Yachad 30th Anniversary Dinner, by Gwen Bloom

More than thirty years ago there was no Yachad. The idea of inclusion was not even on people’s minds since many had never met a person with developmental disabilities. Individuals with special needs were kept “out of sight” and consequently they truly were “out of mind.” The picture is so different today. Now, we see a view that includes everyone, regardless of his or her abilities or disabilities. Yachad has played a major role in enabling this momentous change, and its fight for inclusion has touched thousands of lives.

The Orenbuch family

Yachad’s 30th Anniversary Dinner was held on December 15th at Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, NJ. Over 350 guests celebrated the great changes and awareness Yachad has brought about to improve the lives of individuals with special needs and their families, and paid tribute to the honorees.

Esteemed honorees included Isabelle and Aharon Orlansky of Manhattan who accepted the Yachad Family Award, and the Marder family of White Plains, NY who were prese-nted with the award for Community Leadership. Rachel Frohlich Orenbuch and Yisroel Orenbuch received the Young Leadership Award. The occasion also marked the inauguration of the Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship.

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, Yachad’s international director, told the guests, “Yachad serves thousands of children and adults with disabilities every year. These are people who have so much to offer when we give them the opportunity. In addition, every year we help tens of thousands of children and adults without disabilities come to appreciate the abilities of our Yachad members. We help them learn to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses that we all have.”

Yachad Family Award

Isabelle and David Orlansky

David Orlansky has been a member of the Yachad family for many years. He is a regular at many programs and events, particularly Shabbatonim, and has even been on Yad B’Yad seven times! His parents, Isabelle and Aharon, are very supportive of his every endeavor and are great friends of Yachad, always willing to help in any way they can. David works hard and does well because he expects to succeed and his parents know that he can. At the dinner David gave a moving d’var Torah that had everyone listening closely; his love for Yachad was evident in every word and gesture. The Orlansky family — Isabelle, Aharon, David, and Ilana are an inspiration for us all. Dr. Lichtman, joined by Rebecca Schrag, Yachad’s director of school and community programming, and director of Yad B’Yad, presented the award to the Orlansky family.

Young Leadership Award

Rachel and Yisroel Orenbuch, who live in Kew Gardens Hills, NY, have been involved in Yachad since their teens and have remained active throughout these many years. In fact, Yachad was the “shadchan” (matchmaker) who brought the two together. In addition to welcoming Yachad into their community each year, Yisroel, who works in quality assurance at Credit Suisse, has been instrumental in implementing numerous social and recreational programs for Yachad with his company while simultaneously securing much needed funds for the organization. Yachad’s former national chairman, Aaron Kinderlehrer, and Yachad member Bezalel Kosofsky whose relationship with Yisroel goes back 20 years, jointly presented the Young Leadership Award to this dynamic couple.

Eli Hagler, Yachad’s associate director shared, “It is no secret that we as a community have come so far, but it’s also no secret that we have so much further to go in our quest to make the broad Jewish community, and the global community, more welcoming and inclusive. Leading the charge for the next generation are those who were lucky enough to be involved with Yachad in the 1990’s; they are now becoming the leaders of their Jewish communities. That’s why Rachel and Yisroel Orenbuch are such deserving honorees.”

Community Leadership Award

The Marder family

Rabbi Chaim Marder has been serving as rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of White Plains since 1995. Suzie Marder is a social worker at Westchester Day School. The Marders are the proud parents of seven children and one son-in-law: Shira and Jason Saibel, Ari, Akiva, Shoshana, Ayelet, Yonina, and Doni. Like their parents, these self-motivated young people are deeply involved in Yachad’s many activities. They believe in the importance of giving back and spreading the idea of inclusion. It is clear that the Marders believe that you are never too young to be involved; in typical fashion, the family composed a poem to read at the dinner and each child read a portion of it. Ken Saibel joined by Chana Esther Sabbagh, a Yachad member from Brooklyn with a strong connection to the Marder family, presented the award to this remarkable family.

“A shul rabbi is typically reluctant to accept an honor from an organization,” said Mr. Saibel, Yachad’s associate director. “If he says yes to one, how can he not say yes to all? But when we approached Rabbi Marder, we wanted to ensure that it wasn’t just him and his amazing wife, Suzie, whom we wanted to honor — it was their entire family. All of their children have grown up with Yachad and have participated in dozens of Yachad programs and events.”

The Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship

The Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship (see article about JDYCF on page 6) is a tribute to a great man and a great leader. It is presented annually to three outstanding recent college graduates who want to learn and grow under Yachad’s auspices — promoting inclusion for all Jewish people. The dinner marked the formal launch of this program that will be supervised by Eli Hagler.

Richard M. Joel, President of Yeshiva University, spoke warmly of the late Mr. Daner. He said that he learned so much from this man who made time for every person and answered every question thoughtfully and thoroughly. Joel Daner, with his wife Selma by his side, truly led by example and is sorely missed, President Joel said, adding that he personally never made a career decision without first discussing it with Joel Daner.

Mrs. Selma Daner accepted the award with grateful appreciation. She knows how much her late husband believed in the vital work that Yachad does and she was very gratified to see his name living on in the hearts and minds of the three inaugural fellows: Nomi Gofine, Robbie Grad and Stephanie Weprin.

One of the highlights of the evening was a performance by the Yachad Band. This group of talented musicians performed all evening, first playing in the background to set a joyous tone and then kicking it up a few notches as guests took to the dance floor. The band played a few of its own compositions as well as popular Jewish music.

Gwen Bloom is the editor of Belong Magazine.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org. 

Hard Work & A Helping Hand: Bezalel Kosofsky’s Journey

By Gwen Bloom

When asked if he would like to participate in an article for Belong magazine about his career path, Bezalel Kosofsky, a 32-year-old Yachad member emailed this note with great pride. “Since 2006, I have worked at Chestnut Holdings of New York, a real estate agency in Riverdale. At Chestnut Holdings, I am in charge of all tenant correspondence filing in the file room. Some of that involves speaking with the 40+ Chestnut employees on a daily basis.”

“On the job, I use a lot of the information that I learned at school,” he continued. “I took classes in computer technology, specifically Microsoft programs such as Excel, Word, and Outlook. I use various social skills when interacting with other employees. I retrieve mail for the company, deliver deposits to various financial institutions, and perform other varied administrative tasks when called upon. I feel very comfortable with my co-workers at Chestnut Holdings and I believe that my educational training as a young man prepared me well for this job.”

Those in charge at Chestnut Holdings, a family firm, hired Bezalel long before it was popular to hire individuals with disabilities — they truly were pioneers! Bezalel’s success story began at Yachad when he was 12-years-old and met a peer named Binyamin Rieder; the two became fast friends and grew up together. As they got older Binyamin became a Yachad coordinator and their friendship remained strong. He continued to serve as a mentor as Bezalel received vocational training. Binyamin brought his friend into Chestnut Holdings where he serves as the chief operating officer, trained him himself, and the rest is history.

Bezalel likes to keep busy — he enjoys being independent and productive. He works at Chestnut Holdings on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, and at the Jewish Theological Seminary’s library every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Bezalel’s parents, Maxine and Sam, and his younger sister and her family are very proud of his accomplishments. He is a strong and kind man who appreciates his family and adores
being an uncle. His mother, Maxine, said, “Bezalel hates to miss a day on the job; he is punctual and very responsible. Last year my son had to take time off to have a wisdom tooth removed. He was truly upset at the thought of missing work. Bezalel is a very dependable employee. Sam and I are so proud of him and are so appreciative of the many people who have helped Bezalel get to where he is today. Those who took the time to see what he COULD do and helped him learn to do it!”

“The Yachad staff was with us every step of the way,” Maxine added. “Binyamin Rieder and the staff at Chestnut Holding opened doors for him and continue to be there for him. The staff at the Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary encourages Bezalel to figure things out on his own and to meet readers and assist them on his own. He is so happy.”

Chani Hermann, director of Yachad New Jersey says, “Bezalel and I go way back; both our families are members of the Young Israel of Hillcrest in Queens, NY. We became good friends when Binyamin Rieder and I were co-coordinators of Yachad’s Queens Chapter and Bezalel was an enthusiastic member of the group. We remain in touch and it gives me great pleasure to see him so happy and fulfilled. Bezalel has achieved so much over the years. Through his participation in Yachad programs he has grown socially, made many friends, and learned how to navigate the world around him. By attending Yachad Shabbatonim, Sunday programs, and social skills programming Bezalel has developed the skills that will take him anywhere he wants to go.”

Bezalel says, “Since 2003, I have worked at the Library of The Jewish Theological Seminary which is one of the largest Judaic libraries. I am in charge of sorting, separating, and putting away books in the main library. Some of that involves collecting books from the tables, putting them on separate carts, putting them in order using the Dewey decimal system, and putting them away on the correct shelves. I enjoy helping people find the books they are looking for.

“I am pleased to have these jobs and I go to work each morning knowing that my co-workers depend on me,” Bezalel said. “I earn a salary, I can take care of myself, and I am so thankful for the opportunities that I have had. Yachad has been so good for me.”

Gwen Bloom is the editor of Belong Magazine.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

Ariella Barker: A Lioness of God – No Matter What

By Bayla Sheva Brenner

At the age of three, Ariella Barker was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disorder marked by advanced muscle weakening and loss. Despite predictions that she wouldn’t be able to walk, SMA was no match for Ariella’s stalwart spirit. She walked, up until the age of eleven. And even then, she refused to let life pass her by. She just revved up her wheelchair and set out to catch her dreams.

In the face of an increasingly bumpy road, marked by additional, often painful, illnesses, Ariella attained many of those dreams. She became an accomplished attorney, law professor, and chose to become a Jew.

Growing up in a wheelchair wasn’t easy. Although her North Carolina school tested her as academically gifted, she was assigned to the special education classroom. Fortunately, that same year, the ADA (the Americans with Disabilities Act) passed, enabling Ariella to join her peers in the school’s honors classes.

Nevertheless, her social life suffered. Visibly different from her classmates, she endured daily taunts. “I didn’t have a lot of friends,” she says. “I would get home at three and study until eleven at night; it got my mind off not being accepted just because I was different.” Her family, however, encouraged her to believe in herself. “They told me if I put my mind to it, I could do whatever I wanted to do.” And that she did.

Ever since the age of six, Ariella knew she wanted to pursue a career in law. As she matured, and had to fight for her own rights as someone with a disability, she sharpened her focus on how to attain justice for individuals with disabilities via the legal system.

She earned her law degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and set out for New York City to look for work. She anticipated that people in a big city would see beyond her disabilities. “There are so many people on the street who are different from others, many of whom are a lot more colorful than I am,” says Ariella. “I could feel accepted, not stared at, not treated differently.” She landed a position as an attorney for the City of New York in employment discrimination and labor law claims, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration.

“She’s a tenacious attorney,” says William Fraenkel, a litigating senior counsel with the New York City law department and former colleague. “She’s a clear thinker and advocated for her clients remarkably well.”

With all her optimism about the city’s embracing of differences, she had her share of awkward moments. “I often got mistaken for being a court reporter or secretary. People looked surprised when I introduced myself as the attorney on the case. I even had a judge ask me to stand up while addressing her in court. She hadn’t bothered to look down to see I was in a wheelchair.”

Evidently, her passion for justice stemmed from her insatiable hunger for the truth.

In the midst of her college studies, she experienced impaired kidney function that required major surgery. She requested that her professors not mark her as absent during her recovery; they refused – except for one. “This professor, who was also a rabbi, stopped me in the middle of my plea and asked if there was anything he could do to help me,” says Ariella. “It made it clear to me what kind of person I wanted to be.” She decided to take his Jewish law class the following year. She realized that everything that the Torah stood for was what she too believed. She decided to convert to Judaism.

In 2007, while living in Downtown Manhattan’s Battery Park neighborhood, Ariella took a weekly two-hour trip via Access-A-Ride to the Upper West Side to attend Routes to GeRut, a program (based at Congregation Ohab Zedek) designed to educate those converting to Judaism and assist them on their journeys. “I don’t recall her ever missing a class,” says Rabbi Maury Kelman, the program’s director. “She had such a love and determination [to learn Torah]. She also followed up with me in between classes, asking questions, showing tremendous interest in learning and being the best Jew she could be.” She chose the name Ariella. “I looked it up,” she says. “It means lioness of God.” She related.

When Rabbi Kelman taught his students about the mitzvah of living in the land of Israel, Ariella took his words very seriously. “In a wheelchair, all alone, she picked up and left everything she knew here,” says Rabbi Kelman. “She had a job; she knew how to navigate the city; to pick up and move to another country is awesome — unbelievable.”

“The moment I got off the plane, I felt I was home,” says Ariella. She quickly cultivated a group of friends and began hosting Shabbat meals. “Everyone who meets her is enamored by her,” says Yosef Adest, one of her chevra of olim (recent immigrants), originally from Staten Island. “She’s a mover and a shaker; she’s not a spectator in life. Ariella loved being in Israel and being a part of her people and nation.”

That love included changing what needed to be changed. According to Adest, if she encountered a curb she couldn’t scale, she’d take a photo of it, put in a formal complaint, and got it fixed. He relates that she did this repeatedly when she moved to Tel Aviv, prompting many curb adjustments in the city. “One time, she went to a shul in the center of the city and someone had to carry her in,” says Adest. “The rabbi saw it and said, ‘you will never have to do that again.’ He immediately installed a huge, lavish ramp. Anytime we would pass the shul, Ariella would point to it and say, ‘see that; that’s my ramp.’

“Ariella sees no limits to what she believes she can achieve. Whatever strength she has she uses to help others and to affect [positive] change. The things she has achieved are impressive for any individual and even more so for someone who has these obstacles. But, I don’t see her as a person with disabilities, I just see her as her. And that’s impressive enough.”

Currently, Ariella is back in Charlotte, struggling with Trigeminal Neuralgia (a neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of extreme facial pain, originating from the trigeminal nerve), as well as a gastro-intestinal condition that causes her to feel nauseous much of the time. But she’s definitely not down for the count. “Ariella’s faith, tenacity, and incredible connection to the Jewish people, Torah and mitzvot, will sustain her no matter what she goes through,” says Fraenkel.

“I’ve learned that we can’t really understand why God does what He does,” says Ariella. “In the book of Job, God rewarded him in the end for maintaining his belief. I keep that story close to my heart; I still try to believe that things will get better.”

Bayla Sheva Brenner is a senior staff writer at the Orthodox Union.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

An Unexpected Celebration, by Batya Rosner

The moment arrived to call Josh Kadysiewicz to recite the blessings before the Torah as a bar mitzvah. At 26, the long awaited and eagerly welcomed opportunity was particularly moving as Josh found himself in Israel’s holy city of Tzfat surrounded by hometown pals and new friends on his Taglit-Birthright Israel: Israel Free Spirit Yachad trip. For Josh — Yehuda Aryeh Binyamin ben Chaim (his Hebrew name) — the first day of the Jewish month of Elul was a day he will never forget.

“The smile didn’t come off his face,” shared his mother Brenda, months later after watching a video of the ceremony recorded by the Yachad Birthright staff. “Josh was so proud of the fact that he’d become a bar mitzvah. He’d phoned us that evening from Israel to share every detail; he was so excited! Everywhere he goes, he tells people about traveling to Israel with Yachad and his bar mitzvah celebration.”

“Yachad Birthright is accessible to everyone,” explains Nicole Bodner, the director of Yachad’s Taglit-Birthright Israel program and director of New York Yachad. “We adapt the itinerary in ways that make sure everyone can participate in all activities. For example, we take the cable car to Masada, and our hikes are all wheelchair accessible. The focus is on connecting to our Jewish homeland and identity and building upon social skills, as this is the first time many of our participants are given an opportunity for independence.”

At the start of each trip, Nicole and her staff ask if there is anyone who had not experienced reciting the blessings over the Torah in celebration as a bar mitzvah. On this trip, only Josh had not, so a celebration was planned.

In preparation for the big day, Josh was given a transliterated version of the Hebrew blessings. He learned the blessings with Akiva Maresky, a Yachad Birthright staff member who was also a friend from Josh’s hometown in Toronto. The pair also prepared a brief speech that Josh gave in honor of his special moment.

Since birth, Josh has had developmental delays and his speech is not always clear. Still, he says he wasn’t nervous about speaking in front of this crowd.

“I am so happy that I can celebrate my bar mitzvah with all of you in Israel,” Josh read. “Although I really miss my amazing family in Toronto, you are all like family to me! This past week on Yachad Birthright has been really, really fun. I loved spending time with everyone, and seeing the incredible sights around Israel. One of the highlights of this week was becoming an Israeli Army commander. I think that I was a really good commander, and it was a lot of fun. Bar mitzvahs are about growing up and becoming an adult. I think that I am becoming more mature and I am happy to finally celebrate my bar mitzvah.”

Josh was praised and supported by his new friends, honored with speeches and even received small gifts from Yachad staff and guests. The celebration continued with singing and dancing in honor of the new bar mitzvah. Josh’s brilliant smile grew wider and wider as the hours went by. “You could see on his face that he felt important,” noted Aryeh Spiegel, another friend of Josh’s from Toronto Yachad and a member of Yachad’s Birthright staff.

“The point of this Yachad Birthright trip is that you are special because you are Jewish, not because of a disability,” Aryeh continued. “After the trip, you could tell Josh felt a greater connection to his heritage because now he was a bar mitzvah.”

“Josh is a super helpful, energetic, friendly, and easygoing guy. He is genuinely interested in both Judaism and new friendships,” added Nicole. “A fellow Yachad Torontonian celebrated a birthday while on the program and Josh did not let the event go unnoticed. He brought a card with him on the trip.”

Josh’s parents, Brenda and Harold, were so proud that they wished to celebrate Josh’s bar mitzvah (again) in Toronto. Shortly after Josh returned home from Israel, family and friends gathered to celebrate this milestone in his life. Guests watched the moving and joyous video of Josh’s experience that day in Tzfat, and wished him a hearty mazal tov.

“He was so proud!” Josh’s mother noted. “As far as I’m concerned, we owed this to Josh. Due to medical issues as a child and an ill grandparent that left the family busy, Josh missed out. When this opportunity arose, I jumped on it. Even if we could’ve given Josh a bar mitzvah ceremony in Toronto it wouldn’t have compared to what went on in Tzfat. That ceremony, in that atmosphere, with those friends—that couldn’t have happened here in Toronto.

“The best part of the Toronto bar mitzvah celebration was when Josh went to bed that night, and turned to me and said ‘Mommy, I’m so happy for my day.’”

For more information about Yachad Birthright contact Nicole Bodner at bodnern@ou.org or 212.613.8266.

Batya Rosner is a staff writer at the Orthodox Union.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

An Adventurous Life or a Meaningful Life, by Michael Silverman

Watching the film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (2014), I was a bit disappointed to find no moral at the end — or was there a moral?

Mitty is an average guy who has a boring life, a boring job, and a bad habit of daydreaming about imaginary adventures (that constantly get him into trouble). But when he goes on the hunt for a mysterious photographer, Mitty begins a real-life adventure. In addition, it is interesting to note that when he travels in the wilderness of Greenland and the Himalayan Mountains, his daydreaming episodes begin to decrease.
Not everyone can travel and explore the world in search of adventure (it costs a great deal of money, and in reality, it can also be boring). I believe that the moral of the movie is not to live a life of adventure, but that the answer to a humdrum life is to try to find meaning in the things you do.

I think that there are five ways you can make life more meaningful:

1. Find ways to make your religion more meaningful (if you have one).
2. Choose entertainment that has meaning.
3. Concentrate on your relationships — love and friendship.
4. Try to find work that means a lot to you (or if you can’t, then try a hobby that does).
5. Spread the word. Find a cause that you most believe in and share this knowledge with the world (this can be political action or maybe writing a book, article, or song).

There is a lot of repetition in life and yes, it is sometimes tedious, but this should not be the focus of your life. To develop a meaningful life takes much thought, effort and patience, but when you do it, it will be worthwhile.

If you think about it, doing the same thing often on the job is not unusual; that is how the world works. Just as the sun rises and sets each day, and electricity hums constantly, it is often the same for people and the things they do. So the next time you are stuck doing an unexciting project, look on the bright side — unlike the routines of nature and science, people can take breaks to smell the roses.

Michael Silverman is a member of New England Yachad.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

Yad B’Yad: Inclusion & Friendship Know No Borders

By Batya Rosner

Hands on experience at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona

Some of life’s most important moments occur when you take someone’s hand and begin your journey together. Many toddlers take their first steps hand in hand with a parent. Newlyweds start their lives together, literally or figuratively, hand in hand. Hebrew for hand in hand, Yad B’Yad (YBY) is one of Yachad’s most popular summer programs. This groundbreaking program brings typical high school students together with Yachad members for a four-week Israel experience.

Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad, shared with parents: “In a world of sound bites and Instagram, it’s hard to grapple with what you experience here. Yad B’Yad is an opportunity for young people to come together, to learn together, to learn from one another. This is an opportunity for those who are quieter to find a voice and speak up. The youngsters learn not just about inclusion, but also to appreciate that we all have challenges just as we all have gifts. It’s all about perspective.”

For the first time, this past summer, YBY created a second trip to accommodate the growing number of applicants. “Registration for Yachad summer programs generally opens in late October and by early winter YBY tends to be full,” noted Rebecca Schrag, MSW, director of Yad B’Yad programs and Yachad coordinator of high school programming. Rebecca leads one bus, while the other is under the leadership of Ron Hirschhorn, program director of Junior Yachad.

Jacob Shamash, of Deal, NJ, a second year YBY counselor together with his brother Saul explained, “One of the primary reasons I come back to YBY is because of the attitudes and values the program instills; inclusion should be the goal for everyone. As a college student, I miss seeing inclusion on my campus. I love being recharged and bringing the message back with me.”

Tami Drapkin of Skokie, Illinois, whose son Eitan was a first time participant wrote, “I find myself amazed over and over again at how well the program runs; if I’m feeling so grateful for this program, I can only imagine how the participants feel.”

The trips in summer 2014 were to the West Coast due to the unrest in Israel.

The Spirit Out West

From San Francisco to Las Vegas, Phoenix to San Diego and Los Angles, Yachad teens from across the United States experienced America this past summer.

High school student Abby Stiefel of Teaneck, NJ said, “I feel that in every activity we had everyone was included in different ways, and our group got closer every day. It’s the people who matter.”

The YBY groups visited famous attractions including Disneyland, Warner Brothers’ Studios, the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance, Hoover Dam and the San Diego Zoo. Participants went tubing in Arizona’s Salt River; took jeep rides through Nevada’s Red Rock Canyon; visited Sunset Crater, a dormant volcano; and held a kumzitz (sing-along) at the Grand Canyon. They rode the Palm Springs Tramway and held a scavenger hunt at Newport Beach in California. They experienced Shabbat in Las Vegas, Scottsdale, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

“I had so much fun on Yad B’Yad. One of my favorite experiences was horseback riding,” Ted Cohen, of Monsey, NY, a returning Yachad member enthused.

But more important than where they went and what they did, every activity was inclusive. Weekly emails were sent out to parents with various highlights contributed by participants.

Participant Merrill Brenner of Los Angeles wrote, “on YBY, we learn when to lead, and when to step back and allow others to showcase their abilities and talents. This style of leadership is what identifies Yachad and Yad B’Yad as a one-of-a-kind organization. For me, this was by far one of my most meaningful lessons. YBY trips emphasize growing as an individual and using these skills to become a better leader.”

Yad B’Yad participants on a train ride through Calico Ghost Town, an Old West mining town in California

Dr. Lichtman joined the YBY groups as he does every year. On another conference call with parents he emphasized that, “Yachad is blessed with amazing staff. Rebecca and Ron, our young professionals leading each trip, are amazing; they are highly competent, and do a wonderful job. They not only take care of participants but also supervise and mentor staff and support and facilitate growth as a group.”

Pamela Shuman, of Milford, MA (outside of Boston), whose daughter Jessica was a new Yachad member on the program, agreed. “The level of care and love that was given to Jessica was incredible and to be able to see our daughter smile and feel like part of a group is all that any parent wants,” she said.

Dr. Lichtman ended the call by saying, “When your children come home, hopefully you will see how much they have been positively affected. Ask them about the experience — not just where they went, but what moved them? What did they learn? I think you’ll be amazed at how much they will have grown over the past few weeks.”

A Change of Plans

When events in Israel last summer rerouted the 190 Yad B’Yad participants to the West Coast, the message was loud and clear that inclusion and friendship know no borders. In one week, Yachad’s remarkable staff was able to accomplish what normally takes months of planning.

As rockets continued to be launched toward central and southern Israel, and ground forces entered Gaza, Dr. Lichtman, together with the top professional and lay leadership of Yachad and the Orthodox Union, reluctantly agreed that the program would not be able to continue with its original plans to tour the Holy Land.

“Yad B’Yad is much more than an itinerary — Yad B’Yad really could take place anywhere. We wanted it to be in Israel, we prayed for that, but it wasn’t meant to be,” noted Dr. Lichtman, on a conference call to YBY parents.

Ron Hirschhorn points out, “this is a barrier-breaking trip and a leadership program for teens. Every participant walks out with 100 friends. It’s the people who make the program. Inclusion is not a place or a trip, it is a mindset and an attitude.”

To accommodate all physical needs of participants across Israel, inclusive activities had been mapped out and reserved months and weeks in advance. A mass effort was launched by the entire Yachad staff to figure out how to make alternate arrangements. Could tickets still be booked? Where could wheelchair-accessible buses be found? Who could cater the food? What options were available during the Three Weeks, the Nine Days and Tisha B’Av? Every bit of manpower from top leadership to interns was vital to make Yad B’Yad 2014 a success. Some planned the Shabbatonim, others oversaw the daily itineraries, others were in charge of researching activities, hotels, etc.

Challenges definitely existed. In the summer especially, the West Coast is a popular destination for conventions, concerts, and general vacations, so finding hotels that could accommodate 45 rooms, along with space to eat and daven wasn’t a simple matter. Bus drivers are only able to drive 12 hours a day and be on call 14 hours a day. Each bus also needed to be equipped with a sefer Torah, to be used for daily prayers and Shabbat.

A conference call was held with parents explaining the decision and how the YBY program was scheduled to proceed. Yachad offered a full refund to any participant who wished to opt out; not one did.

“All the planning in the world could not have foretold the ominous situation that Israel would have to endure,” noted Michelle Sitzer, of Brooklyn, NY, whose son Akiva attended YBY 2014. “Yet Yachad rose to the occasion and organized a magnificent trip — an amazing experience that my son will treasure forever.”

In one week, Yachad staff rearranged the entire itinerary for a four-week inclusive touring experience of the West Coast — and a good time was had by all.

Batya Rosner is a staff writer at the Orthodox Union.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

No Way But Forward

The Extraordinary Life of Richard Bernstein

By Bayla Sheva Brenner

Richard Bernstein, Michigan’s newly-elected Supreme Court justice, has never let anything stand in his way. As a former Detroit-based powerhouse attorney, he took on airlines, airports, universities, the American Bar Association, and the Department of Transportation in both Detroit and New York City in order to make life easier for individuals with disabilities. He’s run marathons (eighteen, so far including two half-marathons with Team Yachad in Miami), competed in Ironman triathlons, hosted a radio show and traveled the globe to speak about facing life’s challenges.

He should know. He’s blind.

Obstacles don’t exist in Justice Bernstein’s world. Blind-from-birth, he learned early on that the key to a successful life — blind or sighted — is to create your own light. He’s been busy spreading a beacon of light to individuals across the globe, bringing the message of accessibility and inclusion to cities throughout the U.S. and beyond.

He’s visited Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast, London, and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Jewish communities interested in launching special education and athletics programs call on him to hear his vital message that if you give it your all, Hashem will make it possible. “I’m grateful that I’m able to give voice to people who otherwise don’t have it,” he says.

Although Justice Bernstein’s days are anything but dark, he admits it hasn’t been easy. “When you’re different, you struggle,” he says. Richard Bernstein was blinded from birth as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease in which there is damage to the retina. “But, an easy life doesn’t necessarily mean a good or fulfilling one. How you choose to respond to life, that’s how you’re going to live.” His response to a life in the dark is to become a veritable blaze of optimism.

“He loves connecting with people,” says Tzippi Rosen, program director of Florida Yachad. Rosen welcomed Justice Bernstein as a guest speaker for his second Florida Yachad Shabbaton.

“Yachad Shabbatonim are great,” says Justice Bernstein, whose visit to Florida Yachad drew a crowd of 600 captivated listeners. “You could feel the impact it has on the participants. It’s transformative for them. They crave these things that everyone takes for granted. They crave the normalcy. ‘I’m doing what my brother or sister does!’ ‘My child has this incredible opportunity to go to a Shabbaton and make friends.’ If the synagogue lets us speak ‘from the pulpit,’ more schools and synagogues would participate. You have to introduce people who have never been exposed to disabilities. If you have disabilities and want to learn more about Judaism, Yachad is the place. It’s been my total pleasure to go.”

Evidently, the feeling was mutual. “He blew everyone away,” says Rosen. “They said he was the most amazing person they had ever met. When you could hear a pin drop in an audience of students, you know they’re taking in every word. I said to myself, if he could do as much as he does [with his life] and always with a smile, I could at least do half.”

As a lawyer, he travelled to Columbia, South Carolina, to speak at synagogues and schools about the necessity of inclusion, advised the Sao Paulo Jewish community on how to promote and implement greater inclusion. He appeared at twenty speaking-engagements in ten days to audiences throughout Australia, as well as London. “Many families [abroad] don’t have the special education opportunities we have in the States,” he says. “My goal was to help them to realize what is possible.”

He’s keeping a promise he made years ago.

Justice Bernstein knew he wanted to pursue a law career from a very young age. And it’s not just because he comes from a family with three generations of attorneys. “I love what it represents,” he says. “I could literally make life better for people. If a big entity is discriminating, it doesn’t matter how powerful they are, a government or corporation — you can make real change. When there’s injustice, the law allows for change and making things right.”

Getting through law school is no easy feat in the best of circumstances. While at Northwestern University, Bernstein had to memorize lectures, test questions and entire “fact patterns” (the basis for the questions), some of which were multiple pages long; he often put in thirteen hours of study a day.

“I made a deal with Hashem,” says Justice Bernstein. “I said, ‘If You get me through this, I will dedicate my life to representing the special needs populations.’” He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago in 1999 and promptly informed his father of his aspirations to establish a public service division in The Sam Bernstein Law Firm, the family law practice in Farmington Hills, Michigan. It turned out to be the firm’s fastest growing division.

“Richard’s my hero,” says older brother, Mark, who serves as the president and managing partner of the family firm. “He had to figure out how to navigate a world that wasn’t as accommodating to him as it was for others. I think that’s what enabled him to do the extraordinary. No matter what disappointment or setback, he picks himself up and uses it to motivate him. He’s redefined the meaning of vision.”

Racing for His Life

The ultimate fulfillment of his promise to G-d came after he discovered his other great passion, athletics. He joined Achilles International, a non-profit organization providing training and racing opportunities to individuals with disabilities. (Founded in 1983 by Dick Traum, an above-knee amputee, Achilles has 65 chapters within the United States and abroad.) Justice Bernstein’s involvement led to his manifold achievements in the world’s most arduous races.

Richard Bernstein completes the 2012 Miami Marathon with Team Yachad

“Athletics gave me a self-confidence I hadn’t had before,” says Justice Bernstein, who was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame this past April. “In high school, I was unable to participate in sports. I was [relegated to] sitting on the sideline.” This newfound assertiveness inspired him to take on Herculean legal contests. “My father would come into my office and say, ‘Richard, did we just sue the city of Detroit?’ ‘Did we just sue Delta?’ I was able to break free, to have more control over my destiny.”

He partnered with the United States Department of Justice to legally push the City of Detroit to repair broken wheelchair lifts on the city’s buses. In a landmark settlement against Delta Airlines and Detroit Metro Airport, he gained access-ibility for fliers with disabilities, setting the precedent for airlines and airports to comply with the mandates in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. He also fought the State of Michigan and proved victorious in preserving special education funding throughout the state. Ironically, he filed a suit against his employer, the University of Michigan, on behalf of the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America. The suit claimed that Michigan Stadium (a.k.a. “The Big House”) violated the ADA in its approximately $300-million renovation by failing to add enough seats for fans with disabilities or accommodate their needs via accessible restrooms, concessions, and parking.

Thanks to Justice Bernstein’s efforts, the legal settlement called for 329 seats with an equal number of “companion seats.” In its first football season after compliance to the mandate, the university reported in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice that 74% to 89% of the available wheelchair-accessible seats were sold for each of its seven home games. The case helped to define the compliant guideline as it pertains to the differences between “alterations” and “repairs” for commercial facilities on a nationwide basis.

One of his most recent lawsuits was filed from his bed at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. In August of 2012, while Justice Bernstein walked through Central Park, winding down from a workout for his eighteenth NYC marathon, a speeding cyclist (going 35 mph, 10 mph over the speed limit) struck him from behind causing him to fall face down onto the asphalt. He suffered facial abrasions requiring surgery, tooth damage and a broken and dislocated hip, which required a ten-week hospital stay. The suit (filed in federal court against the City of New York and the New York City Department of Transportation) claimed Central Park was inaccessible to blind, visually-impaired and disabled visitors, that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 by failing to stop reckless cyclists using the roadways. The lawsuit stipulated that the city come up with a plan to make Central Park safe for people with disabilities.

Months before the accident, Justice Bernstein had committed himself to attending Yachad’s High School Leadership Shabbaton in Stamford, CT. Despite his long recuperation in the hospital, he was determined to honor that commitment. He arranged to be released the Friday of the event, and secured transportation to take him directly from the hospital to the hotel where the event was taking place.

Spirituality of Disability

Although he grew up with a limited Jewish education, he found himself reconnecting to Judaism after his accident. Upon hearing of his injuries, Orthodox rabbanim in the community came to visit. “They were there for me every single day,” says Justice Bernstein, not as yet married, but hoping to someday. “That level of support inspired me to learn more and to grow. I had an incredible sense of belonging.”

Despite his disability, he considers his life truly blessed. “People who know and appreciate struggle every day are given the greatest life,” he says. “You find that you have an incredible ability to differentiate [between] what is important and what is not. You have a resiliency to push forward and do things that people never thought were possible.”

Timothy Maclean, 27, his “reader” for the past five years, benefits firsthand from Justice Bernstein’s perpetual positivity. “Here’s someone who has every excuse to let his disability hold him back; no one would bat an eyelash if he complained or had a negative attitude,” says Maclean. “Yet, he takes his challenge and turns it into something he could use to benefit others. He sees no other option.”

Difficulty doesn’t faze Justice Bernstein. His new position has him working fifteen hour days memorizing stacks of legal files, preparing for oral arguments with the six other justices on the court. Nonetheless, he relishes the opportunity the position affords him to enhance lives and to educate. “My colleagues, who have never worked with a blind person, have had to realize there is someone in the room who can’t see,” he says. “They have had to be amenable to working with the challenges that I face. At the end of the day, it has to work.”

He sees this as a chance to give people an appreciation and understanding of what people with disabilities contend with and of what they are capable. “I’m hoping [through my example] that employers will see the benefits of hiring a person with disabilities. That, if given the chance, they could rise to the occasion as loyal hardworking employees.”

Although Justice Bernstein experiences constant pain from his Central Park injuries, his spirit never wavers. To him, there’s no other way to go but forward. “The people who make the most of their lives have to work the hardest. If you have a disability, it may be more daunting and difficult, but your life is going to be nothing less than extraordinary.”

Bayla Sheva Brenner is a senior staff writer at the Orthodox Union.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

The Able Act Becomes Law

Yachad’s lobbying mission to Washington, DC – March 2014

It is the American dream to work hard to get ahead. We all want to move up the ladder and do our best. Until recently, those with special needs were unfairly discouraged from saving for the future but, thanks to a new federal law, this is no longer the case. Yachad’s families applaud the passage of the Stephen J. Beck Achieving a Better Life Experience (“ABLE”) law. Yachad, together with the OU Advocacy Center, the non-partisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, has been advocating for the passage of this law for several years.

The ABLE Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to establish tax-exempt accounts for families of individuals with disabilities. Funds from these accounts may be used for expenses such as transportation, education, housing, and employment services.

For the past five years, Yachad and OU Advocacy have actively promoted this legislation by bringing frequent missions to Washington as part of Yachad’s North American Inclusion Month (NAIM) and organizing advocacy campaigns that urged members of Congress to support this bill. “For too long, individuals living with disabilities have faced a ‘Catch-22’: they must rely on government assistance to live, but if they get a job in order to become independent and more self-sufficient they face the risk of becoming ineligible for the very government assistance they need,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad. “Untold potential has been squandered because medical costs and other expenses have prevented those with disabilities from attending a university or pursuing their professional goals.”

The ABLE Act allows individuals with disabilities to have full-time employment and still qualify for Medicaid and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Up until now, individuals with disabilities could not accumulate more than $2,000 in savings without becoming disqualified from receiving these benefits. Through the ABLE Act, individuals with disabilities can now save up to $100,000 without being
suspended from government support—which, in turn, allows them to take control of their finances and be fully-participating members of the workforce.

The OU and Yachad commend U.S. Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), U.S. Representatives Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and the many other sponsors of the bill.

“Too often, those with disabilities are required to focus only on meeting their expenses, rather than achieving their potential, which should not be the case,” said Nathan Diament, executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center. “The ABLE Act delivers meaningful help to families with special needs members. The passage of this law provides invaluable support to thousands of Americans.”

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

A Yachad Family, by Gwen Bloom

Meet David and Nicki, Max, Jake, Ariana, and Mackenzie Taller – a genuine Yachad family. The Tallers epitomize not only the literal meaning but also the spirit of Yachad in the truest sense. They face challenges, joy, and most anything that comes their way b’Yachad – together – as one.

Max, Jake, and Ariana are Yachad members. Their mother says that since joining Yachad her children have blossomed socially. They have made many deep-seated friendships and (happily) travel to Shabbatonim and events anywhere they’re held. Yachad has changed their world.

The three Taller children have attended programs in public schools all their lives. They have received excellent educations and have had warm and caring teachers along the way in the Lawrence, NY school district. However it has not been easy for them socially.

“Yachad welcomes each member regardless of their level of ability or disability,” Mrs. Taller explains. “Each of my children is very different and their needs and expectations are different. Our son Max is an easy-going guy. He really doesn’t see the differences in people. To Max every person is a potential friend. He is a kind, sweet, and thoughtful person. As he has gotten older we have worked with him to establish boundaries. The more time he spends with his peers and the Yachad staff, the more he learns about interacting with others. He is learning to give people space and let relationships develop where they may.”

Rebecca Shrag, Yachad’s Yad B’Yad program director concurs. “Max has been one of Yachad’s ‘mayors’ for years”, she says. “His friendly and enthusiastic nature makes him very popular amongst participants.”

Arianna’s success and popularity within the Yachad arena is squarely matched with Max’s; as she tells it, she has a very busy social life. She now goes out with her friends and hangs out on Central Avenue and is enjoying her independence. Her mom, Nicki added that, “for Ariana, Yachad has been a life changer. She had a very limited social life before joining Yachad. She’d been intimidated by the students with such different backgrounds at school. Now she has become friends with so many people in the community. Ariana is constantly learning from her experiences; she now recognizes her limits, is calmer, and more confident. Her people skills have improved so much.”

“Seeing Ariana open herself up to more social experiences over the summer was a highlight of the trip,” noted Rebecca Schrag. “But the real magic happened once we returned to New York. Ariana was back in a familiar environment, with every reason to again shy away from peers, but her friends wouldn’t allow it. While at times needing encouragement, Ariana can now be found out bowling, sharing pizza, or at the movies with friends on any given Saturday night. Ariana has a social life of her own and now she is often the one introducing her brothers to new friends.”

Michael Fagin, a high school peer on Yachad’s Yad B’Yad summer program points out, “I have known the Tallers all of my life, my mother and Nicki have been friends forever. Throughout the years I never really found much to talk about with Ariana. Thankfully, over this summer’s trip we finally grew close and we are now in frequent contact with one another.”

Eytan Aryeh, a fellow peer agrees. “I met Ariana on Yad B’Yad this past summer. She wasn’t the easiest person to get to know, but once you make the connection she really opens up. Over the last couple of months she’s become one of my best friends.”

“Jake is a homebody,” Nicki says of her younger son. “Up until last summer he had never spent a night away from home. He would always tell me, ‘I’d miss you too much – I am not going!’ No amount of cajoling or suggesting would change his mind. Then in the midst of one long, hot Shabbat afternoon last summer he informed me, “I’m really bored; I am going with Ariana on the next Yad B’Yad Shabbaton.” And that was that – he was ready to spread his wings.”

Nicki & Max celebrate with the family after competing in Miami Marathon with Team Yachad

The Tallers first learned about Yachad from Tzippy Posner at Kulanu Academy, a Cedarhurst, NY school for children and young adults with special needs. Tzippy had previously worked on Yachad summer programs and Shabbatonim and after meeting the Taller family she suggested that Nicki and David contact Yachad and look into its unique and varied social programming. “The Tallers are amazing parents,” Mrs. Posner says. “They do so much to help their children reach their full potential, with no pressure. They give them every opportunity to grow as individuals.”

The Taller’s youngest daughter, Mackenzie is in her first year of high school. She is a capable and understanding young woman, who shows great sensitivity and guidance to her siblings. Her mother tells us she believes that those with siblings who have special needs often grow up to be extraordinary individuals because they learn, at an early age, not to judge others and to accept things as they are and make the most of them.

Gayle Fremed, the director of the Special Needs Department of the JCC of the Greater Five Towns shares that, “Mackenzie has been a counselor here for three summers; she is so gentle and focused. She has great instincts and is incredibly patient and cool like her mother, Nicki. Max works here as well and is doing a great job as a counselor. Jake and Ariana are happy when they are here; they are great contributors. Nicki has done tremendous research and is tireless in her search for programs and people who can help her children.”

Mackenzie enjoying the Team Yachad experience with her mom

“My children are each so different and it’s heart-warming to watch them develop their independence,” Mrs. Taller reveals. “Max never misses a Shabbaton; he is always looking forward to going anywhere and meeting everyone. Ariana goes whenever she can because she knows the advisors and looks forward to seeing them along with her friends. Jake had informed us that he was not going over state lines,” she said with a smile, “but has recently gone on a Shabbaton to New Jersey where he stayed with Ariana’s friend Jessie Zuker. My son told me, ‘I miss you, but I’m fine.’ This brought tears to my eyes.

“Each of our children is making great strides due in large part to the wonderful staff that Yachad provides,” Nicki expounds. “Counselors seem to stay about six to ten years; there is so much energy and no one gets burned out.”

“Nicki and David together have done something incredible. They are true role models of what it means to be good parents. Not only to parents of children with special needs, but to all parents,” notes Eli Hagler, associate director at Yachad. “Their sense of humor and dedication to their children is second to none. I saw this first hand when Nicki ran her first half marathon with Team Yachad in January 2015. She had never run before, had never trained before, and didn’t think she could do it… but her hard work and dedication carried her over the finish line.”

“When Nicki spoke at the Pasta Party the night before the race,” Eli enthused, “you could hear a pin drop. Everyone there knew Nicki was participating in this event to improve the lives of her children and all Yachad members. It was impactful for all our runners and participants to hear her tell what Yachad programs and staff mean to her and her family and the importance of inclusion. She was amazing.”

Rebecca agrees, “Besides being hilariously funny, clever, creative, and caring, Nicki’s realistic and on-point parenting is awe inspiring. Nicki and David are committed to parenting each of their very different children in the way that suits each best.”

“We have so many wonderful people in our lives who have made our journey so meaningful,” Mrs. Taller shared. “My husband David and I are thankful for the many professional and lay people who have kept us moving forward.

Gwen Bloom is the editor of Belong Magazine.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.

The Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship

Throughout his career Joel Daner spent time mentoring those who would follow him in Jewish communal leadership — acting as a sounding board for ideas and offering advice on dealing with particular situations. Many of today’s Jewish professional and lay leaders were mentored and guided in some way by Joel.

Yachad takes great pride in naming the Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship as a tribute to this great leader. It is presented annually to outstanding recent college graduates who want to learn and grow under Yachad’s auspices — promoting inclusion for all Jewish people. Joel Daner laid a path for the fellows to follow, paved with Jewish ideals, leadership, excellence and professionalism.

“There is such a need for this program and this is such a fitting way for Joel to be remembered,” Mrs. Selma Daner said of the fellowships named for her late husband. “He lives on, his memory lives on, and what he believed in still lives on.”

When Joel Daner passed away in November 2010 at the age of 72, he left behind a four decade-long career in Jewish civic and community service, in which he had an enormous impact on the professionalism of the men and women who devote their lives to the Jewish people. Among the highlights of Joel’s work was his role as a board member of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) of Metro West, New Jersey for 10 years. As president, he led the agency through a period of remarkable growth.

As a lay leader, Joel was also an enormous asset to Yachad and its mission of inclusion. He laid the infrastructure for the flourishing lay leadership boards in Yachad’s New Jersey, Chicago, and Florida chapters. His two daughters were intimately involved with Yachad as members; participating in many programs and services that Yachad offers such as Yad B’Yad’s summer travel camp and vocational services.

Joel was born to serve the Jewish people. As vice president for social planning and human resource development at the Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Joel mentored many graduate students from the Baltimore Institute of Jewish Communal Service, guiding them into careers in Jewish education and community service. In recognition of his commitment, Joel Daner was presented many honors, including the Saul Schwartz Distinguished Service Award, the most prestigious honor of the New Jersey Association of Jewish Communal Service.

Cultivating Jewish Leaders of Tomorrow…Today

Selma Daner speaking at Yachad’s 30th Anniversary Dinner

The Joel Daner Yachad Communal Fellowship (JDYCF) is a year-long fellowship, at the intersection of the Jewish community and the disability inclusion movement. It is designed to support the fellows’ development in working as part of a dynamic, multidisciplinary team that aims to meet the social and inclusion needs of Jewish individuals with diverse disabilities. JDYCF is intended to shape emerging leaders who are planning careers in social work, psychology, medicine, education, not-for-profit management, development, public relations, policy planning or organizational leader-ship; or those who hope to serve the broad Jewish community in a lay leadership capacity.

“Please God, each year there will be a new cadre of Daner Communal Fellows and they will have the privilege, in some small way, of knowing that hopefully they are learning, if you will, to become Joel Daners,” noted Dr. Jeffrey Lichtman, international director of Yachad.

Yachad seeks applicants with a strong interest in social services and disability advocacy. Applicants may be on any career path. Candidates must also be concerned about, and dedicated to, the global Jewish community.

“We are looking for focused and motivated individuals who possess a vision for what they want to accomplish and the drive to perform,” said Eli Hagler, Yachad’s associate director. “Our goal is to provide our fellows with the opportunity and guidance to develop, establish, and implement a plan that will create a lasting impact on Yachad and the global Jewish community.”

Fellows function as full time Yachad staff members, working out of the Orthodox Union’s national headquarters in lower Manhattan. Fellows are assigned a primary mentor — a staff member under whose tutelage and guidance they will directly carry out their diverse range of duties within the agency. Additional mentors will provide integrated training and experiential opportunities in other areas as needed. Together, the mentoring team will offer opportunities for the fellow to acquire proficiency in disability culture and Jewish organizational leadership.

Meet the Inaugural Fellows

Our fellows with Dr. Jeff Lichtman, Richard M. Joel, Selma Daner and Ken Saibel

ROBBIE GRAD
As an aspiring physician, I not only want to provide excellent medical care for my patients, but hope to be involved in health policy and advocacy as well. For this reason, I decided it would be an invaluable opportunity to work at Yachad where I have endeavored to shape the world toward my ideal of inclusion. I believe working for Yachad has provided the tools necessary to continue this pursuit throughout my career and help me develop the ability to create change in other sectors. As a Daner fellow, I am focusing on community and school outreach where I empower our young leaders and create sensitivity in our schools.

NOMI GOFINE
As a fellow, I primarily work with Yachad’s Birthright trips and New York Yachad’s social and recreational programming. Much of my focus is from the clinical services perspective, as well as working with Yachad’s advocacy department. I have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges those individuals with disabilities and their families face, and how to effectively address them as an agent of change. I plan on pursuing a joint degree in law and social work when my fellowship comes to an end.

STEPHANIE WEPRIN
I am using my role as a fellow to help Yachad continue its amazing work for the special needs community, specifically by working in vocational training as well as development and fundraising. I believe that this position will serve as a stepping-stone to my future in healthcare by allowing me to interact with so many people, especially a group that I feel so strongly about. Yachad is an amazing organization and I’m extremely honored to be a part of the team.

This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.