Mothers from Boro Park, Marine Park, Staten Island, Flatbush and Kensington, joined in a special Yahalom event last week in the home of hosts Hashi and Miriam Herzka. The mothers, who came from every demographic, had one thing in common: As parents of children with special needs – whether their children are toddlers or adults – they jumped at the opportunity to connect with others for mutual support, chizzuk, and inspiration.
For many of the mothers, this wasn’t their first Yahalom event, and they were thrilled to reconnect with familiar faces and to connect with new ones. This is the community that Yahalom is trying to build. It is more than networking – although that is happening too. It is family.
Mrs. Ellen Wolfson, founder of YahalomNY, addressed the mothers and spoke about the founding of YahalomNY and its expansive plans for the future.
Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner, Rebbetzin of Congregation Kneseth Israel (The White Shul) in Far Rockaway, spoke candidly about her personal experiences as a mother of a child with special needs and in an open Q and A session addressed many of the mothers’ questions about the unique challenges they were dealing with.
Mrs. Leah Steinberg, director of Agudah’s Project LEARN, spoke with the mothers about Project LEARN’s mission and what it can do for them and their families.
As one mother wrote after the event, “We can not buy ourselves the strength we need to raise our special children, but support from those who have been there and the shoulder to lean on at times can make a huge difference.”
Yahalom NY is proud to be there for her and for all the other mothers of children with special needs. Sign up for updates for future YahalomNY events by clicking
here or by emailing
[email protected].
