Jackie & Stephen Moster: Pursuing Yachad’s Mission Together

In the summer of 2007, Yachad brought Jackie Green and Stevie Moster together, and today they continue their work as a married couple, extending Yachad’s mission in the Jewish community.

Both Jackie and Stevie, from Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, became counselors on Yad B’Yad, Yachad’s summer program that brings typically developing teens together with young adults with disabilities on a tour of Israel. During Yad B’Yad, high school students and Yachad members experience the Jewish homeland to the fullest as they ride camels, hike up Masada, participate in special Shabbat programs, and volunteer for community service work. Jackie and Stevie first became a team when they were assigned to similar responsibilities on Yad B’Yad. Their working relationship quickly developed into a friendship, and that friendship eventually evolved into marriage.

Jackie first began her involvement with Yachad through weekend Shabbatonim when she was in high school, soon realizing she was “surrounded by people who brought out the best” in her. She came to view Yachad as a place that “despite everyone’s differences, [we] were getting together, had a common need, interest, and love for Yachad.”

What’s Jackie’s advice for someone’s first time at a Yachad event? “Experience the array of emotions, ask questions, and assume a leadership position when there is a need. Create a welcoming and accepting place for everyone.”

Jackie and Stevie continue to live by Yachad’s mission of “addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities, ensuring their inclusion in everyday life.” Stevie spreads Yachad’s message about education and advocating for greater understanding, acceptance, and outreach by creating a disabilities study major at University of Maryland. Jackie is a behavior specialist, working in a mainstream school supporting students with challenges in multiple areas, such as social skills. She believes that inclusion is reality. “People should not be included only in certain situations; it should be a way of life.”

The couple brings Yachad’s mission to everything that they do at home as well, teaching their ten-month-old son, Sammy, self-acceptance, sensitivity, and respect for others – all others.

Doria Miller is a Yachad Social Work intern

This is an article from Belong Magazine 2014. For more information, or to receive your own copy contact belong@ou.org

Yaffa & Ari Ash: Pursuing Yachad’s Mission Together

Yachad has changed many lives for the better in immeasurable ways. Two of those people are Yaffa and Ari Ash, who met each other through their work with Yachad. Yaffa was first exposed to Yachad via a Shabbaton she attended with a friend during high school. She soon found her niche, and from 2004 to 2009 she worked as a coordinator, advisor, and counselor in various Yachad programs, including Yad b’ Yad. Meanwhile, her future husband Ari, with whom she shared mutual childhood friends but had never actually met in person, also began to contribute his time and talents to Yachad. Eventually, Yaffa and Ari met at a Yachad Shabbaton in 2007 and became friends. Later that year, at the same site of the Shabbaton where they first met and worked together, Ari proposed. The importance of disability inclusion was instilled in Yaffa from a very early age by her mother, who worked in special education and exposed Yaffa to the diversity of humankind. Yaffa feels that this helped her achieve a greater understanding of how people with disabilities can and should fit as equal and useful members. She and Ari live by this belief in their daily lives, and they work tirelessly to impart the idea of true inclusion and equality to others. To further that goal, they advise teens to “forget all your expectations” about Yachad inclusion events “and think of it as just hanging out with new people.” This seemingly obvious piece of advice hides a powerful message. Many people in the wider world have unfortunate preconceived – and often downright incorrect – notions of what people with disabilities are like, and also about what it might be like to form social relationships with them. It’s important to remember that people with disabilities are simply people – people with hearts and minds and feelings. They can share so much with you, and you with them. “So get involved,” they encourage young people, “as we did.” And who knows? You might just meet that special someone who shares your values and commitment.

Deborah Berman is the Director of Social Work at Yachad

This is an article from Belong Magazine 2014. For more information, or to receive your own copy contact belong@ou.org