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Professor Yaniv Poria’s recent master’s degree course is giving future travel industry leaders the tools to improve travel and recreational experiences for people with a wide range of disabilities.

At first glance, Professor Yaniv Poria doesn’t appear to be the most traditional Jew on the planet. He regularly wears a hat, but it is more Leonard Cohen than traditional Jewish; he sports a goatee beard and he wears earrings. Yet, the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev professor at the Department of Hotel and Tourism Management, Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management would proudly argue that his entire career is informed by Jewish values and outlook. 

Through his teaching and writing, Poria works hard to bring the unique needs of often marginalized populations – including LGBTQ, people who are obese, and people with disabilities – to the forefront. His recent course for undergraduate and graduate students from the Beersheba and Eilat campuses, “Impacting Accessible Tourism: Impact Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Making Tourism Accessible for All” is giving future travel industry leaders the tools to improve travel and recreational experiences for people with a wide range of disabilities. 

Poria traces his interest in people with disabilities to a formative experience that happened when he was a young soldier. 

“I was a soldier on Arlozoroff Street with all the real man symbols – a gun, a red kumta [beret], red shoes…” recounts Poria. “I looked up and I saw some young religious Sherut Leumi girls around my age. My first reaction was, ‘Why don’t they go into the real army?” He then recalls observing the girls helping a group of children with disabilities saying goodbye to their parents for the weekend. The curious Poria engaged one young woman in conversation. 

“What if on Shabbat, you need to buy diapers?” he asked. “I will go to SuperPharm and run faster than you!” one replied. Poria was shocked and began to wonder, “What is more difficult – to be on the borders, or to take care of these kids?” Poria was a changed man. 

PROF. YANIV PORIA (credit: BGU)
PROF. YANIV PORIA (credit: BGU)

“I decided that, in my own way, I will make their life better. I will do research and focus on the travel experience and will assist wherever I can.” Now, as a professor, writer, editorial board member and reviewer for many tourism and hospitality journals, he is living up to his word.

Poria has pursued many areas of interest on the way to his very successful accessible travel course. Earlier in his academic career, he researched visitors’ experiences at heritage tourist sites. 

“I focused on management of Jewish heritage sites because people were losing Jewish heritage and Jewish identity.” He proudly reports, “I am a Jewish researcher. I look at Jewish heritage. It is the way I interpret Judaism.” 

He concedes that this and his subsequent areas of academic research could have harmed his academic career. 

“This could have put my academic career in danger!” as they were “of no interest to the mainstream.” He playfully refers to himself as “the rasha  [evil child] of the Passover Haggadah. 

After doing PhD work in the UK and returning to Israel, Poria conducted research on what he describes as “special segments often ignored in the tourism literature,” including gays and lesbians and people with disabilities. He also studied people who are obese. A 2017 paper published in the Journal of Travel Research is titled, “An exploratory study about obese people’s flight experience.” 

“I did a study on obesity which is the new form of disability. Due to their appearance, people suffer from racism. I call it a social disability.” 

WHEN PORIA decided to devote his attention to teaching a course on accessible tourism, he figured literature and course material would be readily available. 

“I made an assumption I‘d find another course,” reports Poria, who planned to adapt and expand material for his proposed course. “I wasn’t looking for a course on technical issues like measurements (i.e. of an accessible bathroom). I wanted a course about dilemmas, a course with a body of knowledge for those who want to manage.” He and a teaching assistant got to work in designing a three credit graduate course—with a five-page syllabus, nine required readings, 14 recommended readings, and 13 sessions. 

“This was different from all of my other courses,” concedes Poria. “Each session started with a meeting with a person in management of disabilities tourism, or a person with a disability – a person who is blind, or deaf, or who has a child who is autistic.” He adds, “The students learned how people are treated in the hospitality and tourism industry. They imagined what it would be like to travel with a disability.” 

One presenter, Omer Zur, knows a great deal about accessible travel. Many years ago, Zur wanted his father, paralyzed during the Yom Kippur War, to join him for the final month of his three-year post-army trip. They jointly designed Paratrek Trekker, a device that can handle off-road hiking without taking away his father’s independence. Zur is founder and CEO of Paratrek and has used the Trekker to successfully help people with paraplegia navigate 19,341-foot Mount Kilimanjaro. 

Zur appreciated the opportunity to speak to the class as “until recently, it was thought that people with disabilities should stay home or go out only to specific places.” He has seen a change in recent years but feels the travel industry still has more to learn. “When people who provide the tourism experience know more, and better understand the needs of people with disabilities, they will be able to provide better service.”

Fred Maahs Jr, a wheelchair user who is also chief operations officer for Travel for All and editor of Melange, Accessibility for All magazine, wasn’t able to speak to Poria’s students, but he is delighted to learn about the course. Maahs, who recently returned to the United States after attending Expo2020 in Dubai, notes the many challenges that still exist for travelers with disabilities including lack of adequate accessible transportation. 

“The mere fact that people with disabilities still have to do their own research in order to ensure that their travel destination is adapted and accessible tells you that we still have a lot of work to do.”

Poria’s students found the course, sponsored by the Rothschild Foundation, to be challenging and demanding yet rewarding. The final project involved students speaking with people with disabilities, identifying problems and suggesting a solution that would be affordable and ultimately lead to profits for those who implement it. Poria didn’t want his students to lose sight of the fact that while they are learning to be sensitive practitioners, they are graduate students in a school of business and management. 

ELI LEVY has a close relationship to disabilities and took his final assignment very seriously. 

“I am the son of a disabled father who grew up when there was a very low awareness of the subject.” Levy reports, “My partner and I have chosen to develop a technological aid that will allow the blind to dive and experience an accessible and as close experience as possible to the experience of a sighted diver. As part of the work we were exposed to many stakeholders in the field, diving clubs, product engineers, blind organizations and of course the blind themselves. 

“The experience was challenging and the results were interesting and surprising. It was evident that there was a huge need to make tourism accessible to this population and the enthusiasm as well as the cooperation on their part was immense. It was an experience to be part of a unique and first-of-its-kind course and the feeling was of pioneering in a field that requires a lot of investment and research in the future as well.” 

Levy adds, “Professor Yaniv Poria is an impressive and interesting man and I really wanted to take a course under his guidance!”

Or Dvir felt the course was “unique” and that it exposed her and her classmates to “the gaps that exist between the demands and needs of those we so desperately want to host and the situation and infrastructure that exists in Israel. We have been exposed to the day-to-day challenges of those who want to enjoy leisure and tourism services like everyone else.” 

She reports learning a very valuable practical lesson which will help in her career. 

“I learned that the most important thing is the ability to ask, knowing that the first and most important step on the path to full accessibility for all is an understanding of the real needs of those in front of us. If we do not look our guests in the eye, without shame, and ask them how we can make this vacation fun and easy for them, we are not doing our job as service providers.”

Eli Meiri is no stranger to the disabilities travel industry. The 67-year-old graduate student, Pardes Hanna resident, tour operator and tour guide who specializes in tours for people with disabilities (and founder of Israel4All, an accessible travel company in Israel), enjoyed the course and continues to internalize its message. 

“Accessibility for all is a way of life. I think everybody must have a way to get everywhere. People with disabilities have the right and need appropriate opportunities to get out of their homes for fun and recreation and to participate in all parts of communal life.”

Poria is delighted with the feedback he has received for the course and continues to dream big. 

“I think the course is only a first step. I would like to develop a center focusing on conducting the best research about people with disabilities and travel, tourism, recreation and leisure experiences. Our findings would not be just in academic journals but would be available to all. This can be done easily. This is being an or l’goyim – a light to the nations – and it should be done in Israel, and at Ben-Gurion University, which has a spirit of innovation.”

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Original Article Published on the Jerusalem Post

The Israeli pavilion at the Expo 2020 offers the experience of being a disabled person in an urban environment.

Access Israel is well known in Israel for its disability awareness work and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities.

Last week, a delegation of leaders from Access Israel took their message and their “urban obstacle course” on the road to Dubai. Visitors to the Israel pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai had an opportunity to experience what it is like to navigate an urban environment in a wheelchair or as a blind or visually impaired person.

Access Israel, an NGO established in Israel in 1999, also marked December 3 the International Day of “People of Determination” at its pavilion, along with colleagues from Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), Start-Up Nation Central, and the Regional Cooperation Ministry.

The organizations also showcased advanced accessibility technologies, including an automatic speech recognition device developed by Voiceitt; medical technology and innovative communication technologies produced by EyeControl, an AI-based motion-control system that analyses wheelchair seating positions developed by ReSymmetry; and a panoramic, 3D photography system that identifies accessibility obstacles in a range of terrains, including urban environments.

According to most estimates, people with disabilities comprise 15% of the world’s population.

Access Israel brings ‘urban obstacle course’ to Dubai. (credit: ACCESS ISRAEL)
Access Israel brings ‘urban obstacle course’ to Dubai. (credit: ACCESS ISRAEL)

“The Israeli innovation ecosystem offers multiple technological solutions to a global challenge, with the hope of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities and achieving a more precise lateral integration,” said Michal Seror, director of ecosystem development at Start-Up Nation Central. “Start-Up Nation Central regards the display of the Israeli technology in Dubai as a direct continuation of our long-term partnership with the UAE.”

KKL-JNF, Access Israel, Start-Up Nation Central, the Regional Cooperation Ministry, Google and FAISR also created a collaborative social event to increase awareness. One hundred people with and without disabilities jointly created the logo of the International Disability Alliance on the Expo lawn by holding up blue umbrellas.

Michal Rimon, CEO of Access Israel, found the making of the umbrella campaign video, which required 100 people to stand in the Dubai heat with an umbrella raised, to be one of the most touching and memorable moments of their stay in Dubai.

“I was afraid it would be difficult to get so many people to agree to be part of it. Eventually, we had hundreds of participants – those who did not have an umbrella cheered and clapped and the entire hour became a real attraction – bringing together people from all over the world on this special date and raising awareness for us all.”

Rimon welcomed the opportunity for Israel to actively participate in this important world event.

“The Expo is one of the largest global exhibitions and a great opportunity to send our message and share our projects with people literally from all over the world. We had a chance to get together with people from all our neighboring countries as well as from other parts of the world. Israel’s leadership in inclusion and disability was evident, and people want to learn more.”

Access Israel founder and wheelchair user Yuval Wagner added, “Arriving at UAE on an official delegation of Israel with an amazing unique combination of people with and without disabilities, wearing the Israeli flag with pride and receiving great reactions from the people themselves, was an amazing experience and true pride for us all.”

Wagner looks forward to returning soon.

“The fact that we left with a specific request from several local contacts – that they want more and want us back already in January – is probably the best proof to the potential and the ripple effect of our visit.”

The Access Israel delegation had planned to organize an accessible candle-lighting event on December 5 in Dubai, utilizing a menorah developed by Impact Labs and printed on a 3D printer. The menorah makes it possible for people with arm and hand disabilities to light candles using a special lighter.

While the menorah was indeed accessible, it was deemed ineligible on board the plane to Dubai due to its fire-starting mechanism.

Instead, Wagner, who has limited use of his hands, lit candles on the eighth night of Hanukkah in Tel Aviv with TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) and the Impact Labs team.

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Original Article Published on the JNS

Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija is proudly representing Israel and Judaism on and off the court.

The 20-year-old Israeli is having a good second season in the NBA and finally having opportunities to interact with the local Jewish community. Avdija lit the menorah on the fifth night of Chanukah at the Rockville Town Center in Montgomery County, Md., 20 miles north of the team’s Capital One Arena.

He wore a white kipah, chanted the blessings, signed autographs, answered questions from fans and expressed appreciation to the members of the Jewish community who helped him celebrate his first Hanukkah away from family.

“I want to say thank you to the people who came here and supported me and light the menorah with me. Those little things with the community, especially with the Jewish community, it’s not easy to celebrate the first Hanukkah out of home,” he said.

Avdija elaborated on Thursday night’s “in-person-with-fans” event during Friday’s post-practice media session. “It was pure enjoyment to meet and share this special moment,” he said. “The love and support the Jewish community game me is unreal!”

Avdija, who is currently the only Israeli playing in the NBA, has always looked to the example set by Omri Casspi and Nadav Henefield—Israelis who also had distinguished basketball careers in the United States. “I saw what they did and knew I wanted to do that, too. I aimed for that from a young age.”

In fact, he takes his role quite seriously. “It is great representing Israel; I am trying to do my best on and off the court to give pride to my country.”

And he noted that he has always loved the “Festival of Lights.”

“My mother had a special connection to this holiday,” he related. “This is the holiday we focused most on. It is just good vibes—this holiday in Israel when I was growing up. You had sufganiyot everywhere, the songs, the menorahs … everywhere. It is just one of my favorite holidays for sure. And I wait every year to celebrate it again and again.”

On a health digression, Avdija reported that he was “not feeling well” and was “a little tired.” He is listed as “questionable-non-COVID illness” for the Friday home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Wizards, 14-8, are coming off an eight-point win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, marking their eighth home win of the season.

On Sunday, the Wizards begin a three-game road trip versus Toronto, Indiana and Detroit, and will play the next nine of 10 games on the road.

Avdija is averaging 6.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 20 minutes of playing time per game. He is second on the team in blocked shots.

“I feel stronger, more experienced,” he said, “am getting fewer foul calls and am learning something new and getting better every day.”

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Original Article Published on the Jerusalem Post

When Pascale Bercovitch made aliyah from France at age 17, she had no money, no friends, and no legs. But the always upbeat Bercovitch arrived with a positive attitude, determination to serve in the IDF, and a firm commitment from the esteemed Brig.-Gen. Aharon Davidi to make that happen – even if she was a recent amputee.

Now, the 54-year-old Tel Aviv resident is a seasoned Paralympian, motivational speaker, writer, mother of two and very happy longtime Tel Aviv resident. The Paralympic medalist, who has participated in three sports – handcycling, rowing and kayaking – over four Paralympics, recently returned from the Paralympics in Tokyo. Back home, she is also a local hero at the boathouse along the Yarkon River, and an advocate for accessibility and for people with disabilities in general.

Bercovitch took off 10 days to rest after returning from the recent Tokyo Paralympics, then immediately got back in her kayak. “I have to paddle! It is like with hunger – a person has to eat!”

She is still seriously considering competing in the 2024 Paralympics, which are to be held in Paris, not far from where she grew up. For now, Bercovitch has been good to herself. “I am training daily but doing one instead of two workouts a day.”

Bercovitch has many projects on her to-do list. “I have a lot to do, including a book about my life.”

HANDBIKING IN London, 2012. (credit: IPC)
HANDBIKING IN London, 2012. (credit: IPC)

She is also a sought-after motivational speaker. And she wants to spend more time with her daughters – 12-year-old Mica will soon celebrate her bat mitzvah, and 20-year-old Eden, who is a soldier with elite sports status. Eden just so happens to excel in the same sport as her mother – rowing, and is a member of the Israeli National Kayaking Team.

Bercovitch’s interest in Israel is remarkable, given how little she knew about Judaism or Israel growing up in France.

She was born in France to two parents who were also born in France. She was a good student, and enjoyed literature and French culture. Despite her strong French upbringing, she recounts, “I had a feeling from a young age that I didn’t fully belong to France, but I couldn’t say why.”

The precocious and contemplative Bercovitch was always thinking of ways to positively impact the world. “From age 13, I dreamed of living in a new country and building it.”

She had a sense that France was already “set,” and that there was little she could do to effect change. Everything in France and Europe is stuck, she thought, and turned her sights to other places in the world, including Africa.

She secretly began sending her weekly allowance money (“meant for things like buying croissants!”) to Doctors Without Borders. “My parents eventually discovered it when I started getting mail from the organization!”

As Bercovitch dreamed of living in another country and helping the local people, she was hearing stories from her father of the hardships people living in Communist countries were experiencing. He spoke of relatives who had lived in Poland and Romania, and he explained about life in Soviet countries.“

I wanted to go there. I wanted to change the world,” offers Bercovitch.

HER LONG journey to Israel started at age 15 when she chanced upon a Jewish radio program by Gérard Benhamou. “I began to listen to the Jewish radio. We had one frequency for Jewish radio in French; we do until today. I secretly listened to the program three times a week, under my blanket at night!” reports Bercovitch. “I knew I am half Jewish, but didn’t know what it means. Suddenly, I heard about this small country that has a very big vision and I thought, okay, I am also small and I also have a big vision.”

Bercovitch notes that her identification with Israel was in its early stages and she was very excited when Benhamou had a special guest – Brig.-Gen. Aharon Davidi, speaking about his new Sar-El program.

“We are inviting guests, Jewish or not, to have a three- or four-week experience in the army – and we pay for the ticket,” said Davidi.

Bercovitch was trying to recall whether the program paid for all or part of the ticket. But she vividly remembers her reaction to hearing Davidi speak. “I felt like I got a big boom on my head from a hammer – I jumped from bed, got a pen and paper to write down the contact information, and called the next day.”

She was disappointed to learn that she needed to be 19 but was not discouraged. “I won’t wait a year and a half!”

Bercovitch told her parents some of the story of the opportunity that potentially awaited. “I told my parents I found a way to have a free holiday abroad. I told them I was too young, but I didn’t tell them it was for Israel.”

Her parents, knowing how mature and beyond her years Pascale was, said that they would explain to the program organizers that she was “not a usual kid!”

BERCOVITCH MADE her first trip to Israel at age 17. “I didn’t want to come as a tourist – I wanted to come and help!”

She loved the experience and was overjoyed when Davidi came to visit France. Davidi, who died in 2012, was the head of the IDF Paratrooper and Infantry Corps, became the director of Community and Cultural Activities of the Golan and Jordan Valley, and was the founder of Sar-El. He came to France and told Bercovitch, “I heard you were the youngest on the program!”

She shared her passion for Israel and her desire to one day serve in the army. “He loved me! He gave me his business card and said, ‘If you come, I want to help you.’”

Then she experienced the unimaginable: On her way to school one wintry day when she was 17, she slipped on ice at a train station and was pulled under a train. The driver did not see her as it was early morning. As Bercovitch waited for help to arrive, she realized both of her legs had been severed at the thigh.

In spite of this life-altering event, Bercovitch set her sights on Israel. “I told my mother, ‘Please call Sara-El and tell them I’m going to be a little late [in coming to Israel and to the army].” She adds, “The accident was in December 1984, and I had a secret plan to start the army in 1985. My mother did not know what she was doing.”

To this day, Bercovitch is amazed and appreciative that Davidi came to visit her in the hospital in Paris in March 1985. “I remember it was snowing. He was a very special, generous and very tough man. I called him Paddington since he had a kova tembel [round, brimless hat] and a big beard.

“He said, ‘I heard about the accident, and despite having no legs, you are always welcome.’ He said he was ready to keep his word and wanted to help me. It was one of the best days of my life!”

She continues, “Six months after the accident, I called him and said I am coming. He asked if I was done with my treatment. I said yes. I lied! He knew. I took a ticket and flew from Paris to Tel Aviv.”

Bercovitch’s army service was a little mundane, though useful for a new olah acclimating to life in Israel. “I was preparing coffee and food. It was boring, but I learned Hebrew!”

She also reports that she spent her time in the army learning about the language, the culture of Israel, and the realities of her new physical condition.

After her army service, Bercovitch had a successful journalism career and split her time between Israel and France. “I traveled a lot and had two apartments – one in Tel Aviv and one in Paris.”

Thanks to Davidi, Bercovitch was also introduced to sports. “He arranged for me to do sports at the pool two times a week, and I was on the national swim team.”

Bercovitch then became a motivational speaker. She can’t stop speaking about Davidi. “He opened the army gates to paraplegics. All that I am today is because he believed in me.”

As Bercovitch looks back on her many years in Israel, she is pleased with all that she has accomplished, yet she remains honest about the many challenges she has faced.“

I had to always be inventive and manage. It was very tough. When I got here I had $100, a suitcase and wheelchair. I had no family support. I was 17. I was totally alone. And nothing was accessible 37 years ago. There were stairs everywhere!”

Even when Bercovitch became a Paralympic athlete at age 40, she faced challenges. “They said I was too old to do anything. And there was no money! No financial support and no psychological support.”

She has thus far managed to complete in four Paralympic games, and she just might go for her fifth. “I am not saying I won’t be in Paris [for the next Paralympic Games]. I may!”

For now, Bercovitch enjoys being a mother to her two daughters, and takes being a role model for disabled and nondisabled athletes very seriously. “People know me, and it is an amazing feeling. For example, recently a class of 10-year-olds with their teacher stopped at the boathouse and said, ‘This is Pascale!’ It is worth it to be a model to these kids. I bring the values of what I am able to do. I am aware of what I can bring. I want people to identify, to understand, to react properly.”

Bercovitch concludes, “I love Israel. I love the people, the weather and the sea. My kids are fully Israeli and thank me for raising them here. I love everything – except for the bureaucracy!”

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