The Gateways Jewish Education Programs provide children, ages 3-17, with moderate to severe disabilities an opportunity for a Jewish education in three supplemental programs; a Sunday School, a two year B'nei Mitzvah preparatory program, and a Post-B'nei Mitzvah teen program called Mitzvah Mensches. Students learn about Jewish holidays, culture, Hebrew, and music in a warm and cooperative environment with trained teachers and teen volunteer mentors.
We help families who may have felt left out of Jewish life become connected to the Jewish community by offering a place for their children with educational challenges to feel welcome.
Gateways is the merged organization, created in 2006 from two grassroots organizations which began in 1999 by parents eager to offer their children Jewish education.
Gateways has four programs:
1. The Gateways Jewish Day School Program supports kids who have educational challenges.
2. The Gateways Community Special Education Services Program supports children in congregational and community Hebrew Schools and preschools.
3. The Gateways Jewish Education Programs (above).
4. The Gateways Professional Development Programs offers teachers, therapists, special educators and school staff, ongoing coaching and strategies to help every child in the classroom, regardless of ability or disability.
Our mission is to enable students with special needs in Greater Boston access to Jewish education. In the short term, the Jewish Education Programs seeks to 1) strengthen existing programs by revising curriculum, supporting teachers with professional development and standardizing methodologies; and 2) reach new constituencies who may not be able to access Jewish education in their communities. In the long term, we see that we can become a national model for other cities who wish to include every child in Jewish life.
Name of Organization:Gateways- Access to Jewish Education
Number of Paid Staff:4 f/t, 36 p/t
Number of Volunteers:95
Total Organizational Expenses:$1,224,116
% of Organizational Overhead Expenses:34%
We are the only organization in Greater Boston who does what we do; provide a supplemental program for children with severe disabilities.
Gateways: Access to Jewish Education enables children with a full range of learning styles and disabilities to succeed academically, socially and spiritually to their fullest potential. The organization’s b’nai mitzvah training program for students with moderate to severe disabilities has had tremendous success since its inception five years ago. The Gateways community has celebrated more than a dozen simchas in synagogues throughout Greater Boston, and looks forward to a dozen more in the coming 18 months.
Sarah Gomolka’s bat mitzvah was certainly a special event, as seen through the eyes of her mother, Estelle, a fifth grade general studies teacher at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston in Newton, and head of the waterfront at Camp Yavneh in Northwood, N.H. Here’s what she had to say: On Monday, May 28, 2007, a dream came true for the Gomolka Family: our daughter, Sarah, became a bat mitzvah. Sarah has a form of cerebral palsy in which she is developmentally like a two-year-old. She walks, but wears special braces to help give her better support, and uses a wheelchair for longer strolls. She has very little speech but uses an electronic device to help her communicate. She is the love of our life. She greets everyone with a kiss and a wave. Her big brown eyes warm and melt you immediately to approach and become engaged with her. She is filled with love and compassion for all.
Gateways brought our dreams of her becoming a bat mitzvah to reality. Sarah had been in their Sunday program since she was seven years old. Once she turned 11, we committed to a two-year journey to prepare for her bat mitzvah, but truly had no idea what to expect! We questioned our decision occasionally, asking, ‘Are we doing the right thing? Will it make a difference? Will she understand?’ Well, the experience was felt by all in the room that spring morning. Sarah participated in her bat mitzvah service through a very creative use of technology developed by the Gateways’ staff. The team had created a PowerPoint presentation, which enabled her to activate a voice-generated response from the computer each time she pressed a special button. The congregation could see what she was doing because they viewed the words of the prayer and a picture of Sarah from the PowerPoint presentation projected on a large screen in front of the congregation. Sarah truly knew that when our rabbi, Wes Gardenswartz, said: ‘And now, Sarah will lead us in the shema,’ it was time for her to press that button and lead the congregation in prayer. The highlight of the service was when Rabbi Gardenswartz helped Sarah as she stood to scan the room and look at everyone. To some, she waved; to others, she threw kisses. The rabbi warmly informed her, ‘All these people are here for YOU, Sarah.’ She leaned her head into him and smiled. Those who came were overwhelmed by what she had accomplished. The most moving part of the day was the showing of a special video that we had created about Sarah so everyone could get to know her better. We were surrounded by friends and family. The day was one big ‘hug fest!’ Warmth and love filled the room.
We are truly grateful for Gateways: to all the teachers, aides and support staff for what they provided us to make this unimaginable event come true. We believe that everyone, no matter their disability, has the right to be a part of the Jewish community, to grow and achieve, to their best abilities. We will never forget Sarah’s bat mitzvah.
Justice and Fairness - Tzedek
Kindness leads to Kindness - Chesed Gorer Chesed
Learning - Limud
Power of Speech - Koach HaDibur
Relationships Between People - Bein Adam L'Chavero
Spirituality - Ruach
Teens in Greater Boston are welcome to volunteer on Sundays and Tuesdays for our programs. Each year, we have 65 teens who work 2 hours a week with a student, mentoring him/her. It is a one year commitment.
Name:Jan Schwartz
Title:Development and Communications Manager
Address:333 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA 02459
Telephone:(617) 630-9010, ext. 103
Email:jan@jgateways.org
Website:www.jgateways.org