Yachad, the organization, and I go back many years together. It is true that I have always had a special place in my heart for any organization that devotes itself to bringing happiness and acceptance to the special needs community. What most people do not consciously think about is that the original main goal of Yachad, which is evident from the choice of its name, is to include and integrate mainstream high school and college kids into each program that takes place. For instance, in each program that I coordinated in Montreal for Yachad we had willing and able high school and college students participate in each activity. True, Yachad was to provide programming for a certain group of individuals but at the same time its goal was to incorporate others in all activities.
It took a while for the idea to take off. After all, for some people, from parents of both Yachad members and the mainstream teenagers who were interested in attending, there was hesitancy about how being included in the programs would affect their children. Needless to say, I do not think anyone could have imagined the success and global influence Yachad has had on young people, their parents and communities throughout the world.
Who would have thought we could walk into Trader Joe’s and see Avi Zadok working there along with the other employees? He is as friendly and nice as every other worker there. Thank you, Yachad. Walk into Grand and Essex or Jus by Julie and there they are: Yachad members working together with the regular staff, having been job-trained in various capacities. Has anyone thought about what this does for the self-esteem of the workers? And the other employees are being educated and are enthralled with their new staff members. Many people have told me that they have seen my grandson Zev packing bags at Cedar Market. Don’t think it comes without reward! Apparently he is fed well there. Let’s recognize the businesses that accept and applaud integration.
There are many ripple effects of the “integration” program at Yachad, which I am not sure was imagined so long ago. Families seeing their high school or middle school son or daughter suddenly visiting a friend on Shabbat who is not from his own school and not one of his peers. Those who invite their Yachad buddies to join their family for a Shabbat lunch are opening up an entire world to parents who in many cases were never exposed to “special needs kids.” Although there have to be fewer and fewer of those people around, as the world is so much more open to acknowledging and accepting that they have a child with a major deficit. I remember when in conversation with the mother of my daughter’s classmate in Bais Yaakov, excitedly talking about my eldest daughter’s forthcoming wedding and she, without a thought, said that she was sure I would not bring Naama to the wedding. She was slightly shocked when I informed her that not only was Naama coming but she was “walking” down the aisle, being pushed by her brother, just as her sister would walk down the aisle.
On Sunday evening I attended Yachad’s annual Eitan Katz Kislev Kumzitz in honor of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, preparing everyone for the mood of Chanukah and its many festivities. The event drew Yachad members from various parts of New Jersey as well as a few from outside this area. Shout out to Dovi Zucker who came from Stamford with his father! Aside from the ruach, the passionate young Yachad ambassadors who made sure that every member was up dancing, and the smile on Katz’s face as he wished a happy birthday to a Yachad member who was celebrating that very night. One of the most heartwarming moments I had was when I realized there were families there that had little Yachad affiliation. Many came to enjoy the music of Eitan Katz and had little experience with Yachad or its members.
I especially noticed the Krug family (Shy and Sivan) when, as Katz sang “Ki Karov,” a very young sweet voice blasted out each word of the song. I later learned that Merav, who is 4 years old, together with her siblings Yaron and Avri, listens frequently to the singer-songwriter in their home; therefore coming to the concert was an absolute thrill for their family. Sivan explained to me that she had discussed with her children how powerful music is and that it has the power to bind the community. Through programming they have seen at Rinat, her children had already been exposed to inclusion in their everyday life as well as at Yavneh. Kol hakavod to the Krug family.
My thought is that in the future when there are other programs in the community that incorporate special needs with other community members, it should be our obligation to encourage, support and teach our children by example to attend such events.
One last comment. There are no words to describe the caring, remarkable staff who work daily in the Yachad office. Thank you Hashem for creating such special people.
Nina Glick can be reached at [email protected]
