Tag Archives: JCC

Spotlight on the Matan Class at the JCC of Manhattan

Posted on by

The Matan class, part of the Kulam program at the JCC of Manhattan, serves children ages 8-12 years with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  This year, the focus of the class is Synagogue Life.  This is a unique experience for the students in the JCC setting, as for many of them it is their first opportunity to learn about synagogues.

Recently, Matan teacher Shira Arcus introduced a unit on “People in the Synagogue”.  Rabbinical Student Ariella Rosen made a guest appearance at the class.  She told the students that she is studying to be a Rabbi.  Through using stick puppets, she explained the various roles of different people in the Synagogue, including the Rabbi, cantor and teachers.  She told the students that Rabbis help people learn about being Jewish, and they also help to lead prayers in Synagogue.  Ariella showed them different versions of a Siddur (Jewish prayer book) and the students began their own Siddur project.

Shira told the students that with the new year, they would be starting a new way of doing t’fillah in their class so that everyone would have a new way of connecting with God.  They learned about tzitzit (ritual fringes) and the brachah (blessing) people say when they put on tzitzit.  Beginning their siddur project, they colored the body of a cut out person and glued on felt tzitzit to remind them what people wear when they pray to God.  They also created a cover for their siddur.  The students will create new pages of their siddur as they learn about different t’fillot (prayers) and even create their own personal prayer to God.

According to Shira, “Having the students interact with a Rabbinical student made synagogue and prayer more real to them. They had the opportunity to ask questions, and learn about and experience ritual objects by putting on tzitzit and reading from the siddur.”

To learn more about the Matan Class at the JCC of Manhattan, please contact Matan’s site supervisor at Chava@matankids.org.

Each month, Matan will put the spotlight on a Jewish Special Education program.  If you are interested in having your program featured, please contact Meredith@matankids.org.

 

OPEN SESAME!

Posted on by

16 JCC’s Across the Country Sign on to Participate in Open Sesame!
Welcoming Children with Special Needs a Priority.

Through a unique collaboration between JCCA, Shalom Sesame and Matan, 16 JCC’s across the country will participate in a very special viewing of Shalom Sesame tailored specifically to children with special needs and learning differences, and open to the entire community.

On Sunday, March 27 a nationwide screening of “Shabbat Shalom Grover” will feature multi-sensory experiences to learn about Shabbat with some very special – and occasionally furry – guests from the new Shalom Sesame 12-DVD series set in Israel from the creators of Sesame Street.  As part of the collaboration, Matan, a New York based Jewish Special Education organization (www.matankids.org) developed individualized activities for each JCC, complete with modifications for different types of learners.  Participating JCC’s were provided with social stories, communication boards, pictorial schedules and specific guidelines for accommodating children with special needs throughout the program.

The participating JCC’s are:  JCC of Austin, Texas; Suffolk Y, New York; Katz JCC of Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Shaw JCC of Akron, Ohio; Sidney Albert Albany JCC, New York; Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, New Jersey; JCC of the Greater Five Towns, New York; JCC of Greater Orlando, Florida; JCC of Baltimore, Maryland; JCC of The Greater; Palm Beaches, Florida; Stamford JCC, Connecticut; JCC of Greater Columbus, Ohio; JCC of San Francisco, California; JCC Milwaukee, Wisconsin; JCC Metrowest, New Jersey; JCC of the Greater Palm Beaches