Yachad New england
Yachad New England has been busy celebrating winter holidays with community partners, together spreading joy by hosting fun and inclusive programs.
Through the power of coming together, we had a beautiful
Tu B'shvat Seder in Newton with the Congregation Shaarei Tefillah community for our annual gathering, a tradition of over 20 years!
The evening was a special way to learn about the holiday, decorate flowerpots, eat all the traditional fruits of Israel with the appropriate blessings, and sing and dance. We took to heart Rabbi Samuels’ message to add light during times of darkness by recalling that when the world around us seems dark, we gather inspiration and warmth from being together.
Our Purim celebrations kicked off with a Hamantasch bake at Northeastern University Hillel. Our Yachad young adult crew loved the opportunity to visit the campus and get in the Purim spirit together with our new friends. We are so thankful to the Hillel students for organizing the event.
Yachad’s local Purim celebrations continued with our annual Purim party on our
384 Harvard Campus. It was a smashing success. The room was full of the excited sounds of graggers twirling as we heard a lively Megillah reading, the noisy chatter of good friends coming together to learn about the Purim story, creative expression decorating graggers and masks, making delicious ice cream sundaes (special thanks to J.P. Licks for sponsoring!) and yummy hamantaschen, while dancing along to our favorite songs.
Year-round, we love partnering with local Jewish high schools, bringing neurotypical teens into our Yachad community. During the winter months this year, we were so fortunate to connect with teenagers from Gann Academy, Sharon High School, Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, and The Maimonides School.
These eager teens bring great energy to our Yachad groups by joining us at the Yachad Community Center during weekday and Sunday programs, celebrating Shabbat with us at Young Israel of Sharon, jumping together at Launch Trampoline Park, and gathering for a musical Havdalah.
Each teen that joins us adds enthusiasm, kindness and positive Jewish role modeling for our participants with disabilities, helping create the strong and vibrant community that we strive to achieve at Yachad.
Everyone needs a place to feel comfortable and at home with people we mutually respect and enjoy spending time with. At Yachad New England, you get that special feeling of belonging the moment you walk through our doors. Experience Yachad for yourself!
Yachad is a global organization dedicated to supporting individuals of all ages with intellectual, developmental disabilities and autism. Locally, Yachad New England operates a vibrant community center, offering daily social and recreational programs that enhance life skills, foster community bonds, provide respite for families, and combat social isolation.
To learn more about our programs or to become a member, volunteer, or sponsor a program, please reach out to Laura Butler at ButlerL@ou.org.