Jewish Learning Venture Staff

by Abbe Goldstein Or Hadash I work with a boy named Jeffrey almost every Sunday at Or Hadash. Jeffrey is in fourth grade and has Down Syndrome. I enjoy working with Jeffrey because he poses a challenge for me, and it is good to be truly challenged every once in a while. In the beginning, he would always hit me and say things such as “I hate you!” It has been a learning experience on not just how to deal with Jeffrey’s behavior, but how to control my own behavior. I can’t yell at him, and can’t show him that [...]

by Chad Finkelstein Old York Road Temple--Beth Am So far this year I have helped out a few different students at my Hebrew school at Old York Road Temple Beth Am, and each one is unique. My first day, I was assigned to help a fourth grade boy who at first, I did not believe had autism. He just seemed like a kid who had a difficult time paying attention, and talked often. As time went on I realized he was not being disruptive on purpose, but that he did not understand subtle social guidelines such as when to stop [...]

By Rachel Eisenberg TAP Teen, Temple Judea In November, I went and helped to throw a party for adults with special needs.  I moved around and talked to a few of them.  Then, I sat down and talked to a woman named Miriam.  She was blind and had a few other cognitive special needs.  First we made a card and I asked her what she wanted on it and exactly how she wanted it placed.  We talked and she was very nice.  It was amazing to see adults with special needs because they acted a lot different than children. They [...]