "If the education ministry does not want to deal with the issue, I will organize an alternative party for her. I will invite children with disabilities from the Sharon area to the party. This is an initiative of the local council together with Kevin Rubin and Guy Eitan. They will ensure that the party's message is unity."
Ever since rumors about the decision spread, Even Yehuda has been on edge. "The residents wanted to hold a protest march with Maayan against the school, and Facebook is also abuzz, but I decided to tone it down because things got out of proportion," Shachar added.
In addition to the support she received from her city, the Shachar family received a big hug from many singers, actors and fellow citizens. "It's fun to receive all this support. Omer Adam called and also Noa Kirel approached us, Gila Almagor and Tali Oren, Natalie Dadon and the Buzaglo family. Many actors and singers want to come and perform, people just want to hug us, and it's significant."
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Singers Noa Kirel and Omer Adam wanted to support the alternative Purim party
(Photo: PR)
Alongside the outpour of joy from the support she receives, there is also anger at the Education Ministry's conduct. "They should have built a program for Maayan, her sister, the children and the community from the start, and then we wouldn't have ended up with Purim like this. There was negligence, and it's showing now."
"I'm not mad at the parents who objected," Shachar added. "They understood that they shouldn't bother with me or with Maayan anymore. They could have approached me earlier and explained the situation, instead of going behind my back. The parents who support me are the majority and want to include Maayan in any case."