Zionist Organization of America

For people with physical challenges, loneliness is the biggest challenge of all. The Inbar organization exists to address this need.

Haifa resident Liat Mansfeld, 37, is a social worker who counsels at-risk girls and teaches in Oranim College. Despite her impressive credentials, she has not found her soul mate through dating websites and matchmakers. Most likely, that’s because Mansfeld happens to be blind.

“People are very afraid of someone with differences,” she says.

She is one of about 40 Israeli singles who attend monthly events sponsored byInbar, a four-year-old national organization that creates opportunities for social integration and skills development for marriage between adults with disabilities.

“Israel is a very family-oriented society,” says Director Laurie Groner. “While society is increasingly welcoming to those with disabilities, the challenges of social inclusion they face grow exponentially as their able-bodied friends marry and settle into the routine of family life.”

Groner, a non-profits professional with training in marriage therapy, says as far as she knows there is nothing quite like Inbar in Israel or abroad.

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Such a beautiful and inspiring story. To read it in full follow the link. There is a beautiful video as well about one couple’s experience finding love but it is in Hebrew without English translation.