YACHAD ISRAEL

Yachad Israel’s theme this year, “Yachad Gives Back,” became all the more relevant after October 7th. More than ever, participants needed the comfort and consistency of our programming.

Our team on the ground moved quickly. Mobilizing on October 8th, we checked on participants and their families, delivered Buddy Boxes stocked with activities for homebound individuals and arranged full-day Zoom programming to create some structure amid the chaos.

Once we were sure our members were okay, we broadened our outreach to assist others. Most significantly, Yachad members, generally the recipients of kindnesses, found new roles as givers, assembling candy platters for families with parents in IDF reserve units, delivering activity packages to displaced children with disabilities, preparing tzitzit for soldiers and more.

In all, our members ran 20 chesed programs that impacted more than 90 families. And, in doing so, they learned that whatever their own personal needs, they could still make valuable contributions to others.

CIJE - IVDU

In a thrilling accomplishment for the special education world, a team of five 10th graders from the Marilyn and Sheldon David IVDU Boys Upper School in Brooklyn took first place in the “Engineering and Schools” category at the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education’s (CIJE) Innovation Day 2024. The event drew more than 1,400 students from 43 schools across the U.S. to multiple locations, including the American Dream Meadowlands in New Jersey, where the IVDU team presented their invention to judges and guests

The winning effort was built in response to a common challenge in school settings: disruptions caused by intercom announcements. The IVDU 10th graders, guided by their STEM director and teachers, created a device that embeds in student desks and facilitates discreet communication between message recipients and deliverers. Since it operates independent of WiFi, there is no hacking risk or need for access.

Rabbi Michoel Druin, Head of IVDU Schools, expressed pride in the students' success, particularly their seamless participation in a mainstream educational landscape. “Their hard work and our supportive staff paved the way for this triumph,” he said. “Just like the adage from Masechet Megillah: ‘Yagati u’matzati, ta’amin.’ If you put in effort, you will find success.”

The IVDU team's achievement not only displays an ability to solve real-world challenges, but also sets a precedent for inclusivity in education and encourages students with diverse learning needs to pursue their goals.

In May, Yachad hosted more than 650 people at the Northeast Family Shabbaton, gathering families with disabled children for a weekend of community and education. The event is a highlight for families, not because it fosters deeper connection within the families themselves. Moreover, participants share again and again how the shabbaton drives home the realization that they’re not alone on their journey, with professionals and peers alike invested in their successes.

We also invited nearly 100 eighth graders to join our leadership shabbaton, at which select students participated in workshops around topics such as developing and nurturing sensitivity for individuals with disabilities.