Vacation week at HAFTR spells Kulanu

For the past 15 years, children with special needs who attend public schools have participated in a unique Kulanu Holiday inclusion initiative, providing a yeshiva experience over the year-end and Presidents Week public school breaks.

Why would any child want to stay in school when they can be on vacation? Mrs. Tzippy Vinegray answered that question when she wrote to Kulanu that “Presidents Week has never been this much fun!”

Kulanu has been the conduit between families and local yeshivot, arranging opportunities for elementary aged children to attend classes and join with other Jewish children during the school break.

The children are accompanied by experienced student “shadows” from the host schools.

Prior to the program, middle school HAFTR shadows are given a sensitivity training program by Kulanu’s Jonathan Cooper and child-specific information is shared with the shadows. All shadows are asked to keep notes in a log and share with the next shadow, to ensure continuity for success.

During the yeshiva school day, students who attend a public school are able to reconnect or make new friends with the children from their community.

“It is Jewish immersion for them and they love it,” says Cooper, coordinator of the Torah L’Kulanu Holiday Inclusion Program and Director of Inclusion and Community Support Programs for Kulanu Academy.

Several students have been placed in yeshivas based on their participation in the holiday program.

Kulanu presently partners with HAFTR and HALB to provide these exciting yeshiva experiences. Kulanu is grateful to the following administrators and staff who made this program a success:

HAFTR Preschool: Cyndi Goldberg, principal. HAFTR Elementary School: Joy Hammer, principal. HAFTR Middle School: Dr. Rochelle Brand, principal, and Leslie Rappaport, administrative assistant. HALB Lev Chana Early Childhood Center: Lisa Zakutinsky and Felecie Akerman, co-directors, Rocky Green, administrative assistant. SKA HS: Yaffa Storch, assistant director of student programs, and Leah Faik, chessed coordinator.

For more indoformation: Jonathan Cooper at Jonathanc@kulanukids.org, or Vickie Lewinter at vicki@kulanukids.org.