Yachad Head Staff, Clinical Supervisors, and Fellows Unite for Leadership Training, Connection, and Chizuk Ahead of a Dynamic Summer Season
As 120 campers and 100 staff members and their families at Camp Chaverim of Yachad in Swan Lake, New York, prepared to usher in Shabbat on August 14, 2024, a sudden fire broke out — engulfing the camp’s Beit Midrash in flames. The blaze, caused by an electrical malfunction, destroyed the entire building, including over 200 pairs of tefillin and countless sefarim. Miraculously, no one was injured, and the Sefer Torah was not inside at the time.
While the destruction was heart-wrenching and traumatic, the fact that it occurred at a camp for boys with special needs only intensified the emotional toll. Nevertheless, says Camp Chaverim of Yachad Founder and Co-Program Director Rabbi Yosi Wadler, calm prevailed amid the chaos thanks to consistent emergency preparation and a leadership approach that prioritized clear communication and defined responsibilities.
“Years of building trust between leadership, staff, and campers created an environment where emergency directions were followed without hesitation, allowing for quick evacuation and trauma mitigation,” says Rabbi Wadler. “The team’s focus on support, and thoughtful adjustments during recovery, demonstrated how strong relationships and well-practiced protocols provide the foundation for effective crisis response.”
Rabbi Wadler, fellow Program Director Rabbi Reuven Kamin, and Assistant Program Director Rabbi Moshe Katz, recently shared these, and other lessons from the disaster, with approximately 175 supervisory staff, clinical supervisors, and Yachad Fellows from North America and Israel, at the recent Yachad Summer Program Directors’ Conference, held at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Connecticut.
Launched in 1983, Yachad is an international organization of the Orthodox Union dedicated to enriching the lives of Jewish individuals with disabilities and their families. It offers a variety of social, recreational, educational, and vocational programs in 10 regions across North America and Israel. In 1997, the organization opened its Yachad Summer department, which provides recreational and vocational enrichment to over 500 participants across more than 25 camps and programs in North America and Israel.
Programs include Yad B’Yad, an inclusive Israel experience for post-10th and 11th graders and young adults with disabilities; Yachad’s Israel Free Spirit Birthright trip to Israel for young adults with developmental disabilities; the Yachad Bunk Program, offering dedicated bunks in mainstream camps; the Camper Integration Program, supporting inclusion within mainstream bunks; Yachad Bachutz, a farm-based program for high-functioning boys; Yachad Vocational Program, providing real-world job experience in camp settings with job coach support; and Adult Getaway, a vacation-style program in upstate New York.
“Yachad Summer is the largest provider of Jewish camping opportunities for individuals with disabilities,” says Yachad Summer Director Dr. Joe Goldfarb. “Our programs are designed to reflect a range of hashkafot, and we offer both coed, and single-gender options to meet participants’ diverse needs. Unlike other camps that are based at a single location, Yachad Summer spans a wide geographic range, maximizing Yachad’s impact on Jewish communities worldwide.”
Dr. Goldfarb emphasizes that the three days of chizuk, inspiration, and professional growth are crucial for strengthening team connections and fostering collaboration ahead of the summer.
“Coming together as one unified team reminds everyone that they’re not working alone,” he says. It underscores the power of our collective efforts and the unique value each individual brings.”
Yachad International Director Avromie Adler adds that conference participants also gain valuable insights by sharing emerging trends and best practices for supporting individuals with disabilities.
“Leaders with decades of experience come together with those just starting out, and peer-to-peer learning is a key part of the weekend,” he says. “Many of our participants are clinical and educational professionals during the year, generously sharing their expertise. This weekend helps Yachad Summer team members to strike the right balance between preserving the beloved ‘camp ethos’ of fun, growth, learning, and Jewish identity, while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.”
In her role as Yachad Program Director at Camp Moshava I.O. (Indian Orchard), Yoyo Ettinger oversees approximately 30 staff members each summer. This was her eighth Yachad Summer Program Directors’ Conference, and she views each as a meaningful opportunity to connect with fellow leaders from across the network.
“One of the main highlights is feeling part of a broader team of people who are passionate about the work we do,” she says. “Each program operates independently but we’re part of a network. Coming together and collaborating helps me to better prepare for the summer.”
Supervisory staff participated in a variety of engaging sessions, including The Anatomy of Effective Supervision — tips for first-time supervisors navigating their new roles; Effective Strategies in the Behavior Lab — techniques for managing potential behaviors from program participants; Constructive Feedback Frequencies — insights on delivering constructive feedback; Cultivating Spiritual Photosynthesis During the Summer — strategies for maintaining connections with Hashem throughout the summer; The Staff Mental Health Formula — supporting staff’s mental health; and AI: Your Lab Partner for an Easy Summer — essential tools to streamline and enhance the summer experience.
Professional development was further enriched by scholar-in-residence, Perry Binet, director of Camp Migdal for children with disabilities, and vocational director and curriculum advisor at The Yaldeinu School for children with autism in Brooklyn. Binet shared her experience and expertise in sessions including Positive Leadership: How to Create a Positive Work Environment; Parent/Family Sensitivity and Support – covering such topics as understanding parents, practicing empathy, and admitting mistakes; and Love, Connect, Respect, Responsibility – loving, respecting, and truly connecting with campers.
The latter particularly impacted Yachad Brooklyn City Director Avi Kirshtein. Kirshtein oversees a team of about 10 staff members annually, and engages with over 100 Yachad participants. Each summer, as Program Director for Yachad Birthright, Kirshtein and his staff of 12 accompany about 25 participants on a life-changing journey to Israel.
“Perry’s discussion truly resonated with me,” he says. “Her central message was that every person matters deeply, and the very fact that someone exists is proof that Hashem sees them as essential to the world. That perspective gave me a renewed appreciation not only for the individuals we serve, but for every person I encounter. It was a beautiful and grounding reminder of the sacredness of our work.”
This was Kirshtein’s sixth year attending the Yachad Summer Program Directors’ Conference, and he was equally touched by the Camp Chaverim program directors’ presentation on navigating the fire that destroyed their shul.
“Their ability to stay calm, prioritize safety, and lead with clarity and compassion in such a high-stress situation was truly inspiring, and offered powerful lessons in leadership under pressure.”
Ettinger agrees.
“Chaveirim staff continue to lead by example, showing that staying calm, being kind, and having emunah can help you through any situation,” she says. “They embody strong communication and the ability to learn from every challenge and experience.”
Other conference highlights included a Q & A session and spirited oneg led by Adler, who shared Yachad’s inspiring goals for the future, and a dynamic session with Rabbi Shay Schachter of Young Israel of Woodmere, who serves as Yachad’s Rabbi and Posek. Rabbi Schachter offered words of chizuk and addressed attendees’ questions regarding halachic issues that may arise during the summer.
Conference participants also included 54 Yachad Fellows — high school juniors selected for a unique educational program pairing CIT (counselor-in-training) work at Yachad camps with extensive leadership training. While previous Yachad experience is not mandatory, between 85 and 90 percent of Fellows are Yad B’Yad alumni. Students who successfully complete the Yachad High School Fellowship Program are guaranteed a position as either a Yachad counselor or job coach in a Yachad Summer program the following year.
“Although our Fellows participate in separate programming, everyone comes together on Shabbat,” says Dr. Goldfarb. “This gives our students opportunities to learn from the dedication and sincerity of Yachad’s leaders, whom we hope they will strive to emulate.”
High School Junior Jesse Ives-Kurtzer was inspired to grow as a Yachad Fellow after participating last summer in Yad B’Yad — his first Yachad program, and one of the most impactful experiences of his life.
“The inclusive nature of the program was really special,” he explains. “Being an extrovert, I love connecting with others, and Yachad is an organization where I feel I could make a difference by helping to create that inclusive environment for others. The Yachad Fellowship will allow me to apply the lessons and experiences I gained last summer in a broader context.”
Ives-Kurtzer was especially moved by a panel of relatives of Yachad participants, who offered powerful insights into the experience of having a family member with special needs.
“It made me realize just how meaningful my job is this summer, and it gave me even more chizuk to keep going,” says Ives-Kurtzer, who will be working at Camp Moshava I.O. “One of the panelists said something that really stuck with me: ‘To you, the person you’re working with is your camper this summer, but to us, they’re someone’s entire world — someone we wouldn’t change or trade for anything.’ That totally shifted my perspective and gave me a new level of motivation. I’m so excited for the summer and am looking forward to all the fun and experiences it will bring!”