JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 9th grade boy is hoping music brings some harmony for his friend, Orly Ohayan.
Orly, 17, was critically injured while crossing San Jose Boulevard and Haley Road. Her mother, Esther, was killed. Now, Ari Howard, a friend and neighbor, is hosting a benefit on Sunday to help Orly in her fight to recover. Howard is hoping his music heals.
Jewish law prohibits working and using electricity on the Sabbath and holy days, so Orthodox Jews can't do tasks such as push the walk button at an intersection.
The Florida Department of Transportation installed a camera sensor at the intersection. It can activate the walking signal when someone walks into its range. They've also installed pedestrian signs, stop signs, and a cross walk. Now, they are designing lights for the crosswalk.
After the tragedy, Howard single-handedly organized Orly's Super Benefit concert, featuring local guitarist Mike Shackleford, and local folk singers Al Poindexter and Eric Wendorf who he met while playing open mike events with them.
The Super Benefit is Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jacksonville Jewish Center in Mandarin. The money raised will go towards the EventBrite site, which Ari set up for his neighbor and friend, Orly.
