Category Archives: From Matan’s Executive Director

Giving Thanks – A Good Thing to Do No Matter the Date!

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A package arrived today…10 copies of the 2012-2013 Slingshot Guide – the Zagat-like guide to the 50 most innovative non-profits in the Jewish community.  On page 31 is the most beautiful description of Matan’s work from the perspective of the evaluators: “Matan is poised to have a real systemic impact with its new strategies and programs.  Another evaluator praises Matan’s breadth of programs that are tailored to address a void in the Jewish community with skill and diligence.”  As wonderful as these words are, we could not have done it without you – parents, practitioners, and caring people who remind us that though we have made strides as a community, we still have a ways to go.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Spectacles of History and A New Prescription for the Future

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Written by Dori Frumin Kirshner, Executive Director, Matan
Originally published in The New York Jewish Week, Friday, July 27, 2012

On Jan. 20, 2009 our 4-year-old daughter forced my husband and me to retrofit spectacles of prejudice.

What do I mean by that? That was the day on which Barack Obama was sworn into office, and as my husband and I watched the festivities unfold on television, Evie could not stop asking why so many people, especially those of color, were crying. She pushed, “Why are they sad, Mommy?” “Isn’t this a happy day? They get to see the president.”

I attempted to describe how not long ago, in America, there were people who believed that a black person could not be president. I added that these people who were crying were told that message all of their lives, yet now they were watching history change. She looked at me puzzled; the past was incomprehensible to her innocent mind.

Embarrassingly, within the context of our own Jewish community, there are still archaic projections placed upon people that violate basic civil rights. As recently as last week, many of us read an account of a family struggling with issues of inclusion within a Jewish summer camp. (Keep reading…)

Adele – Rolling in the Deep and Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month

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Written by Dori Frumin Kirshner, Executive Director, Matan

I just returned from a FLAME concert. What is FLAME, you might ask? FLAME is a collection of talented souls who don’t let any challenge (Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism,etc.) stand in their way of sharing their unique talent and GIFT of music with others.  It was one of the first times in my life I’ve seen an INCLUSIVE audience.  Adults with cognitive differences were ROCKIN’ OUT shoulder to shoulder with “typical” Hebrew school teenagers.  My face hurts from smiling so much – I’ve never been prouder of the Jewish community.  Who would have ever thought that singing Adele lyrics in a synagogue sanctuary could be so transformative?!  For a glimpse into what this audience experienced, please take a few minutes to view the Flame Video I was compelled to take with my phone. Let’s not wait for next February (Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month) to make nights like this happen again.