As the summer progressed; I realized this summer was the best; We laughed, we danced, we had fun; A hundred and fifteen people became one... To be inspired by those that I love; To make a connection with God up above; To learn about inclusion and being a great friend; To know that people will care for me until the very end.

Participants are empowered to embrace themselves, for who they are and for who they can become – all while having a fantastic time, creating longstanding friendships, and building memories for a lifetime.

Jacob already has us all planning this coming Shabbat lunch.  Why so early?  Lunch for 25 takes a few days to plan. We have done it before, but his guests are usually in their 20’s, sometimes engaged or even coming with a spouse and child. He’s never been too worried about impressing them. They have […]

What I enjoy about Yad B’Yad, and Yachad in general, is that the programs are very inclusive and you are never left out of anything, no matter what your conditions may be. People go out of their way to make you feel like a leader (they actually had campers and counselors switch roles for a day!). Each day you wake up knowing that you are surrounded by friends who never judge, nor think differently about you. You can feel the love permeating from their words, actions, and being.

People say going on YBY will be the best summer ever, but I don’t think this statement is 100% correct... because, not only was YBY the best summer ever, but it was also the best month of my life.

I had a really special summer and Yad B’Yad definitely impacted my life. I learned not to judge others immediately upon meeting them and give everyone a chance. Yad B’Yad helped me become more aware of the fact that including someone can mean anything from smiling and saying good morning to inviting them into a […]

With frequent shabbatons and ongoing events, my daughters discovered a new community of friends and counselors , all of whom were committed to the value of inclusion and sensitivity towards others. Besides training and educating the teens to the needs of differently abled participants, our daughters and their friends came to internalize the message of inclusion.