South Florida Yachad will welcome special needs advocate, humanitarian, and marathoner Richard Bernstein to South Florida October 23-28. Blind since birth, Richard is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University School of Law. He is an attorney with The Sam Bernstein Law Firm in Farmington Hills, Michigan. A long-time friend to Yachad, he is a tireless advocate for disabled rights and providing a voice to those who would otherwise be forced to be silent. He is also an accomplished distance runner, completing 17 marathons.
Yachad, the flagship program of the Orthodox Union’s National Jewish Council for Disabilities (NJCD), provides unique social, educational, and recreational programs for individuals with learning, developmental, and physical disabilities with the goal of their Inclusion in the total life of the Jewish community.
Richard will be speaking to students at both Hillel Day School and Donna Klein Jewish Academy, both in Boca Raton. He will inspire college students at a joint Yachad/BBYO program in Broward and serve as the Scholar in Residence at the Boca Raton Synagogue’s annual Yachad Shabbaton on Shabbat, Parshat Chayei Sarah. He is the guest speaker at Boca Raton’s Congregation Shaarey Tefila and Congregation B’nai Torah. Richard will also be headlining a community-wide event on Sunday evening, October 27, which will be co-sponsored with the South Palm Beach JCC, JARC Florida and the Jewish Family Services of South Palm Beach County.
In addition, Richard will be addressing members of the community during special events in private homes in Boca Raton and Hollywood. For more information, please contact Denise Herschberg, Director of South Florida Yachad at 561-306-5872.