Can you share your vision for Judaic programming at the WAE Center and how it aligns with the center’s holistic approach?
My vision for the Judaic programing at the WAE Center is to make it inclusive to all members. To foster an environment where people of Jewish and non-Jewish faiths can comingle to learn and grow spiritually.
How do you incorporate Jewish traditions and values into WAE Center Programming?
I try to inform members in my Judaic classes on the different traditions of the Jewish faith, and how the different sects of Judaism practice said traditions. For example, Orthodox Ashkenazi Jews Avoid Eating Kitniyot: a group of foods that are traditionally avoided during Passover: legumes, rice, seeds, and corn.
The ban on kitniyot has been in place since the 13th century, but it’s always been controversial. In recent history, it’s been overturned. Three groups of Rabbis have ruled that both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews can choose to eat kitniyot during Passover. However, some Orthodox practitioners still choose to avoid eating kitniyot.
How do you include WAE Center members of different faiths into your programming?
All are welcome in my Judaic classes. We have many non-Jewish participants during Judaic Gems and on Friday for WAE Center Shabbat celebration we light candles (Battery operated tea lights) and recite the shabbat Prayer together. We also enjoy Challah and Grape juice after we say the Kiddush together. All members enjoy singing traditional Jewish song together during Judaic programing. My philosophy is music and food can bring the world together.
How do you make culinary hands-on activities engaging for participants of all abilities?
What sensory or social benefits have you noticed from this activity?
Cooking and Baking implies enjoying a lovely bite of Nosh. Most members enjoy helping during the cooking process, and I encourage them to do as much as they can to foster growth and positive self-esteem. For example, during the High Holidays we made round challah for Rosh Hashanah. The sensory aspect of this program was the squish Challah dough. It needed to be kneeded, and rolling out the dough into sections to prepare for braiding. As we roll out the segments of dough we are using motor skills, and as we braid the challah, we are using fine motor skills. The social benefits of cooking and baking together promotes team work amongst members, and encourages communication within the group.
How do you approach the significance of Breaking Fast after Yom Kippur with the participants?
What steps do you take to make the experience inclusive, ensuring everyone understands the importance of the ritual?
Can you share any memorable moments from a recent Breaking Fast event?
This was a fun program for all members to experience a bit of Jewish cuisine matzo ball soup. Traditionally in my home we break the fast with matzo ball soup and I wanted to share this tradition with the members. My family instead of performing kaparot prefers to use chicken as a breaking of the fast. Chicken matzo ball soup in my opinion is the best way to have chicken after fasting, because it is light on the stomach. Nothing like a little Jewish penicillin to warm the soul. (The Jewish practice of kaparot, or kapparot, involves swinging a live chicken around the head and reciting a prayer to transfer sins to the bird. The ritual is performed on Yom Kippur Eve and has been practiced for about 1,000 years. After the ceremony, the chicken is slaughtered according to Jewish law and donated to charity)
Sushi in the Sukkah is a creative take on a traditional holiday—how do you explain the connection between the activity and the festival of Sukkot?
How do you blend tradition with contemporary elements, like sushi, to keep the program fresh and exciting for participants?
What are some of the participants’ favorite parts of celebrating Sukkot in the sukkah?
Sushi in the sukkah is a more modern event to entice people to eat in the sukkah. Not all our Jewish members may have the opportunity outside of the WAE Center to eat in a sukkah during the holiday and I wanted to be able to share a meal in the sukkah with the members. We had all Judaic programing in the sukkah during the holiday, in which I provided light snacks for member to enjoy. While we ate, I would tell the group the importance of the tradition of eating in the sukkah during Sukkot, and how the tradition came to be. I think some of our favorite memories we made together in the sukkah this year would be enjoying the lovely weather, food, music, and each other’s laughter.
How do you measure the impact of these Judaic events on the participants’ spiritual, emotional, and social well-being?
What feedback have you received from participants or their families about these events?
In what ways do you think these activities foster a deeper connection to Jewish heritage and community for adults with IDD?
Overall, I have had positive feedback from the members and staff. I have learned in the Judaic groups that we as a group teach each other. It is not just me teaching in my classes we all share our knowledge about our own Jewish heritage with each other. One of my faults as a manager in the past was delegation. The WAE center has taught me that I don’t have to do everything on my own. The members often teach me thing I never even knew about Judaism, and there is nothing like the feeling of knowing that we as a group in my programing teach each other. The members, staff, and I all contribute to the learning process in all my groups not just Judaic programing. What a wonderful special place the WAE Center is that people from all walks of life can productively enhance the lives of others.
What new ideas or events are you planning to expand Judaic programming at the WAE Center?
How do you hope to continue evolving the program to keep it inclusive and meaningful for the participants?
Looking ahead the opportunities are endless. The enthusiasm I and the members have for learning about Jewish culture is immense. Basically, we are like sponges. we just want to soak up as much knowledge as we can to further our personal understanding of our faith.
I hope that with the help of the members I can steer the programing in a direction they desire, because their input will maximize participation. I hope to do more trips to other Jewish places i.e. temples, museums, schools, nursing facilities, and of course restaurants. This will further expand the members exposure to Jewish culture. Along with letting the members share their life successes with other people.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts. I hope that I was able to give some insight regarding my passion for providing Judaic programming at the WAE Center.
