How communities can support and empower those with rare diseases

(JNS) — Shaya Feiner may not communicate with words, but his face tells a story. His mother, Aviva, has learned to recognize the joy in his expressions—the pride that lights up his face when she tells others that “Shaya was born in Jerusalem.”

The 17-year-old’s story began in Israel, where he was born healthy. But complications quickly arose, leaving him with a severe neurological condition and complex medical needs that have shaped his daily life ever since.

All this time, Aviva and her husband, Rabbi Eytan Feiner, have devoted themselves to making sure that Shaya receives the care he needs,...