Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe, Merkos Suite 302’s organization that assists shluchim families who have children with special needs, inaugurated its newly formed West Coast chapter with its very first local event on the night of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz.
Thanks to the initiative and planning of Rabbi Shlomo and Aliza Menkes of Simcha Monica, California, and Rabbi Mendel Lipskier of Sherman Oaks, California, 13 shluchim came to Cheder Menachem of Los Angeles for an evening entitled “Creating a More Peaceful Home,” focusing on behaviors that affect parents and siblings of children with special needs.
The group was addressed by Dr. Daniel Shabani, the director and founder of the Shabani Institute Center for Behavior Analysis and Language Development, who was joined by Mrs. Courtney Bloom-Pulte, the institute’s lead marriage and family therapist intern. Both presenters spoke with shluchim one-on-one after the event’s official conclusion. Additionally and of equal importance, the evening served as a forum for participants to share their feelings, questions, and suggestions with fellow shluchim facing similar challenges.
Rabbi Dovid Leib Shur, Yaldei’s national director of development, explained that Yaldei provided a babysitting subsidy along with covering expenses for speakers, food, etc. at no cost to the participating parents, which allowed parents to attend with no worries. He called this “one more way of saying we’re here for you fully.”
While the event was a success in its own right, it also marked the accomplishment of one of Yaldei’s larger goals. “We have yearly regional events where these shluchim can recharge and gain chizuk,” explains Rabbi Sholly Weiser, Yaldei’s executive coordinator. “But as helpful as those events are, nothing compares to having local support close to home.” One of Yaldei’s biggest goals is to help shluchim who have children with special needs to develop their own micro-communities that will, with their own initiative, organize regular events like this one, thereby giving each other accessible and regular support.
“Rabbi Lipskier and Rabbi and Rebbetzin Menkes got everyone off to a very positive beginning,” continues Rabbi Weiser. “The shluchim responded very enthusiastically. As such, not only will the West Coast chapter BE”H continue having such meetings on a regular basis every other month or so, but also Yaldei International would like to use the West Coast’s model for implementation in other states. As for now, California shluchim have a new and important local address to turn to for assistance.”
Yaldei was founded in 2009 by a group of yungeleit, shluchim, and businessmen to provide financial support and specialized programming for shluchim raising children with special needs. Yaldei covers medical costs, provides counseling and service coordination, and has sponsored numerous weekend parent retreats in Florida, New England, and California to benefit nearly 150 shluchim families raising children with special needs.
For more information or to contribute, visit www.yaldei.com.
your da best!!!
ATOH HASHEM LO SICHLO!!!
YEAH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtZ0ZkamT7c
A lot of thank yous must be given.
to ALL the founders, Chesky Malamud, Yisroel Wilhelm AND the others for having the vision.
Gershon Sabol for broadening the vision, for bringing in major experience and devoting his personal time.
Sholly weiser for making this vision and dream a reality.
Dovid Leib Shur for making sure that the reality is funded.
Merkoz for realizing the importance of this shlichus and for standing behind the organization.
BUT MOST OF ALL WE MUST THANK RABBI AND MRS. MENKES AND RABBI LIPSKIER for making THIS particular event.
May all of you be blessed
good work, keep it up!
Mendy, Thank you from all of us in the UK……..
I am a Shliach with a child with special needs and I cant thank you enough for all you’ve done for my family and I. And especially for bringing on Rabbi G. Sabol who is an expert in this field and who has been a wonderful help to us. Mendy, may Hashem continue giving you the kochos b’gur to keep up this great project
Rock on!
wow Menachem Mendy Krinsky, you were the one to have this amazing idea…you started it, invested your heart, soul, money, time, resources….look what amazing work has been done – all because of you!!
sholly is the man!!!!!!
Your Australian friends!
Your the best camp directer