Yachad

Yachad to honor Liz Offen for her years building Yachad New England into the powerhouse it is today. November 10th- an incredible day for an incredible leader. #withyou #inlcusion

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of stigma around Down syndrome and Avrohom Adler, LCSW, International Director of Yachad, is sharing insights on how we can break it. At Yachad, relationships, education, and employment are pillars of fostering self-worth and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Read Avromie’s OpEd (link in comments) to find out how we can all help break the stigma in these three areas and create a more inclusive community. What is Yachad? Yachad is a leading organization that promotes inclusion and support for individuals with disabilities within the Jewish community.

Thank you to the Cleveland Jewish News for allowing me to contribute to this piece on behalf of Yachad Cleveland alongside colleagues from Friendship Circle Cleveland and Milestones Autism Resources. Thank you to the incredible Rebecca Schrag Mayer for all her efforts on behalf of true synagogue inclusion and allowing me to share her insights. Wishing you all a Shana Tova-- A Sweet & Inclusive Year for us all! Avrohom Adler Chani Herrmann Ken Saibel https://lnkd.in/eEXfWqbA

Yachad is dedicated to enhancing the life opportunities of individuals with disabilities through social, educational and recreational activities, ensuring their full participation in Jewish life. Guided by Torah values, Yachad believes in inclusion, safety, and community belonging for all. Yachad Chicago is hiring a Director of Development who will plan, direct, and implement all aspects of annual campaign development and advance the mission of the organization by identifying and stewarding donor relationships to deeper levels of engagement and increased levels of philanthropic giving. Successful candidates will demonstrate achievement in nonprofit development, will work well independently and collaboratively, possess strong organizational and communication skills, and have demonstrated ability to maintain strong relationships. Ideally, candidates will have a knowledge of Chicago’s Jewish philanthropic landscape and a strong interest in the mission of Yachad. Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to Beth Greenberg, Consultant: beth@evolvegg.com https://lnkd.in/eddTm_Tk

Yachad Kosher Grill is back at M&T Bank Stadium!! We are so excited to to partner to with Levy and thank them for supporting individuals with disabilities. Thank you to the Baltimore Ravens and Adam Neuman for your ongoing support! Barry Nabozny this is all you!! One of Yachad’s 3 pillars is employment and the Yachad Kosher Grill at M & T not only provides individuals with disabilities opportunities for paid employment, it shows the world that individuals with disabilities can contribute. #withyou #belonging #football #disabilities #opportunities Chani Herrmann Michael Appelbaum Orthodox Union Josh Joseph Check out our first customer of 2024, today’s crew and the newest addition to our menu “THE CHILLI DOG”.

Time for a BIG update! Today's my last day physically in the New England office of Yachad, after 12 years. Below is a sweet highlights video my staff made. I will continue to wrap things up until October 1st and have been procrastinating writing this post. Yachad has been a passion, some might say an obsession, but I knew we could do more for hundreds of families who have loved ones living with disabilities. I embraced each Yachad participant, our devoted staff and thousands of volunteers as members of a big family and in return attended birthdays, graduations, weddings, bris's & baby naming's, shiva's and funerals. We celebrated and wept together -- and shared so much laughter at literally thousands of Yachad events and programs since 2012. So many memories packing up my office and attending programs these last weeks. There was a party and then an ice cream cake, but we didn't say goodbye because I kept popping up to transition with the fabulous Laura (Fruchter) Butler who became Yachad New England's Regional Director a year ago; and Joshua Tolub who just joined as the director of development. These two are a strong team and will not disappoint you under the guidance of Avrohom Adler and Ken Saibel. Being part of Yachad is to be part of the Orthodox Union family. The OU had a deep understanding early of the need for inclusion into Jewish life at the highest level of engagement. A special Toda Raba to Josh Joseph and Rabbi Moshe Hauer for their chizuk and leadership. Highlights are opening the Yachad Community Center in 2018, flipping daily programs onto zoom during the pandemic and creating a triage system to ensure every individual, their housemates and families had groceries, medication, ice cream, art supplies, puzzles and games. Deep gratitude to the Ruderman Family Foundation +Sharon Shapiro, Jay and Shira Ruderman, who were the first to believe in my vision and guided with wisdom, high expectations and investment; Elizabeth Zwick at The Nancy Lurie Marks Family Foundation (NLMFF) who helped us build infrastructure for aging member living with autism, who needed a different approach integrating into community activities. NLMFF supported creation of the now famous Matzo Ball Bowling League (Monday Nights at Boston Bowl -- join the fun!) and home-based recreation via Backyard Buddies -- a high-octane outdoor visitation program for those with greater needs. CJP - Combined Jewish Philanthropies is the best partner I could hope for. Thank you Barry Shrage, Marc Baker, Sarah Abramson, PhD, Jennifer Weinstock and Madeline Wenzel! I was fortunate to win the 2020 Arc Tank top prize and am eternally grateful to Jo Ann Simons, Timothy Brown, Steven P. Rosenthal for establishing this incredible "Shark Tank" style competition, allowing us to pivot and lean into the pandemic bringing technology to the most vulnerable during some long & frightening days. What's next -- not sure, but it won't be as much fun as Yachad! #EveryoneBelongs! #YesWeCan

This past week, I visited one of Orthodox Union sites, Yachad Ivdu Long Island and was impressed by a recent addition to the school—a rock wall! What stood out to me was how this simple (and very pretty!) feature offers students so much more than physical exercise. Lessons in creativity, trust, teamwork, and perseverance can all be learned here. It’s a reminder that education goes beyond the classroom, fostering critical life skills and creative problem-solving through innovative approaches Special shoutout to everyone involved who made this happen!

Most of us didn’t find our hidden talents in a canoe. 🛶 But for Avi Kirshtein, Program Director of Yachad Brooklyn, that’s exactly what happened. High school Avi and his canoe partner got lost on the Mississippi River and had to abandon ship. When asked to write about it for the newspaper, he chose a humorous angle, and saw it made people smile. In the latest Oh, You? episode, Avi reveals how this experience taught him to transform tense moments and brighten days, something he now does throughout Yachad’s programming. 🔗 Learn more about Avi through the podcast link in the comments

Powerful words from Associate Director of Yachad Chani Herrmann WHY YES

Check out the new Drone program at the Marilyn and Sheldon David IVDU Boys high school a division of Yachad. IVDU continues to innovate!!! #innovation #education #withyou Tony Reid Rabbi Druin Chavie Kahn Chani Herrmann Joe Goldfarb Michael Appelbaum Ken Saibel Rebecca (Schrag) Mayer