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SIMCHAT SHABBAT
Where does a child or adult who has developmental or severe learning disabilities and a short attention span go for a Shabbat morning service? Sitting through two hours or more of a typical service, trying to follow everything in Hebrew without fidgeting or making noise is simply too challenging for many of them. To address this concern, Congregation Beth Israel and the Council For Jews With Special Needs created a modified service filled with music, prayer, Torah and most importantly, abundant joy!
 Simchat Shabbat services are held about once a month starting at noon in the chapel at Congregation Beth Israel. Services are lead by Rabbi Kahn, Rabbi Keller or Cantor Shpall along with Stacy Rosenthal, religious school principal. Stacy and Becca Hornstein prepared a new prayer book for this program which includes the specific liturgy used in this service, in enlarged type and accompanied by illustrations. There is active participation by those who attend. After the 40 minute service, participants enjoy a bit of challah and some grape juice. Many of the families extend the socializing by going out together for lunch afterwards.
Services have drawn about 45 individuals with disabilities, their parents or group home staff and others who support this program. One parent summed up the joy of Simchat Shabbat services this way: for decades, his child was unable to remain quiet in services. The music, the prayers and the standing-and-sitting led the child (now an adult) to respond with vocalizations and movement others found distracting. The family was constantly “shushed” or asked to leave. Simchat Shabbat is a “no-shush” service – no one is allowed to tell someone to be quiet or to settle down!
Simchat Shabbat, was presented with the 2008 Belle Latchman Community Service Award by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix on January 14, 2009.
The Council For Jews With Special Needs is a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix: www.jewishphoenix.org
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