Poway group hosts Rosh Hashana festivities for special needs children

By: JOEL AMOS - For the North County Times | Thursday, September 6, 2007 11:45 PM PDT ∞

POWAY -- Jewish residents across the county will be wishing one another Happy New Year beginning at sundown Wednesday. In Israel, the calendar will turn to the year 5768, and over two days of services at Chabad Poway, the synagogue will be welcoming all those who seek worship, including those with special needs.

Friendship Circle, founded in 2005 by Elisheva Green, has been serving the Jewish community that in some circles have had limited access to religious celebration and education. They follow last year's success with their second Rosh Hashana.

Green began the organization in San Diego when she saw a lack of opportunity for both Jewish and personal growth for her own son, Danny. Friendship Circle joins Chabad Poway once again to host holiday services at the temple. The congregation is welcoming children with special needs and their parents in an environment comfortable for both.

"After last year, I had parents that told me that they hadn't been in a synagogue since their child was born," Green said. "It really means a lot to them that they are able to come."

Friendship Circle pairs special-needs children with teen volunteers. The volunteers held a training session on Aug. 26 where they prepared for the two-day services and Friendship Circle events for children in kindergarten through high school. Traditional apples dipped in honey will be enjoyed while games from "Who Wants to be a 'Mitzvahaire'" to "Jewpardy" entertain and enlighten.

There are two groups, so the experience varies depending on the child's abilities. Rosh Hashana begins with traditional services at Chabad Poway. While the junior congregation, led by Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld, welcomes the higher-functioning children, the lower-functioning children attend a program tailored to their needs. "We begin with prayer using prayer books specially put together for the children," Rubenfeld said. "It's an abridged version and focuses on things the children can feel and focus on."

Previously, if parents wanted to observe the Jewish holidays, they would have to leave their child with a sitter. "Now, parents are happy going off to services knowing their children are in a program that is comfortable, fun and brings them into the holiday," Green said.

An important part of the experience for Green is that she is providing more than a religious sanctuary for parents to observe their faith.

"Their children are not only cared for by trained volunteers supervised by professionals, but their children are being included in the religious ceremony and history as never before," she said. The ceremonial arrival of the Jewish New Year is greeted by the sounding of the shofar, a ram's horn. "Many of these kids have never heard that."

Some special-needs young adults will also be attending. Green's son, Danny -- the inspiration behind Friendship Circle -- is eager to replicate last year's fun.

"He loves to come. He's thrilled, someone sits down with him and he plays Jewish board games during services. He's getting a special day that's connected with Rosh Hashana, but at his level," Green said.

Families concerned about approaching an unknown situation at a temple with a special-needs child should know, Green said, that each congregant will be greeted personally.

"There is always someone from the congregation to welcome them," Green said. She emphasizes the importance of the Rosh Hashana event's RSVP to ensure each family is welcomed.

"It's important to show them around and make sure they feel comfortable. To see more families coming and be able to be a part of the Jewish community when in the past a lot of them felt excluded, it's just tremendously satisfying."

Green reports the first day of services, Sept. 12, will be the most attended. Reservations are encouraged for both Sept. 12 and 13. Contact (858) 487-4879.

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