David Habov from Haifa • The angel of the special children

David Habov voluntarily manages the sailing club for children with special needs in Haifa. "Champions of Life" is a sailing and surfing project for children on the autistic spectrum, which fosters a baboon, with about 30 children living in Haifa and its surroundings.

"Mother Lioness" to the group of youth around him

The sea is a first-class empowerment tool and there are many advantages to maritime education activities such as: dealing with stressful situations, acquiring values, gaining trust, teamwork, improving self-confidence and mental resilience, self-discipline, personal empowerment, life skills, attitude to property and responsibility, and education to preserve the environment and to a clean beach. These are the values ​​of David Habov who lives up to this in practice and acts as a true "mother lioness" for the group of youth on the autistic spectrum around him.

"I live here too"

Here is the section that brings you fascinating Haifa characters in their homes where the introduction is through the stories, the charges and the unique point of view of the people who make up the human mosaic of our city Haifa. That is, these are the people who live and live here, just like the name of the section - "I also live here".

As part of this section we will get to know Haifa characters and their place of residence. The acquaintance is not through the square footage of the apartment, or a real estate appraisal or a design description only, but the essence of this acquaintance is to get to know the hosts' house - to the stories, to the emotional charge and to the unique personal point of view.

A host of ventures around the sailing world

David Habov turned the sea and the world of sailing into a playground spring where he created a complete life's work for children and youth on the autistic spectrum. As an autodidact, he devised a host of ventures around the world of sailing, and through them he steers his ship, which has a group of about 30 girls and boys of different ages, who are all on the autistic spectrum.

David Habov does not have official certificates in education or special education - but the results of his actions are impressive and are a living example of how great faith in the path and perseverance without any reservations can transform worlds and change entire lives of children and people.

The feed "Autism and the development of abilities in the school of life"

Not by the sea, but on land in his beautiful home in the Neve Shaanan neighborhood - David Habov is seen as "one of the people". But everyone who knows a little about his many works, even here for those who are in his residence, notices the aura that is above his head, considering the work of children and children with special needs.

David Habov's project, "Autism and development of abilities in the school of life" is reviewed and reported on the Facebook page of the same name. In this feed you can watch all the therapeutic sessions, in which there is a balance of natural interactions both in situations that the child leads and in situations that the adult leads - all while building a relationship based on connection, trust and mutual respect for the child and his areas of ability.

Needless to say, all the photographs are under written permission on behalf of the children's parents and/or those responsible for them, and their primary purpose is to monitor, learn and improve the developments of the processes.

The ingredients of the angel and the ship's sailor

About 20 years ago, David began teaching his private children what sailing is. After a while these were preferred to other teenage groups, and then he created an enterprise on Zebulon Beach to establish a popular sailing club, this to make the world of sailing accessible to everyone.

At first he guided children who came to the place and then yeshiva students and even youth at risk. Over time, he focused on a group of children on the autistic spectrum, with whom, over time and a long way, he bears fruit and even magic.

The person standing in front of David Khabub must understand the three components from which he is cast:

• A strong desire to help others.
• Autodidacticism and development of abilities in learning material about special education.
• Strict adherence to the conduct protocol of the youth under his protection.

These are the ingredients of the angel and the sailor of the ships, which promotes, with its unique sub, possibilities to reach with the children with special needs - and the outstanding achievements in the world of special education.

The roots of the angel in human form

In 1953, David's parents arrived in Israel directly to the crossing of the tents in the Carmel Castle. This was made possible due to the chain of events that happened after the events of the Parhud-Shoot of Iraqi Jews, from which his father's grandmother also suffered.

Looting and robbery were rampant. It was a pogrom that was carried out in the Jews of Baghdad on Shavuot 1941. More than 1,000 Jews were murdered, 120 Jewish patients died due to poison injections in the hospital, and the number of people whose property was looted reached about 50,000 people.

These events served as an accelerating factor for the growth of the Zionist underground in Iraq and the process that led, just a decade later, to the immigration of Iraqi Jews to the Land of Israel, in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah.

Street games, in the Tel Amal neighborhood

In the Tel-Amal neighborhood of Haifa, David was born in 1964 to hard-working parents who, according to him, "worked very hard, from morning to evening." His father worked in a car factory while his mother worked at Rambam Hospital. David has a brother who is two years older than him, now living in the Ma'alot area. Every week the two brothers meet at their parents' place to talk, and moreover, David makes sure to visit them and check on their well-being every day.

Habov describes a childhood of street games, in the Tel Amal neighborhood, Which is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Haifa. Tel Amal was established in the 20s (about 100 years ago) and is located in the east of the city, on the northern slope of Carmel. As is the custom of children whose parents spend many hours in their work districts, the brothers David and Shaul spent many days at their grandparents' house which was on Jaffa Street in the area of ​​the Dagon silos.

Achieving goals in a complex life

"Kishon" was the name of the folk school he attended, a school that no longer exists. Later, David studied at "Alliance" high school and "Beit HaFkeid", and even completed his extended matriculation studies in the subject of "accounting".

When David describes a "not easy childhood" he means the years when he had to generate additional family income. He did not apply for any work whatsoever. This is how he found himself between the ages of 14-17 working in a metal factory with his uncle, later as a courier on a scooter, cleaning stairwells and even traveling with a group of workers to Ashdod port to clean the mud from the bottoms of the port's ships.

In 1983 he enlisted in the "Golani" ranks and after a while was transferred to serve at the Rambam Hospital, Ram 2 - in the outpatient clinic of the IDF soldiers.

David Habov's family

In 1987, with an "accountant" certificate, he was accepted to work at "Bank Hapoalim", where he advanced through the job ladder to the senior position in handling special clients and private banking. In 1989 he befriended his neighbor and friend Olga, who immigrated to Israel from Moscow in 1973, and later became his wife, wife and mother of his children.

The Habov couple have three adult children: Shiri (born in 1998), an information systems student, and a pair of twin sons (born in 2000) Gal and Shay, who study and work.

Accident and rehabilitation

As is the way of life, not everything went smoothly. On the morning of Yom Segrir, in December 2016, on his way to work - a truck ran over him while he was in his car. The accident ended in a very sad way, with fractures all over his body as well as a huge blow to his head. The rehabilitation was long, difficult and even tiring - something that in 2018, forced David to retire from his job at the bank.

One morning, while he was at the beach, he was introduced to a group of women who combined gymnastics with morning yoga. He looked, studied, tried and even applied, and since then he makes sure to start his day with the "Blessing of the Sun" and focuses on improving his physical and mental abilities.

Yoga exercises and thanks to the sun

David says that the practice of yoga under the name "Blessing of the First Sun", its purpose is to acknowledge gratitude to the sun, which is considered in Indian culture to be the central source of energy in a person's life.

In the practice of the "first sun blessing" one says thanks to the sun in the universe. The practice consists of 12 different yoga postures which are performed in sequence many times, in coordination with the breath. Basically, the positions performed in this practice activate all the muscles as well as all the significant joints of the body. It should be noted that accelerated performance results in cardiovascular endurance work, and slow performance contributes to muscle strength and flexibility.

His home is his fortress

Until 2003, the Habov family lived in the area of ​​Yad Labanim Street. His wife Olga and her mother chose their current residence which is in the Neve Shanan neighborhood. Olga's initial thought was the importance of the location of the residence. At that time, for Dida, the location and quality of the kindergartens and schools were very significant.

Another notable advantage of the Neve Shanan neighborhood is its geographical location in Haifa. Hanita Street with its many shops which serves as a bustling commercial center, and Ziv Square in the center of the neighborhood which serves as a main crossroads and dominates the traffic between the Check Post and the mansion, and between Nesher and Dania and the city and Hadar - all these enchanted the members of the Habov family.

David says that in 2014, the residential building underwent a major renovation, in which a nice balcony overlooking a spectacular view was added to each apartment and even a balcony was added.

The aquariums and the world of silence

Every morning, after a round of yoga exercises and thanks to the sun in the universe, David sits down in front of the three fish aquariums in his residence. For this purpose, a white ergometric wooden chair stands in front of them, where you can relax and enjoy a time of enjoyable quality in the life of the world of silence.

Besides the pleasure of watching the world of silence, David is meticulous in the ongoing maintenance of the three aquariums and the well-being of the fish life that is in them.

The kingdom where the meals for the "Champions of Life" are created

Of the many rooms in David's residence, the kitchen is his favorite, and for good reason. This is the kingdom where the meals are created by Habov's faithful hands, for the group of special children called "Champions of Life".

The group meetings are held on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, when the children's parents are supposed to persevere and bring their children to all meetings. As part of the protocol devised by David Habov, there is a clause in which at every meeting there is a joint meal, which he prepares in his kitchen...that is, with the exception of the pizza meals (which he buys every Tuesday of the week) and falafel (once a month).

The treatment protocol intended for children, youth and adults on the autism spectrum - is based on the foundational assumption that all children, including children with autism or other diagnoses, can live full and free lives. Such a life can become possible when the child learns skills and clear ways to deal with challenging situations in a way that is adapted and clear for him and when he uses and integrates these skills in different contexts, in a variety of situations and with different people. According to David's teaching, all of this can also be internalized through the shared meals.

It goes without saying that the meals on Sundays, Thursdays and Saturdays are cut, chopped, prepared and arranged by David in his kitchen, where he is extremely careful about the quality of the ingredients, the wrapping and the aesthetic shape, as well as adjusting the dish according to the personal taste of each boy and girl.

Resting in the "Archie Bunker Armchair"

After a day of activity with his "Champions of Life" group, when David returned to his residence, he was eager to relax in the "Archie Banker armchair" that belongs exclusively to him.

This is a large and spacious armchair from which he can see what is happening in the living room, as well as look at the view from the balcony of his apartment... and indeed, the view from this balcony expands a person's mind.

Summary of activities in Ketubin

After resting and absorbing the atmosphere of the house, Tsif David summarizes, writes and notes all the actions that happened in the group meeting that day. The purpose of uploading the material in Ketubin is a learning and educational purpose, since from it you can learn about the development of the trainees and even observe where, how and what is desirable and possible to promote and improve conduct and/or behaviors.

This process is done by David in the corner of the computer which is used as an office fountain and is located in the bedroom. From this position, he transfers all the material to the Facebook page he manages called: "Autism and the development of abilities in the school of life".

Sponsorship of the families of the victims of the submarine Dakar

At the end of 2020, a connection was made between David Habov and "Haifa Cruise" located on the Pacific Coast. This connection yields the fruits of success for the "Champions of Life" group. At the same time, even the families of the victims of the submarine Decker joined this project and with their help we cleaned two dedicated boats for the unique sailing group. One boat is named after the commander of the submarine and her boat is named after the 69 fighters, the victims of the submarine.

The connection between these two groups is so brave and strong to the point of holding together the annual commemoration of the submarine victims. In these difficult times, last January, it was decided not to hold the annual commemoration for the victims of the Dekar submarine on Mount Herzl - but in the most natural place possible: on the seashore, right in the area where the Eli Haifa submarine traces its path.

In stormy weather, dignitaries arrived from all over the navy, including commanders and the families of the martyrs of the Dakar. The "Champions of Life", the group of girls and boys from David Habov's group was included during the event - which did not leave a single dry eye, and not only because of the winter storm.

The Book of the Sea - in the aspect of Zebulun and Issachar

There are many books in David's house - but for him the most important of all is "The Book of the Sea", which was edited by Dr. Meir Shesh. The book was published in 1968-XNUMX and discusses Adam and the seas. The book includes the principles of sailing, the structure of sailing vessels and the history of shipping.

Habov emphasizes the importance of the "Book of the Sea" for him - in that it is a unique collection in which there are explanations about maritime instruction, sea vessels and professional chapters for these vessels as well as descriptions of beaches, when all of these are combined with a selection of stories from the life of seafarers.

Nothing is impossible - a combination of adults and young people

The value that drives David Habov is the value of "free love" for a person. A value he instills among his disciples. Over the years the children who came to him when they were 10-12-14 years old grew and matured and today they are already 27-28-30 years old and serve as mentors to the younger children in the group. The children of the senior group feel that they are needed, that they are needed and that they are important, which causes them to reach out and support the younger children in their group.

It goes without saying that all the activists and helpers in maintaining the "Autism and Ability Development in the School of Life" group, volunteers and soldiers from the Navy, carry out all their activities for the pure purpose of volunteering, in their free time, and not in order to receive an award.

From this life enterprise, which was initiated, built and maintained by David Habov, it is possible to learn about the importance of the road and perseverance, and from here it can also be applied to the education of children in general. Because as we know, in each of us there is a special child who needs respect and understanding. With the help of the tools that David created, we can know how to take better care of this or that child inside and also try to be better towards the world that we meet outside.