A Message from the Director
February is Jewish Disability Awareness Month (JDAM). Throughout the month special events, cultural programs, educational initiatives and advocacy opportunities take place in and around Boston (and around the country). It's part of a large-scale, concerted effort to raise communal awareness and support efforts fostering and encouraging inclusion of people with disabilities and their families in all aspects of Jewish community life. In Boston, the Boston Jewish Film Festival featured eight films about people with disabilities in the festival's REELAbilities series. Jewishboston.com has a special page for JDAM and is featuring a weekly blog post. (Read our post about Mitzvah Mensches below). A book club will meet to discuss to books: Now I See the Moon, by Elaine Hall and The Front of the Class, by Brad Cohen (I highly recommend both books). Our Facebook page will be featuring special posts throughout the month - be sure to "like" our page to receive news and updates. I hope that JDAM activities will inspire others in the community to help make Jewish life accessible to all.
    
Sincerely,

Arlene Remz


Arlene

Arlene Remz,  

Executive Director 

 

 

 

Keep Up with Gateways:

 

Like us on Facebook     Follow us on Twitter 

 

Support Gateways Today!







Supported by CJP

Jewish Disability Awareness Month - With a TwJDAMist!
Reprinted from our blog on jewishboston.com

Mitzvah MenschesWe are delighted to be kicking off Jewish Disability Awareness Month... with a twist.

While most of our programs at Gateways: Access to Jewish Education focus on making Jewish education accessible to students with special learning needs, we would like to introduce you to our teen youth initiative - Mitzvah Mensches - an inclusive teen youth group fostering young philanthropists.

 

At Mitzvah Mensches, we create a social life through social action. Teens join Mitzvah Mensches for a variety of reasons but one thing is for sure, they all think it is fun, they all feel like they belong, and they all have a voice that is heard and counted.

 

The Mitzvah Mensches program evolved for the students of Gateways several years ago. After their b'nei mitzvah, they wanted to continue their Jewish learning and engagement but also wanted to have fun and make friends with other Jewish teens.

 

The overt curriculum at Mitzvah Mensches is about philanthropy and social action. Teens tell us what they are interested in and we find charities that are aligned with their interests. As a group, we learn about the charities in fun and creative ways. Sometimes, it looks like formal learning (reading and writing, or watching a video about an organization), but often we incorporate games and team challenges into the evening. The games have a secondary (covert) purpose: through them, we work on social skills and building relationships among the participants.

 

In this short video, some of our Mitzvah Mensches explain in their own words what the program is and what is means to them:  

Mitzvah Mensches 2013 Imagine
 

As an inclusive program, some of the Mensches have special needs, others do not. A diagnosis or the special need is not so important. What is important is that the teens make connections with one another. In the beginning of the year, the teens may feel they do not share interests or have much in common, but as the year progresses and the program creates unique shared experiences, the teens bond and have things to talk about... eventually those connections grow stronger and friendships are forged.

 

Now in its eighth year, the group meets twice a month during the school year and includes students with and without special education needs. We would love for your teen to join us!

 

So while Jewish Disability Awareness month is upon us and wonderful activities, posts and celebrations of awareness carry on, the teens of Mitzvah Mensches will be celebrating a slightly different agenda: acceptance, individuality, and inclusion of all.  

 

Nancy Mager

Director, Jewish Education Programs

PurimPurim Resources
Here are highlights of the Purim resources we have available on our website. Visit our site for the complete selection.
Line Waiting in Line at a Purim Carnival

 

Story
 

 

Purim Key Phrases Using American Sign Language

 


 

Gateways in thPresse Press
Corporate SponsorsSponsors
sponsors