By COLlive reporter
The Jewish community in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood is making an unprecedented gesture to welcome individuals with special needs and raise awareness of their abilities.
Various local shuls will be dedicating this coming Shabbos as a special day of inclusion in a joint effort coordinated by the Chasdei Soul II Soul organization, which provides scholarships for children with special needs.
On this Shabbos, people of all ages customarily come to shul to hear the Ten Commandments as they are read in the weekly Torah reading of Parshas Yisro.
“Some families often don’t attend shul together because they have children with special needs who can be difficult to keep in a behavior acceptable to the Shul,” says Shmuly Goldman of Chasdei Soul II Soul.
Together with his wife Tzirl Goldman, they have reached out to many shuls asking them to provide an inclusive option for families with special needs to be welcomed as they are and with open arms.
The following shuls are already participating: Agudas Yisroel, Ahavas Moische Maple Street Itchke’s, Aliya – Beis Laime, Bais Rivka – CH Yeshivah, The Besht, Mercaz Dovrei Ivrit, Minyan Avreichim, Reyim Ahuvim Tiferes Menachem, Crown Heights Shul, Congregation Anash, Bais Shmuel and Beis Gimpel.
“Each individual shul who has joined has planned the best time-frame which makes the most sense for its members,” Shmuly Goldman told COLlive.com. He welcomed additional shuls to join by emailing [email protected].
In order the facilitate the event, Shuls are working to make sure that the shul is accessible. If possible, they will place a ramp or offer to help those in wheelchairs into the shul.
Boys and girls with special needs will be given preferential seating. Those over Bar Mitzvah will be offered an Aliya to the Torah or other honors. Those that are able, will be asked to serve as Chazzan for part of the davening.
In addition, the Rabbi or Gabbai of each Shul will be dedicating their sermon to speak about the special gift from Hashem that each person is and the great potential of the community with special needs.
“As we stand at krias hatorah this week, hearing the aseres hadibros, what better way to do so than standing as one, like at Har Sinai, and recognize everyone in our community,” says Tzirl Goldman.
In the shuls that hold a Kiddush and Farbrengen following the davening, participants with special needs will again be given designated seating preference in a display of courtesy and friendship.
Chasdei Soul II Soul is also gearing up for their annual benefit concert on March 5 headlined by music superstar Avraham Fried at the Brooklyn School of Music in Brooklyn, NY. Tickets at jewishtickets.com
Right during Jewish Disability Awareness And Inclusion Month!
Beautiful that crown heights is a part of this and starting this discussion throughout the community! Thank you!
so beautiful!
“On this Shabbos, people of all ages customarily come to shul to hear the Ten Commandments as they are read in the weekly Torah reading of Parshas Yisro.”
When did this become a minhag? Isn’t it only on Shavuos?
Yes, it would be nice for our special-needs children to go to a regular school but is that fair to THEM? It would be beneficial for those who care about people looking at their family and calling them ‘normal’ as opposed to ‘they have a gifted child’. But, in many cases, would not be beneficial to the child. The child wants to be with people like him and not constantly be looking around and envying those without the problem they have. I have a nephew who cannot use one of his hands – he should have a refuah shelaima. For… Read more »
So beautiful. these children will teach us a valuable lesson about real inclusion. Not just for those with special needs, but for every single Jew in our neighborhood.
Pays for special ed for CH children that go to school outside our community. Real inclusion would be to accpt these children in our own schools
A step in the right direction…but not what this concerts about
This is really nice.
Please remember not to force your decision onto anyone differently abled.
And just a thought “preferential seating” is not really inclusion rather once again pointing out their difference.
Best would be to let the individual chose where to go
may we have nachas from ALL of our children. What a nice preparation for Aseres Hadibros.
…but limit it to only this week? Inclusion isn’t just a one-time deal.
So nice!!
So creative. Thank you for caring so much about our community.
May Hashem bentch you in all!
ZS