Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Story from Sandy Ray
Palm Beach has the highest percentage of Jews anywhere is the world, outside of Israel. Unfortunately, with that statistic, only 32% of the Jewish community is affiliated with a synagogue.
I was concerned about the large percentage of unaffiliated families who have kids with LD. I know that these kids struggle in their daily lives with school related activities, making friends, have behavioral issues, teacher problems, sibling problems and on and on. They are struggling with self-esteem issues in every part of their lives. I also know that learning Hebrew and just going to Temple for Bar Mitzvah lessons is probably not a high priority for many of these families. The family focus is on how to deal with the stresses of the child's difficulties and just trying to get through (daily school) life. In fact, most Temples don't have the time or ability to give these kids the attention they require and the child usually winds up struggling in yet another endeavor in their young lives. Many of these families don't put a high priority on Hebrew school because they have 'full plates' and have to contend with too much other stuff.
I started a project called the Mitzvah Experience, for unaffiliated families with Bar/Bat Mitzvah aged kids with LD. In this program, any child will have the ability to succeed. My vision is to give these kids an opportunity to succeed on their own terms and with their unique strengths. They will not have to learn a long and challenging Portion in the Torah, but rather, based on their ability, they can learn a few or as many lines as they can handle. But they will succeed. I believe it will be a most memorable event in their lives when they look back and proudly recall that although they struggled in many, if not most, areas of their lives, they will have had a unique and (perhaps first) positive Judaic experience.
I have arranged with educators in the Jewish community with LD experience to work with and tutor these kids. Ultimately, the child and family will have their special day at any number of facilities in the community to host such a festive affair. I purchased a Torah (with the assistance of Rabbi Dalfin) and had a beautiful mobile Ark made for the ceremonies. In searching all over the world on internet for someone to make the Torah cover, I met a woman who made the most beautiful handmade Judaic articles. Than I discovered that she also tutors LD kids. And amazingly she lives 30 minutes from me. She is very excited to participate in this program. She produced an inspirational cover which any child would want to reach out and touch - not just look at. We embroidered the following on the cover:
TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY UNTO THY CHILDREN . . . ALL CHILDREN.
I have access to unaffiliated Rabbi's and Cantors who would like to perform the ceremony for the families.
In the end, everyone wins; most importantly, the child. He or she will have the opportunity to experience success just like any and all the other kids do.
So, in closing, If I can help Israeli families and children, it would be my greatest Mitzvah Experience.
Sources:
http://www.cjp.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=172459
http://www.jewishpalmbeach.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=172394
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