to me;' said Mrs. Lasson, who
is Orthodox.
Rabbi Mark Cohn, director
of the NCSY Central East
Region, believes the Yachad
program carries out the
Torah's commands to accept
people as they are, and to help
each person develop to his
fullest potential. "These kids
deserve the chance to feel
great about themselves," he
said. He feels that the other
NCSY participants, including
himself, have learned a great
deal as well.
"They teach us the beauty
of a mitzvah because they're
so excited at being able to per-
form it:" said Rabbi Cohn:
"They teach us not to take
things for granted."
When Shayndee Lasson is
asked why a busy wife,
mother and career woman
would choose to undertake
such a time-consuming
endeavor, she reaches into her
desk and takes out a brochure
from the Yachad program in
New York.
"This is a picture of my
sister on the cover;' she says,
explaining how growing up
with a sister who has Down's
syndrome made her want to
help other developmentally
disabled people.
Her sister Reva, now 33,
was one of the first Yachad
members in New York. Over
the years, Shayndee saw her
sister blossom through her
participation in the program.
"Her communication skills,
something I'm obviously in-
terested in, have really open-
ed up, and just knowing she's
going - out for pizza with 'nor-
mal' kids means a lot," said
Mrs. Lasson.
One of the greatest
challenges of the local pro-
gram has been getting more
participation, among both
developmentally disabled
teen-agers • and NCSY
volunteers.
Mrs. Lasson believes that
many more parents would
take advantage of the Yachad
program but are unaware of
its existence. "Many of these
parents have other kids who
are in USY and BBYO
groups, and they don't realize
they can provide this kind of
program for their develop-

mentally disabled children,
too," she said.
There's no shortage of en-
thusiasm in the Lasson apart-
ment during a Yachad
meeting. Shouts of ac-
complishment are heard as
someone learns to read a new
work amid the din of teen-age
chatter and mirth.
There are seven Yachad
members and six NCSY
volunteers.many- teen-agers.
"I like talking about Torah
and learning the language,"
said Seth Grosky. "I like talk-
ing about the holidays and
giving tzedakah."
"I like the programs and
the people," said Yachad
member Rachel Leaderman.

"This is the only
Jewish group I'm
aware of that
mainstreams and
integrates kids like
this."

— Adrian Christie

Getting the NCSY
members to volunteer on a
regular basis has been
somewhat more difficult.
Many highchool students,
busy with their studies and a
host of extra-curricular ac-
tivities, find it hard to commit
to a program that meets every
other week. Mrs. Lasson finds
it frustrating that Judaism is
not more of a priority for
many teen-agers.
But, for those teens who do
find the time for Yachad, the
rewards are well worth the
effort.
Amy Berris, a 15-year-old
from Southfield, first became
involved during an NCSY
summer trip to Israel that in-
cluded participants from the
Yachad program. After fin-
ding that she really "clicked"
with the Yachad teens, she
readily accepted NCSY coor-
dinator Josh Zwelling's in-
vitation to join the program
upon her return.
"I love it. I really feel like
I'm doing something for the
community, especially the
Jewish community," said Ms.
Berris. She hopes to work in

the special education field
someday and feels that her
Yachad participation will be
good experience.
It was watching the Yachad
teens enjoy themselves dur-
ing the NCSY Shabbaton
weekends that made the deci-
sion for Elie Schochet, 15, of
Southfield.
"I look at their faces, and
they're so happy;' he said. "lb
them, it's the greatest thing
in the world."
At the recent meeting, the
Yachad teens excitedly make
plans for an upcoming Shab-
baton weekend. Karen Burn-
stein literally jumps up and
down in unabashed glee as
her mother confirms that,
yes, she too will be going to
Cleveland with her friends.
The group takes its leave
amid an excited flurry of
"high fives;' hugs, and shouts
of "See you in Cleveland" and
"See you next time." The
energy remains in the room
even after everyone has gone,
as Shayndee turns her atten-
tion to 2-year-old Yaakov, who
seems undaunted by the
tumult that has just filled his
home. To him, it's all part of
normal everyday life, which is
perhaps the most important
lesson to be learned that
night.

For more information on
Yachad, contact the NCSY of-
fice, 967-3300. 0

Top: Yudi Youngworth and
Josh Zwelling work
together.

Above: Amy Berris, Debra
Nelson and Jessica
Kirzner enjoy a laugh.

Left: Yachad members
study in the dining room.

Photos by G lenn Triest

►

"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Don't walk behind . me; I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend,
And together we will walk in the way
— Yachad Theme Song
of Hashem."

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

83

