USCJ Review - Spring 2007
A First for Koach
Teenagers and young adults with Asperger Syndrome seldom have the same opportunities that so-called normal Jewish kids have, according to many of their parents. Most of synagogue life is closed off to them, said Dr. Avner Stern, whose daughter Lauren, 24, has Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism, and attention deficit disorder, or ADD. “Lauren has been disconnected from what normal teenagers can do in a synagogue setting,” said Dr. Stern. “She was socially shunned.”
“Our kids have doors slammed in their faces so often,” said Judy Paschen, whose son Mitch, 19, also has Asperger. But Mitch and Lauren, as well as 15 other young people with Asperger, went to Israel this January on a Taglit birthright israel trip. (The foundation that created birthright israel demand the use of the lower-case b and i.) The trip, designed for young Conservative Jewish adults with Asperger, is the first trip of its kind.
People with Asperger and related disorders have difficulty with social interactions, communication, and transitions and change. They often can’t empathize with others or follow verbal cues, according to Rose Sharon, the vocational director of the Tikvah program for teenagers with learning and social difficulties at Camp Ramah Wisconsin. Asperger and other spectrum disorders are far more common in males, she added.
It was Ms. Sharon who first thought of the trip. Her goal is to have her Tikvah campers experience the opportunities open to other Jewish children and teens – camp, USY, and an Israel program. These kids could not handle a regular USY Pilgrimage or birthright trip. There had to be a trip specifically designed for them.
“These kids are labor intensive,” said Ms. Sharon. Many are on medication. Their days must start later and they must have more down time, making them shorter and less physically demanding than a typical birthright program. The staff-to-participant ratio is three to one; some birthright trips have ratios of 20 to one.
It took two years for Ms. Sharon’s vision to reach fruition. Along with Tikvah program chair Dr. Margaret Silberman and Camp Ramah Wisconsin’s director, Rabbi David Soloff, she approached Rich Moline, the director of Koach, the United Synagogue’s program for college students, to explore organizing a birthright israel trip that would be appropriate for Tikvah graduates.
“My child could not go on a regular trip,” said Dr. Stern. “She can’t handle money and she gets lost easily. She needs support and supervision.”
Ms. Paschen said, “It was important for me as a parent that Mitch experience birthright in an environment that is comfortable for him.”
Koach took on the challenge to create such a trip, according to Rabbi Soloff. The Koach staff worked together with Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Life on Campus and asked Taglitbirthright israel to consider including this special-needs population in one of their trips. “Koach handled all the details with birthright to make it happen,” said Rabbi Soloff.
“Over the two-year period, the groundwork was laid, additional funds were secured and the dream became a reality,” said Mr. Moline. “There was intensive attention to detail, from consultations with professionals involved with every applicant, to extensive interviews, to finding people to meet every incoming plane arriving in New York prior to the trips’ departure. All this background work made a significant contribution to the success of the program.”
The trip was very lightly promoted, mostly by word of mouth and an email sent to the Koach listserv, according to Koach fieldworker Rebecca Adelberg. Ms. Sharon interviewed all of applicants and their families.
Seventeen participants went on the trip; 13 young men and 4 young women, who ranged in age from 18 to 26. Many are in college or university, some are in vocational settings, one is still in high school, and two have master’s degrees. Many of the participants are graduates of the Tikvah program.
Ms. Sharon led the trip and the rest of the staff are all current or former Tikvah counselors.
Rabbi Elyse Winick, Koach’s associate director, was the liaison between Koach, Hillel and Taglit-birthright israel. She worked with the Israel Experience department of the Jewish Agency to design the itinerary.
Many organizations were very willing to help, according to Mr. Moline. “Even the synagogue at JFK opened its doors, providing space for the group to gather, play games and have an orientation prior to takeoff,” he said.
Some parents were worried about sending their children on the trip until they found out that it was staffed by Ms. Sharon and Tikvah counselors. “When Rose first approached us at the end of the summer about sending our son on the trip, we felt he wasn’t old enough or ready for a birthright trip,” said Dr. Carol Burg. Her son Evan went to Tikvah for the first time last summer. At 18, he was the youngest participant on the trip. “We didn’t even think he would be interested in going,” she said. “But when we spoke to him, his eyes lit up. He was really excited about going.”
Evan feels strongly connected to his fellow campers and counselors at Tikvah. “He would go anywhere with them,” said Dr. Burg. “It is only because of the people who ran the trip that I allowed Evan to go. For kids on the autism spectrum, socialization is such an issue. To find a situation that socially works is great. This is a unique experience for him.”
Ms. Paschen agreed. “The people on this trip are so accepting of who Mitch is,” she said. “Camp Ramah’s Tikvah program’s staff have advocated for Jewish youth who are not typical to be able to have the same Jewish experiences as Jewish youth who are typical.” She credits the Tikvah program with developing Mitch’s self esteem, enabling him to go to camp and to USY activities and to be able to attend college and live in a dorm. And, of course, to go on a birthright israel trip too.
“Without this special trip, I probably would not have come for a long time,” said Mitch Paschen. “With this trip, the possibility of being here became a reality. And it’s great to finally be in Israel!” The parents have been fully involved with the trip. There were many conference calls and planning sessions before the trip began, and frequent emails while the group was in Israel.
There were many firsts on this trip. “I have visited the Western Wall on my first day in Israel," said Matthew Nieporent. “It was exciting and sobering to see where the Holy Temple stood.” He added, “It means a lot to me that I am a Jew.”
Another participant, Martin Barken, wore tefillin for the first time. In his journal he wrote, “It was amazing to be part of an experience that explained an important part of the what and why of being Jewish. It made my trip better and made the services not so overwhelming.”
“I was privileged to have recited Shehechianu because a milestone was celebrated when Koach’s first special needs trip arrived in Israel,” said Ms. Sharon. “My dream has come true.”
Everyone on the trip was moved by its significance. “This has been one of the peak experiences of my life,” said Mr. Moline. “To be able to engage with these wonderful students, to see Israel through their eyes and to have been able to be a part of this incredible mitzvah has touched me deeply.”
