Jonathan decorates the Yachad Sukkah
To me, Inclusion means being welcomed into the group. At Yachad I feel that I am always included and not left alone during meals, at events, or at Shabbatonim. Friends and staff make an effort to talk to me and reach out if I have questions. No one judges me based on my disability or teases me. Everyone is accepting of me just as I am.
Inclusion is an important part of Yachad, and everyone believes in making an effort to reach out to others and to make sure each individual is given the attention that they need. I believe that every person is unique and special in his or her own way.
Sometimes I get nervous when I speak, and hesitate, but my friends are patient with me because what I have to say is important to them. I have learned how to start conversations with people — I used to be quiet but now I feel comfortable going up to people and introducing myself at Yachad events.
Expanding my Jewish Identity
Jonathan and Emma Gelb on Tu B’svhat
I am always eager to learn more about my Jewish identity, holidays, and customs. At Yachad, friends of mine have helped me daven (pray), and practice reading Hebrew. By the end of the Yad B’Yad summer travel program in 2014, I could read a couple of pages of Hebrew without hesitating. I gained more confidence in myself. I choose to daven with my friends because they help me to follow the service. Often I take deep breaths when I pray as a way to stay focused and to concentrate.
It is important to me that I am a part of the larger Jewish community. I always enjoy doing the Walkathon for ROFEH and being a part of Yom Chessed (day of charitable pursuits). I make a difference by making cards and paper flowers for people that are sick in hospitals and being visible at community events. Attending the Megillah reading, a Maccabeats concert, or going to a basketball game at the local Jewish day school help me to feel that I am part of the Jewish community.
Trying New Things
At Yachad I have participated in many new activities such as indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf, painting pottery, hearing the Maccabeats live in concert, watching the Boston Celtics, attending a monthly Jewish social group, and enjoying a chocolate Seder — which is a very silly but fun event. Yachad has enabled me to expand my horizons beyond the local level. Last year my Aunt Rachel and I attended the Yachad Family Shabbaton in Stamford, Connecticut with over 900 people. I had never before been at a gathering that large and I met a lot of new people. The video I made for the “Lights, Camera, Take Action” video contest played on a large screen and some people recognized me and shook my hand.
Last summer I traveled the furthest ever in my life when I went on the Yad B’Yad program. Although I was disappointed that we couldn’t go to Israel, I loved exploring the West Coast of the USA and visiting places I never dreamed I could have. In particular, I went on a safari in Arizona, saw the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and prayed at the Grand Canyon as we watched the sun set and the moon rising. I visited the Hoover Dam and spent a day in Disneyland — it was great!
Yachad has helped me open up to new experiences and new people. Whether it is expanding my knowledge of Jewish holidays like the custom of eating apples and honey, shaking the lulav and etrog, learning about the miracle of Chanukah, and tasting the different fruits for Tu B’shvat. I now welcome learning, doing, and being open to new things.
Why I Love Yachad
January 30-31, 2015 was my 3rd year attending the Brandeis Shabbaton. It went by really fast. As always, I had a lot of fun and made new friends. I enjoy staying in a dorm, participating in Shabbat services and this year I even received an aliyah (being called up to the Torah during prayers). And if you have ever been to a Yachad Shabbaton you know that we always sing my favorite song — “Pizza man.” I sang it loud and proud.
I love Yachad because it is a supportive, friendly environment and a place to belong. I can talk about my hobbies — photography, watercolor painting — and anything on my mind with my friends and they always want to hear what I have to say.
Yachad events are fun, well-structured, and organized, and at each event I get the opportunity to introduce myself and make new friends. I now have 436 friends on Facebook and most of them I met through Yachad!
Being me isn’t always easy. Sometimes I have hard times in my life and Yachad is a special organization that makes me feel good about myself and gives me self-confidence. Recently, I wasn’t treated well by a teller at a bank branch, so I emailed the manager and I was able to tell him the problem I had. He called me back and we spoke on the phone and he didn’t mind my speech delay. Now any time I go to my bank the manager is happy to help me. I attribute my ability to advocate for myself to the confidence I have gained at Yachad.
I spoke this year at the Brandeis Shabbaton and I said that, “Yachad is a place where I can be who I really am.” Ever since I became a member, I have more confidence in myself, have formed strong friendships, and I am not afraid to share my ideas for events. I had dinner recently with some friends at Taam China in Brookline, Massachusetts and got a fortune that read, “Show your true face to people that really matter.” What that means to me is that I don’t have to pretend to be someone I am not. Yachad is a place I call home because I don’t have to hide my true self — at Yachad I can be me and that’s just fine.
Jonathan Spiller is a member of New England Yachad.
This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.