Our Way to Host 10th Annual Family Shabbaton in West Orange, New Jersey, June 5-7

11 May 2009

Our Way for the Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing will present its 10th Annual Family Shabbaton to be held June 5-7 at Congregation Ahawas Achim B’nai Jacob and David (AABJ&D) in West Orange, NJ. The Shabbaton is geared to all families with deaf and hard of hearing members, regardless of their mode of communication. As with the Yachad Family Shabbaton, which took place May 8-10, Our Way’s program will feature guest speakers, delicious Shabbat meals, programs for children, teens and singles, as well as Motzei Shabbat entertainment. Shabbat services and meals will be enjoyed by all and interpreted into ASL.

Our Way for the Jewish Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a division of the National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD), an agency of the Orthodox Union, which provides social, educational, and recreational programs for Jewish youth and young adults who are deaf and hard of hearing. The cost of the Shabbaton is highly subsidized by NJCD.

The speakers at the Shabbaton include Dr. Rona Novick, Steven Lependorf, Rabbi Tzvi Kakon, Rabbi David Kastor, Phillip Jacob, and many more. Some of the topics of interest are emotional intelligence; dealing with stress within a family; parenting skills; and child development. A new and exciting children’s program will be scheduled for deaf and hard of hearing children and their siblings, ages 18 months and up.

Our Way Program Director Batya Jacob stated, “The Our Way Family Shabbaton creates an unparalleled setting of warmth and love. This informal but structured program provides parents with the opportunity for mutual support, networking, and the opportunity to learn so much from top professionals and each other. In addition to families, we welcome our singles, young professionals and young couples to programming that specifically addresses their interests. This year we are adding a fun and engaging program for our teenagers where they can share, learn, and make life-lasting friends.”

The Shabbaton offers two housing options, private housing or accommodations at the Wilshire Grand Hotel. To reserve your place, please submit your applications no later than mid-May. Applications may be found at www.njcd.org. For more information contact Batya Jacob at 212-613-8127 or jacobb@ou.org.