NY Yachad Gala Dinner – June 11, 2018

Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, a division of the Orthodox Union, will host its annual New York regional gala dinner, held in tribute to disability inclusion pioneers Rabbi Abraham Wahrhaftig z”l and Caryn Pollak, as well as in honor of Adira Katlowitz, Young Leadership award recipient. The event will raise funds for crucial inclusion programs for the community and celebrate the dedication of its new Caryn Pollak a”h West Hempstead Yachad Chapter, named in memory of a beloved, long-time Yachad member and leader.

The NY Yachad Gala dinner will be held on June 11 at 6:00pm at Congregation Beth Shalom, at 390 Broadway in Lawrence, NY.

The New York Yachad region continues to grow to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families. Recent developments include the opening of a new Yachad Center in the 5 Towns, which houses an elementary school, adult day program, parent support groups, Sunday morning Torah learning and space for social recreational programming. Also, an additional chapter was opened and a coordinator added in the Riverdale community. NY Yachad currently serves hundreds of families across Long Island, Rockland, Westchester, and the five boroughs of New York City.

“Yachad is proud to continue to expand the services, programs and support to the disabilities community throughout NY and beyond,” said Rabbi Ahron Rosenthal, Director of Yachad NY. “We listen to the families and communities talk about their needs, and then work to provide our unique offerings to promote the inclusion of all individuals, no matter their abilities.”

About the Honorees:

Adira Katlowitz has been involved with Yachad since 2001, attending numerous Shabbatonim, Sunday trips and chagigot throughout the NY area. She joined Yad B’Yad as both a camper and a counselor and was the coordinator for the Rayim Brooklyn chapter from 2008-2009 and the coordinator for National Yachad from 2009-2011. Adira has been a member of Team Yachad since 2009, running with the inaugural team, and has gone on to run 11 races with Team Yachad both in the US and Israel. Most recently, Adira has been involved in the Friends of Yachad young leadership initiative.

Rabbi Abraham Wahrhaftig, z”l, was a member of the Jewish Studies faculty at Yeshivah of Flatbush, a Director of Camp Morasha and the Principal of the Kushner Yeshivah High School. A scholar and avid reader, Rabbi Wahrhaftig was committed to creating informal Torah educational opportunities for all – from students to seniors – and as a camp director was the first to open his camp to youth with developmentally disabilities, spearheading Yachad inclusion summer programs which now serve many children and young adults in over 25 programs in the United States and Israel.

West Hempstead native Caryn Pollak, a”h, was not only a vibrant member of the Yachad community, but a catalyst for its creation.

Caryn participated in virtually every Yachad Shabbaton, trip and summer camp that followed, making lifelong friendships with Yachad participants as well as advisors. Over time, she became Yachad’s spokesperson, accompanying Yachad staff members as they traveled to promote the program in shuls and Jewish day schools throughout the county…

“Caryn made sure we never forgot; simply because she was one of us,” says Dr. Jeff Lichtman, International Director of Yachad. “She was a constant reminder of what is important. She was genuinely happy to have a job she liked, and the family, friends and community she loved. In the best ways possible, she represented all of this population’s potential talents and abilities. If there was a face to Yachad, Caryn was it.” [excerpted from a Fall 2017 Jewish Action article by Bayla Sheva Brenner]

Yachad, The National Jewish Council for Disabilities, a division of the Orthodox Union is a thriving global organization dedicated to addressing the needs of all Jewish individuals with disabilities and ensuring their inclusion in every aspect of Jewish life. Its inclusive design aims to ensure persons with diverse abilities their rightful place within the Jewish community, while helping to educate and advocate for a greater understanding, acceptance, outreach, and a pro-disability attitude.

Please join Yachad on June 11th at Beth Shalom in Lawrence, in recognition of those who have given of themselves to further the mission of inclusion of individuals with disabilities and support their efforts to continuing to meet the needs of the Jewish community. To make reservations for the dinner please visit yachad.org/nygala2018 or email bergmand@ou.org for more information.

Op-Ed: Speak out to make U.S. more inclusive for disabled

By William Daroff and Lynne Landsberg | February 23, 2015 1:12pm

WASHINGTON (JTA) — A quarter-century ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act became the law of the land. That’s 25 years of progress, of advances that have improved the lives of people with disabilities beyond what was previously possible.

The Jewish community has joined in those efforts and sought to bring accessibility and awareness to the forefront. This February marks the seventh annual Jewish Disability Awareness Month, or JDAM.

Jewish institutions nationwide continue to redouble their efforts to foster inclusive communities for people with disabilities. Since the establishment of JDAM in 2009, advocates have been successful in many ways, starting with an increased effort by synagogues and other Jewish organizations to ensure that all Jews are able to fully participate in the Jewish life of their choosing, from accessing the bimah to holding leadership positions.

Yet too often, organizational initiatives to welcome people with disabilities fall under the purview of a single social action committee. We must help our institutions understand that accommodating people with disabilities is not a project. It is a basic prerequisite in ensuring our Jewish institutions serve our diverse Jewish population and foster a sacred community for all.

But even this is not enough. For all the progress we have made within our communities, these strides are not reflected in our nation’s laws. Together as a community, we must expand our focus outward, from inclusion efforts within Jewish institutions toward advocacy efforts on the national level for policies that advance disability rights.

As leaders of the Jewish Disability Network, a coalition of over two dozen Jewish organizations advocating for disability rights, advocates from across the country will join us this year on Capitol Hill on Feb. 25 for Jewish Disability Advocacy Day, where we will advocate for policies to make our country more inclusive for all people.

We will speak about the importance of Social Security Disability Insurance, which provides a safety net for people who become disabled and can no longer work and have contributed, through payroll taxes, to the Social Security Trust Fund. In 2013, more than 10.9 million people were SSDI beneficiaries, with average benefits amounting to around $1,140 per month.

SSDI is expected to become insolvent at the end of 2016, leading to across-the-board benefit cuts of 20 percent if no action is taken. Without these benefits, it is estimated that more than half of SSDI recipients would live in poverty.

Another important issue is the availability of accessible public transportation. Without transportation options, many are cut off from employment, health care and community involvement opportunities. Programs like Easter Seals’ Project Action and the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities program helps meet some of the transit needs of people with disabilities, but programs like these are woefully underfunded.

As Congress debates reauthorization of the surface transportation bill, our senators and representatives should work to expand funding for these vital transportation programs serving people with disabilities.

As a Jewish community, it is our religious and social obligation to help realize a world where people with disabilities have equal opportunities. We hope you’ll join us this Jewish Disability Awareness Month in raising your voice in support of disability rights, both in your community and nationwide.

(William Daroff is the senior vice president for public policy and director of the Washington office of The Jewish Federations of North America. Rabbi Lynne Landsberg is the senior advisor on disability issues at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.)

This article was originally published by the Jewish Telegraph Agency