Sulam Israel featured with Yudi Zuller on JM in the AM

Well, uh, my old friend Yudi Zuller is in our studio and, uh, we reunited via telephone after many, many years last week. And I told him that he's when he's in the US, we must make sure to get him in studio because he's involved in a cause that's not new, but a cause that's going to be new to a lot of people listening. He is director of development of Sulamisrael. You can actually go to the website, sulamisrael.org. org on your own and check out what they're doing. Again, salam su lamisrael.org and there's all the info, but we get to discuss it with him live and in person on a Thursday morning. Yi Zuller, welcome back to JM in the AM. >> Good morning, Nam. before before we get to Sulam. Yeah. Uh you know, I heard you saying when I was uh getting ready to come in about uh everybody should should show and tell how enthusiastic they are about your show and what you've done for the last 43 years. So, let me just throw my hat into the rink. you have done amazing things for the Jewish community uh keeping people informed especially years ago when we didn't have the internet we didn't have smartphones and you were the the the number one source of all the uh sports scores for all the local yeshivas for the high schools you remember >> that's what I remember going on every day to find out who who won the basketball tournaments and uh who won the hockey games and >> were there other important pieces of news aside from the Jewish sports league >> there were there were important pieces about about Israel Well, I mean, most people don't know that you you taught Jewish history in MTA and for one year. And I was lucky enough to have you as my teacher as a sophomore in high school. It's something that I will always remember. You really turned us on to Israel and you really educated us and taught us about modern day Israel, which I had no idea. Um, I've told you this in the past. You're probably my earliest influence. We made aliyah 16 years ago to deim and really a tribute to to both you and and Marcus who just passed away. Um, unfortunately I was at Levia last week, but uh, you were really, you know, big movers and shakers in the Jewish community when it came to Israel at a time where not like today where, you know, so many more people are into it because of social media and because of, you know, the internet >> and circumstances. >> Yeah. And the circumstances, >> a lot of people are now closer to the whole Israel issue because of what's happened the last couple of years. >> Absolutely. But, uh, back in the day, it was really, uh, you know, it was a big eye opener for a lot of people. So call a kavo to you and everybody should continue supporting you and the great work that you do. >> I thank you. And while we're on the topic, I will then remind everybody they can go right now to fjbunity.org and throw in some support. fjbunity.org. And this show, and you of course alluded to the, you know, look, shows evolve. The show today is not going to be like the show 20 years ago for a million reasons, not just the advancement of technology. But now the mission has become almost a single mission and that is focusing on Israel and transmitting the message which you will appreciate that the future of the Jewish people is in the state of Israel and Yudi Zuller would say, "Hey folks, there's room in Malay for you. There's room there. >> There is plenty of room. >> There's housing available. In fact, you told me that your area of Malay you consider to be a really nice amazing community. >> Uh it's it's a very special community. Uh the biggest Heziva is across the street. Uh >> the largest in Israel. >> Yeah. Bat Moshe >> is in is in Mal. >> In Malam used to be. >> So you're across the street from Jewish heroes literally. >> It's it's a it's it's an amazing place and amazing views, amazing people. Um really a special special place to live and and I'm Zila to be a part of it. And how did you, this is a terrible way of saying it, how did you end up in Malay? There are a lot of communities in Israel where the typical person 16 years ago coming from the United States would have gravitated to. >> So that's a it's it's an excellent question. Male Dum was not a landing spot for many people. Um, I had uh I had an aunt and uncle who uh I grew up across the street from them in Flatbush who made Elliot in uh in the '9s and uh their their daughter uh continues to live in Melman down the block from us. So, we were familiar with the community and since I was going to be commuting uh my wife, you know, wanted uh extra coverage with when I was out of town, family to rely on. So, uh that's where we ended up and and we love it. It's it's an amazing >> even though commuters sometimes like to be closer to the airport. >> Yes, that's the one drawback of Mallay. It's an hour from the airport. >> Is there public transportation from Aladum to anywhere? >> Yeah, everywhere. >> Seriously? >> Everywhere. Uh, Tel Aviv. Yeah, they really It's >> And only bus, I assume. There's no train or light rail anywhere. >> There's there's there's light rail in usual obviously, but no, only only by bus. I mean, it's 40 it's 45,000 people right now. So, it's a it's a very large uh you know. >> So, so the only way you can get to the airport is by car unless you wanted to get creative and go to tame and and take the train or train station, I should Right. A a lot of people do that if they don't have luggage or they don't have a lot of luggage. They they they take the train they do or usually I take the train but yeah otherwise it's only by car. >> Very interesting. Like talking about these logistics because hopefully people listening in the diaspora because you know we have a big audience in Israel but those listening in diaspora hopefully will start to you know consider some of these things and start saying to themselves hey if Yudi Zuller did this from Brooklyn to Malo de man maybe I can do it. Yeah, it's it, you know, it's really I would strongly recommend it to everybody. You know, uh it's an amazing way to raise children. Uh >> your family was enhanced because you moved to Israel. >> Absolutely. My family loved it. My my, you know, my kids were so happy. We was obviously like most people, we were so worried before about the adjustment and you know, friends and really it was blehara seamless. They they >> the Yates plays so many tricks on everybody. It's crazy. >> Yes, it does. It's so crazy because 10 minutes after you're there, you're like, "Wow, you know, why wasn't I here earlier?" You know? >> I mean, listen, some people have a hard time and and and you know, Netflix is there and there are other places that, you know, that really help out. But, >> and family and friends are a good support system for most people. Not not everybody has family and friends there, but a lot of people do and that's always that always comes in handy, you know. >> Yeah. And you know, especially I would say a >> as you mentioned before after the last two and a half years, you would think that people that maybe it's not such a good time to make aliyah that people are nervous because of this war and because of the situation. But I've spoken to so many people even this this trip here in in in New York. I've spoken to a few people who are making aliyah in January who are making aliyah this summer and it just it it's had just the opposite effect. I think it's brought together Akud and it's brought together the the Jewish people and and people feel more of a kesher to Israel and more of a reason to want to be there and to be want to be a part of it and help uh defend the Jewish state. >> Amazing. Amazing. Uh well, you see based on the order of topics you see which is the top topic here. >> Absolutely. >> Yodi Zuller helping us remind everybody the future of the Jewish peoples in the state of Israel. How did you find out about this organization that we call Sulam Israel? >> So Sulam is um schools for special special needs kids. Um there are 35 of them throughout the country. started when >> started 45 years ago when um the mother-in-law of the current executive director Esster um somebody knocked on her door a neighbor crying that her son was not accepted to any gone in the neighborhood and she had a private gone in her house and she asked if you can please make an exception for my special needs kid and let them into your gun and she did and within a year she had a few uh centers open and since then it's expanded we just opened five in September uh there are 13 in Bamesh 12 in your shalai and literally How many have you visited? >> Probably about half so far. >> Wow, that's impressive. >> There have been two or three that I've been to like four or five times. The the main center in on Rakov Saratkin uh right across the street from Torah or um it's for six-month-olds through um first grade. They have 180 students in that center. They have hydrotherapy pools, pet therapy, um, uh, music therapy, uh, all different types of kids from downs to kids that can't see, kids that can't hear all the way to kids with autism, kids on the spectrum, kids that can't communicate. Um, they do a lot of work through tablets, through iPads, >> and the and these branches are from the north to the south, like all over Israel, >> all over the It just it's it's funny literally coincidentally I I keep on, you know, keep on saying that people look at me like I'm crazy, but it really is coincidence that I started in September and the day that I started, they opened up their first branch in Mallay. But it was coincident, nothing to do with me. [laughter] You know, obviously they knew about it before they knew before we met. But uh and you look those of us who know you know that you take on projects and become very passionate about them but you don't take on every project. Why this one? Why did you end up where you literally took a position as director of development for them? >> So uh great question. Um I there there are a couple reasons. First of all, um, when I went and I I I went and I met with them and I went to a couple of the centers, um, I was just blown away by by what I saw, the love and the care that that they have for the kids. >> How do they staff so many branches? >> They they have a 30% success rate. 30% of the kids that go through the Sulam program are able to transition into mainstream schools by the time they're done. Um, so that that to me is amazing. It's really like unheard of. >> And isn't it hard to staff 35 places? >> Oh, yes. 1,700 staff members. It's it's it's it's >> how do they find these technique to do it? >> It's really unbelievable. It's it's mostly from uh staff. Um you know, the people that run it don't have smartphones. They're not into social media. That's one of the reasons why they got me involved. Uh and getting back to your question, the reason why one of the main reasons why I it jumped at me is they're around for 45 years doing this amazing work, the Sabo Kodesh, and they've never had anybody do any PR or any any events or anything for them. And for me, it was a once in a-lifetime opportunity to take an organization that has so much success and so much experience and take that history and that success and run with it and and show the world and tell the world about what they're doing and what they've done. >> Yi Zuller is here, salamisrael.org. And and you mentioned to me that like many organizations, those of us familiar with Israel know that this is a fact. Like many organizations in Israel, especially the social service ones, uh the majority for many many years, the majority of their budget would come from the Israeli government and they all have good partnerships with the government. The government is is one that you know even more so than what we see here from this government and no complaint. America is is in fact but in Israel it's off the charts. They understand the need of all this. They want to take care of their own people. But the reality is and now that we're in 2025, not and with the war etc. not everyone is able to maintain a budget that they were able to in the past because the government is strapped for money. So the reality is that Sulam and other organizations need support from around the world. >> Well, that's exactly the reason that they got me involved. Um they have a very very large budget um which they get from the Israeli government. They get 90% of their budget from the Israeli government. The other 10% is is private donors. Um, but after the war, everybody is extremely nervous. They know the budget cuts are coming and rightfully so. People, they're going to re reallocate a lot of money to the military and uh, you know, they want to be able to continue, not just continue doing the great work that they're doing, but like I said, they opened five new centers in September this year. They want to continue building centers and continue growing. And Mali de Mim is like the perfect example. They opened up a mo for two and three year olds. And when those two and three year olds graduate, if there's not a gun for four and five year olds and then, you know, an elementary school after that, these kids are going to have to get on a bus and go an hour, hour and a half. Traffic these days to is insane. So, they're going to have to travel an hour and a half these days back and forth. Um, you know, I I recently 3 weeks ago, uh, Yakovi, uh, another old buddy of ours, uh, came to Sulaman Saratkin with me on the way to the airport. He said he was stopping for 5 minutes to to talk to the kids. He ended up staying for a half hour and sang with the kids. He was totally uh amazed by the love and care. >> Oh, and he knows something about >> he knows a little special needs that Jesse does and that's one of the reasons why I brought him there and um you know so uh to to you know to see that the the the love and support you know with his own eyes was you know amazing for him. It was amazing for the kids. Um and uh you know it uh it's it's just it's it's a very special place that that does very special things. Um we we were in the elevator going down and a parent um obviously an American who had made aliyah young woman got into the elevator and it's funny on every floor people walked in and they're like looking at him like is that Yakoski what's he doing in the elevator at Salam? So she came in and I don't even think she knew who he was but um he asked her like are you a parent and she said yes and she he said how old are your kid? How old is your child? And she said three. And um he said, "Well, what if Sulam wasn't here, what would you be doing with your kids?" So she said, "Well, I would have to send him on a bus an hour and a half each way." She said, "He's 3 years old. He he can't go on a bus for an hour and a half, you know, in the morning and an hour and a half at night. It will totally defeat any learning or any advancement that he makes during the day." And you know that's one of the reasons why you know it is so special and it is so important to have you know to have local schools that give the kids the proper education the proper love and the proper therapy and allow them to continue to grow and to and to mainstream into into regular schools. >> You're in the United States till when? >> I am in the United States till Tuesday. The reason I'm saying it or asking is because there is an email where people could reach you directly. And if someone out there does want to meet with you directly about possibly supporting the organization or doing something uh special for the organization, they should reach out to you with the following email address. Yudi yu disulam.org.il. That's yudisulam.org. [snorts] Also, the videos from Sulam that you sent me, are they available on the on the YouTube? >> I watched them today actually. On YouTube. Yeah. literally search Sulam Israel. >> Sulam Israel. Yeah. >> So you can see the videos and get an inside look as to what's happening at one of the Sulam branches in Israel. They also have a Facebook page. You're on Instagram. So obviously the social media presence is increasing. Yi Zuller is here. JM and the AM. So uh how has it been so far? Are people in the United States receptive to actually supporting a network like Sulam and Israel? >> It's it's been amazing. It's really the the amount of support and the encourage more than the support, the encouragement that I've gotten from people. Um I think that since this is my first trip for Sulam, had it gone a different way, I might have been a little bit discouraged and might say, "Hey, let me go back to running my business and not get involved in more craziness and my my plate is full as it is." But um just for example, I had a meeting yesterday with somebody at his business and you know, he gave me a nice donation and then he said to me, "What can I do for you. And I wasn't exactly sure what the question was cuz he had just given me a donation. So I said, "I'm not sure what you're asking. You already gave a nice donation." He said, "No, no. I I want to give more than he said, first of all, I'm going to give a few times during the year and I want to come visit one of the centers, but but I want to do more than just give money." He says, "I I see the videos. I I hear, you know, the passion. I know you you don't get involved with anything that's not like the real deal. Um I I want to do more. you tell me if you need me to introduce you to people to do network to to do an event at my house anything you want you just let me know and I and I want to do it. Um just one other thing that I want to throw out there which I think is very important for your listeners. Um >> you know these days people go to Israel like uh like they go to uh to Brooklyn. >> Um yeah thank God is right. Um, anybody that comes to Israel to visit, whether it's for the Khagim or winter vacation or or yeshiva break or if they have kids learning in Israel in seminary or in yeshiva and you want to do 2 three hours of and see the amazing work, >> is there something for them to do >> with your own eyes to see what Sulam does, send me an email or you can send me a WhatsApp 052-616 3648 um and I will gladly meet you, take you and and it'll be literally um I think it will open your eyes and be and be a a earthshattering uh experience that you will not forget to see these kids. Um I'll just tell you one quick story. Um I was at Sulam Sarata in the main center in in July. Uh the night before I flew um I'd been there four times but only for a half hour hour visit. I wanted to go for a full in-depth like three-hour visit. I went down to the kitchen. I saw how they prepare the food. I went to the pools and saw the hydrotherapy. I saw the the pet therapy and and the music therapy. And I went into one of the rooms, went into one of the classrooms, and there were five or six um 5-year-old boys. And as soon as I walked in the room, they said, "Atayita, I'm Yakosweki." They, you know, recognized me as priorit from, you know, we'd been there a couple weeks before. And the truth is, I I went to Blow Shaer for them during during L um Bto. So I I went around to a bunch of the centers to blow chauffeur. And um so I talked to them a little bit and and and then I went out and the teacher followed me into the hallway and she said, "You know, I just want to tell you something. Um these kids look like normal kids, right?" And [clears throat] I said, "Yeah, pretty much." She said, "You know, these obviously are on the higher end. You know, we have very low functioning kids, but these are obviously on the on the higher end." She said, "I just want to tell you that that most of those kids, five out of the six of those kids a year ago could not speak." >> Wow. >> She said, "They're not autistic. There nothing wrong with them. They come from broken homes, either divorced or phys physical or mental abuse. And as a protective measure, they shut themselves down and they refuse to speak. And we work with them little by little. We got them out of the show. We use the iPads to communicate. We teach them hand gestures. We teach them how to communicate both in English and Hebrew and some of the places in Yiddish as well. Um, and get them to feel comfortable. And once a week on Fridays, we send them to regular schools for one day. So that first of all their entire school experience is not just with special needs kids. They can see kids from their shel and from their neighborhood who are in regular schools. And they can also see what's expected of them in the future. What a regular school, how a regular school operates. What kind of behavior is expected in a regular school. They're not kid gloves like in the salam where they, you know, hold their hands literally and figuratively and, you know, teach them things little by little. And that that's one of the main reasons this inclusion that that method that they use that gets them to eventually hopefully beem to mainstream into trans transition into regular schools because they've already had that experience and okay it's only once a week but if they do it for a few years eventually they get to the point where you know they can really go to schools uh full-time. >> Pretty amazing. Um will there be a fundraising event like a concert here for Sulam? >> I'm I'm I'm sure there will be. I'm only asking that because you have experience in that. >> Yeah. You know, we're we're working on on on uh on some amazing things. Um you know, this trip I did it small uh really like I I don't like to call them parlor meetings cuz to me that's a very oldfashioned term and also that that you know >> get together. >> Yeah. A short short presentation I was calling. They were literally a half hour. Um and some people open their homes. We have one um on Sunday night in Highland Park. Uh we have one uh on Saturday night, I'm sorry, in Highland Park. We have one on Monday night in Woodmir. Um, but down the road I have some big stuff planned. Um, it was actually one of the first days I was on the phone with a donor from England and they have a number of donors from uh from Europe and people that have kids or nephews and or nieces in in the program. So they're familiar and they and and they donate. And so I got on a call with one of them and I after he, you know, made a nice donation, I said to him, "Listen, I'm I'm relatively new. I like to get people's opinion. Can you tell me what you think I should be doing in the future?" And he said, "Listen, I know your history and you I only bring it up because you say it." Um, he said, "I know you you have a lot of experience in the concert business." He said, "I would go with what you have experience with and what you, you know, have been successful at. So, if concerts work for you, you know, you should." So, it's definitely something down the road. I think similar to what you said, how how the radio show, your radio show has evolved, the concert business has evolved between YouTube and and all the ways of listening to music, >> private backyard concerts. >> Exactly. So, that's, you know, VIP events and backyard concerts. rent out Lincoln Center. You can bring us to your backyard. >> And what a major statement that is about the Jewish community. >> Yes, it is. Uh listen, there's so much cussed going on in the Jewish community. It's really it's amazing to me. >> And we love when the excess of disposable income in the Jewish community is used for that purpose. >> Absolutely. >> Well, and I'm I'm not being sarcastic. >> It's an amazing keshm to see what the the the amount of that goes on. It's really >> it's it's unfathomable to to to see and it's very very very heartwarming. >> All right. Yuri Zuller uh our recommendation go to our website you could certainly donate and support the work of Sulam and you can find out more about Sulam and as Yuri said if you're there for Kaneka or for end of year vacation or yeshiva break pesak time summer obviously whatever the plan is be in touch with him and you could arrange a visit and see it up close and personal his email address is yudi yudisulam.org.il and the website issulamisrael.org or sulamisrael.org. Yuri Zuller is the director of development for Sulam. Anything else, sir? >> Um yeah, I just I'll share one two quick stories if we have time. Um one of them is uh the director of OT in the Bamesh Center uh was very excited to tell me about this project that she had been working on with 14 and 15year-old severely autistic kids. They were preparing packages for the kayim. Uh and it's very difficult for kids like that to put one potato chip, one bombboa, one you know, into a package orderly and and they they they worked on it for months and then she took them to the army base. And she said her herself, she was so Magesh emotional from seeing them handed to the Kaim hugging them and and just the the it was amazing all around an amazing you know unity project to bring together special needs and kayim and and and you know just a beautiful thing. And then just the last thing is I also met uh recently uh a father in Sulam. I heard him talking in the hallway and I went over to him and and I asked him if I can uh use my phone and just record what he was saying. He has six kids, four of them in the in Sulam, two uh severely uh autistic, very low functioning, too high functioning. Uh he said that they were never able to communicate and through two two years in Sulam they've taught them to communicate via tablet. Um say I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, I want to go to sleep, both in English and in Hebrew. He said in his words they were they really saved the life of my family and I have so much gratitude to swam and uh you know they really do amazing amazing work. I am so I'm blown away myself. Every time I go there I'm like wow. I said to my wife on Monday after I left Saratkin before my flight I said these people are the most amazing people and they are doing really such such superb work to for Ammy and Eritis teaching our the next generation and getting them to be part of of you know the regular functioning uh society. >> Pretty amazing. Yudi Zuller is director of development. Salamisrael.org again salamisrael.org. or be in touch with them directly. Yudi yudisulam.org.il. Thank you, Kakavote. And uh continue your amazing work. >> Thank you. And you continue first of all your amazing work and you're broadcasting everybody else's amazing work. So, you know, you you get a lot of the credit and a lot of the uh >> We take great pride in that. >> Yeah. And listen, I remember standing on stage with you at the Beacon Theater. Uh I think it was in 2009. >> That was a good night. >> That was an amazing night after a blizzard and we thought we were to cancel it. And uh so you know we uh we continue to be involved in great things. We continue to try to help Israel and Erit Israel and Israel >> Zuller. It's a Thursday at JM in the A.M.