54 | JULY 14 • 2022
A
riella Selesny, 20, was excited to be
traveling to Israel on a tour for 17
young people with special needs.
The trip was arranged by Birthright and the
Friendship Circle, a West Bloomfield-based
nonprofit agency affiliated with Lubavitch
of Michigan that provides programs for
individuals with special needs as well as their
families.
According to Ariella’s mother, Chaya
Selesny, Ariella was required to have three
interviews prior to the trip. “Everyone had to
be high-enough functioning to be indepen-
dent,
” Selesny explained.
The trip was led by Rabbi Yarden
Blumstein, Friendship Circle’s teen director,
with eight additional staff members from
the Friendship Circle as well as four Israeli
volunteers. The trip was available to those
with special cognitive, emotional or physical
needs.
Blumstein says Birthright has offered tours
with special adapted schedules previously.
For Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield,
this was the first one and he hopes for others
in the future.
The young people, who ranged in age
from 18 to 27, visited Masada, Jerusalem, Tel
Aviv, the Golan Heights and Safed during
their 11-day trip in May. While Ariella has
been to Israel previously, for most of the
travelers this was a new experience.
Typically, some Israeli soldiers or former
soldiers (reservists) are assigned to Birthright
trips to provide insights into their lives
in Israel and for security. Ariella’s brother
Daniel made aliyah several years ago. He has
attended a yeshivah, completed army service
and is now an Israeli citizen. So, before the
group left Detroit, his mother began advo-
cating for Daniel to be assigned as one of the
volunteers on Ariella’s Friendship Circle trip.
“I had to convince them he’s really Israeli,
”
Chaya said. It was helpful the Friendship
Circle staff already knew Daniel.
Her efforts succeeded — Daniel was
assigned as one of a group of Israeli army
soldiers and reservists. Originally, he was
supposed to stay for five days but the trip
staff asked him to stay for the entire journey,
which he did.
The siblings initially met up in Gan
Sacher, a Jerusalem park. Ariella knew her
mother was trying to get Daniel on-board
as a trip volunteer, so she wasn’t surprised to
see him. “It was really nice for him to come
as part of the Israeli Army,
” she explained.
Ariella’s favorite part of the trip was vis-
iting the Kotel — “the holiest place for me,
”
she said. She knew some of the people on the
trip and said it “had a great atmosphere —
everyone was friendly.
”
Her brother added, “Friendship Circle
makes the kids feel so special and import-
ant.
”
According to her mother, Ariella “loved to
be in Israel and had a great time.
”
Blumstein said, “Her child was a respected
part of the group. The young people devel-
oped good friendships and felt a sense of
belonging. They enjoyed one-on-one friend-
ships and groups.
“I was amazed at the number of people
who showed respect for the group and for
what we were doing. It was my honor to do
this,
” Blumstein added.
Back at home, Ariella continues her work
at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital
through Project SEARCH, an internship
program that helps individuals with disabili-
ties gain work skills and experience.
Ariella’s parents, Chaya and Joseph
Selesny, live in Southfield with Ariella and
their three younger children, Avi and twins
Sara and Bella. They are members of Young
Israel of Southfield.
OUR COMMUNITY
Siblings Daniel
and Ariella Selesny
in Jerusalem
Rabbi Yarden Blumstein, left, rafts
in Israel with Jason Luckoff, Adam
Reinke, Gabe Granitz and
Jonah Cohen.
Brother acts as Israeli security
on sister’s special Birthright trip.
Siblings Share
Special Tour of Israel
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER