During the Three Weeks and the Nine Days, we all spent a lot of time thinking about how to bring the geulah. We know that the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of sinat chinam, and a lot of energy is put into emphasizing achdus and bridge building. How can we keep this inspiration going now that Tisha B’Av is over?
As we move now towards Elul, there is a unique opportunity to collaborate as a community in creating an atmosphere of achdus amongst all of our children.
Kool Kids Passaic Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a wide range of recreational and respite programs for children and young women with special needs living in Passaic/Clifton. Its newest initiative, the inaugural inclusion-achdus program for elementary school boys, was a phenomenal success that it hopes to replicate and expand soon.
In the inclusion-achdus program, boys who attend local mainstream yeshivot joined together with boys who attend special education schools for a weekly activity of supper and woodworking. Over the course of four weeks, the boys spent time getting to know each other in a fun and supportive environment as they worked on building their very own shtenders. The boys honed their carpentry skills, and took home beautiful shtenders that they are now using for learning and davening.
The inclusion-achdus program, led by two master’s-level special education teachers, gave the participants an opportunity to get to know children from the community whom they otherwise would never have met. For the boys who have disabilities and are unable to attend local yeshivot, this was a unique opportunity for them to form friendships with other boys in the community.
Kool Kids Passaic would like to expand the achdus-inclusion program in order to offer this opportunity to even more children. All of Kool Kids Passaic’s programs are volunteer-run, and special funding is needed to cover costs involved in running this wonderful program.
Please consider donating to this worthy endeavor in honor of someone special, someone who has passed away or just to show your support for children with disabilities in our community. Your donation will facilitate a beautiful expression of achdus between children with and without disabilities. To learn more about Kool Kids
Passaic, or to donate, please visit their website at www.koolkidspassaic.com, email [email protected] or call 201-431-5665.
