February 2012 Jewish Disability Awareness Month Activities

Sunday, February 12  9–10:30 a.m.
To Walk in G-d’s Ways: Perspectives on Illness, Loss & Healing—Advanced Directives & Ethical Wills
Darchei Noam, 5224 Minnetonka Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55416 | 612-920-3424
Rabbi Joseph Ozarowski will discuss advanced directives and ethical wills for those whose abilities become limited by age.

Wednesday, February 15  7–8 p.m.
Workshop Series for Parents and Caregivers Preparing for Guardianship
Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S, Minneapolis 55416
Workshop explains many decision-making choices available for people with disabilities.
Contact: Anita Lewis, 952-381-3489 | alewis@sabesjcc.org

Friday, February 17  6:30 p.m.
JDAM Shabbat Services
Shir Tikvah, 5000 Girard Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419 | 612-822-1440

Saturday, February 18  10 a.m.
Shabbat Morning Services
Sharei Chesed, 1712 Hopkins Crossroad, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 763-545-8800
Shelly Christensen, Program Manager of the Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities will speak on her recent trip to Washington DC for JDAM Advocacy Day.
Jewish Disability Awareness Month — Minneapolis
Please contact the appropriate sponsoring organization for registration information,
details and/or if you require special accommodations in order to participate.

JDAM Community Events
Sunday, February 19  9 a.m. services, breakfast and program to follow
“Hope and Autism Spectrum Disorders”
Beth El Synagogue , 5224 W. 26th Street, St. Louis Park MN 55416 | 952-920-3512
Hevra breakfast special program—“
Hope & Autism Spectrum Disorders: Three People Share their Experience
Living with Autism.” Call for information.

 Nourishing Jewish life through the arts
Rimon: The MN Jewish Arts Council
Sunday, February 19  1–3 p.m.
Rimon Artist Salon: The Secret Life of Puppets: The Art of Rekindling the Kid in All of Us
Open Eye Figure Theatre, 506 E. 24th St., Minneapolis
Caring Connections participants will be in the audience for Rimon’s Artist Salon. Puppet artist Shari Aronson and storyteller Carla Vogel present the magic of puppetry and storytelling! Open to the public.
Contact: Rimon, 952-381-3449 | rimon@sabesjcc.org, or online at www.rimonMN.org .

Special Study Sessions on Jewish Disability Awareness
Adath Jeshurun, 10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 952-545-2424
Monday, February 20  1:30–3 p.m. with the Etzion Study Group
Join leader Jim Sherman and the Etzion Study Group, which meets weekly on Mondays throughout the year, for this special JDAM-focused session.

Tuesday, February 21  12 noon with the Torah Study Group
Shelly Christensen will lead this special session with Adath Jeshurun’s Torah Study Group, which meets weekly on Tuesdays throughout the year.

Wednesday, February 22  7–8 p.m.
The Legal Process of Guardianship
Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S, Minneapolis 55416
An attorney will lead participants through necessary legal procedures for guardianship for people with disabilities.
Contact: Anita Lewis, 952-381-3489 | alewis@sabesjcc.org

Friday, February 24  6 p.m. potluck dinner (RSVP required), 8 p.m. services
JDAM Shabbat Dinner and Services
Bet Shalom, 13613 Orchard Road, Minnetonka MN 55305 | 952-933-8525
Guest Speakers Linda Bialick and Jennifer Lewin of Jewish Housing and Programming (J-HAP) will be presenting: Building Community: Changing Lives: A Response to Housing for Jewish Adults with Disabilities. J-HAP empowers individuals with disabilities to live an enriching life where their Jewish identity continues to thrive. Learn about this critical issue for our Jewish community and how it impacts you. Sponsored by the Sisterhood and the Inclusion Committee.

Saturday, March 3
Adath Jeshurun, 10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 952-545-2424 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning Services
Rabbi Adam Ticher will give the D’var Torah, and members of the Inclusion Committee and people with disabilities will participate in the service. 10–11 a.m. Song and Spirit Service
Rabbi Sadoff will lead a service for kindergarten through 4th grade students and their families on disability awareness.

JDAM Community Events, continued:
Save the Date!
Jewish Family and Children’s
Service of Minneapolis
Save the Date: Tuesday, April 24  7–9 p.m.
Community-Wide Book Discussion of the 2012 JDAM Reads! selection, The Story of Beautiful Girl
Adath Jeshurun, 10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka, MN 55305 | 952-545-2424
Join the Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities for a lively discussion of The Story of Beautiful Girl (out in paperback in February) by Rachel Simon. The dialogue will draw from the Jewish values based discussion guide available for download at http://www.jfcsmpls.org/JDAM/index.htm
Free and open to the community.
Further details will be available soon. RSVPs required to schristensen@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4838

On-going Programming
DARKA NU A P R O J E C T O F S H A’ A R IM
Darkaynu Café Monthly on Tuesdays n 7–8 p.m. n $5.00 (no one turned away for inability to pay)
Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S, Minneapolis 55416
Darkaynu Café is a monthly program for Jewish young adults with special needs who socialize, listen and sing along to live Jewish music at the Sabes JCC.
Call 953-303-5276 for information. For the schedule through August 2012, visit http://is.gd/6hE5F2

Kesher  Monthly on Tuesdays following Darkaynu Café
Kesher is a way to continue the fun following the Darkaynu Café and for February features art with Jeanne Aaron. Darkaynu partners with J-HAP (Jewish Housing & Programming) and Sabes JCC for the Kesher program.
Contact: Anita Lewis, 952-381-3489 | alewis@sabesjcc.org
Sabes JCC (See each program for contact information.)

Sabes JCC, 4330 Cedar Lake Rd S, Minneapolis 55416 Support Group for Parents and Caregiver n Mondays, monthly, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Contact: Parents’ Catalysts Leadership Group, hcpclg@yahoo.com | February 13 next meeting date.
Friendship Seminar for adults 18+  Tuesdays, monthly, 7–8 p.m.
Expand friendship circles, communication, conversation, problem-solving and decision making skills.
Contact: Anita Lewis, 952 381-3489 | alewis@sabesjcc.org.

Tikun Olam  Tuesdays, monthly (Not when Friendship Seminars are held) 7–8:15 p.m., $5.00
Tikun Olam engages young adults in community service and social action on a monthly basis. Projects are at the Sabes JCC and off-site.
Contact: Anita Lewis, 952 381-3489 | alewis@sabesjcc.org.

Special Olympics Swimming Team: The Fire Flies n Thursdays at the JCC pool, 6–7 p.m.
Contact: Hannah Carney, catin004@umn.edu | 763 226-0139

Non-Competitive Basketball Thursdays 5:30–7 p.m.
Adults 18+ in collaboration with Reach for Resources. Session continues into March.
Contact: dsweany@reachforresources.org.

Caring Connections
Monthly Caring Connections offers community-based programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program integrates participants into events at synagogues and in the community, enriching Jewish experiences for all. Caring Connections is a partnership of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, Sabes JCC and St. Paul JCC. To join the Caring Connections mailing list, contact Shelly Christensen at scristensen@jfcsmpls.org. The Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities is a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis and is funded by the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and the Toodie and Frank Trestman Special Needs and Collaborative Education Endowment Fund of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis

Disability Awareness Training for JDAM Adath USY USYer will screen and discuss the award-winning HBO film Temple Grandin.

CHAI SPEED! Programming includes: Building Compassion: How to Teach Your Children to Understand and Accept Differences with Jeannie Gilfix and Roz Ettedgui. 18 minutes of fun and learning, for parents 

PACER Puppet Show, “Count Me In” Two performances will be offered, one for B’Yachad students (K–2) and their parents and another for preschoolers.

Saturday Morning Program (SMP) on Jane Strauss’ new book, A Part or Apart
Local photographer Jane Strauss, part of 2011 JDAM with an exhibition entitled “A Part or Apart,” has released a book under the same name. SMP will discuss Strauss’ book and photography exhibition, which featured images of Jews with disabilities actively participating in the Twin Cities Jewish community.

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis
Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis n Staff Screening of Temple Grandin
This screening is part of an annual JDAM Film Series at JFCS. Temple Grandin is a film about the internationally known speaker on autism. Discussion will follow.

Temple Israel n Religious School Disability Awareness Focus in February
Ninth grade retreat focus is B’tzelem Elohim—Created in the Divine Image. Kindergarten and first graders will participate in a special Disability Awareness curriculum.

Please Contact Shelly Christensen to learn more about starting your own Disability
Awareness Training or JDAM Film Series at schristensen@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4838.

DARKA NU A P R O J E C T O F S H A’ A R IM
SHA’ARIM Youth Darkaynu and Adult Darkaynu.
For information on Youth Darkaynu, Adult Darkaynu and Friends ‘N Fun call 953-303-5276
The Sha’arim Darkaynu program provides Jewish children and adults with disabilities a meaningful Jewish education that meets each individual’s particular way of learning.

Youth Darkaynu K–12  Sunday mornings
Classes meet at the Sabes JCC. Students spend one hour in Judaic Studies and one hour engaging in social/recreational activities.

Adult Darkaynu, 18 and older  Wednesday evenings
Classes meet at the Sabes JCC. Curriculum focuses on weekly Torah portions, holidays, mitzvot and rituals.Participants explore their Jewish identity while deepening their connection to the Jewish community. Friends ‘N Fun n For youth and for young adults by invitation/RSVP only.
Participants with special needs are paired with a trained volunteer for guided social interaction and shared experiences. Teen and college age and above volunteers are welcome. Interested volunteers call 953-303-5276 to speak with the program coordinator.