30 Years of Global Impact on the World of Special Needs

www.afobis.org

Milestones Newsletter
Issue # 5 – October 2009

Contra Costa Jewish Day School (Lafayette, CA)

Be A Mensch Lemonade Stand for Yinon
rd
Last year, while trying to think of ways to empower a group of day school 3 graders, BIS,
Amy Slater-Ovadia sent me the Beit Issie Shapiro video. I was overwhelmed. The Cycles My friend and I collected money for you. My name is
for Smiles idea was exactly what I had been looking for. Leeron and my friend's name is Angela. We were
Since the beginning of the school year, I had been studying with my 3 rd grade class the successful in collecting $51.50 by having a lemonade
idea of using our Judaics knowledge to behave as mensches to one another. Now we were stand on our street.
prepared to take the next step and move out into the world with our mensch middot and Thank you very much,
arachim (values and virtues). We brainstormed ideas for ways that we could do Tikkun Leeron & Angela
Olam (fixing the world). The students had some great ideas. Then Amy came in to tell them
about Beit Issie Shapiro and about how we, as a class, could adopt a child. When we voted it
was unanimous.
Embarking upon the journey, which turned out to be “Change for Smiles” at our school,
we first examined the challenges faced by our newly adopted friend, Yinon. We studied
epilepsy and cerebral palsy specifically within the whole spectrum of special needs. We
researched, read books, hosted guest speakers and tried to get a drink from the school water
fountain while in a wheelchair.
After we felt educated, we shared our knowledge with our peers speaking to the rest of
our school’s classes (K-8) about Yinon, Bet Issie and our project. As part of our Yom CYCLES FOR SMILES GOES INTERNATIONAL
Atzmaut celebration, each of our over 100 students made a Tzedakah box with Yinon’s On Friday October 16th, 160 kids
picture on it to kickoff our “Change for Smiles” campaign. For the next four weeks we from Raanana’s Shivtei Yisrael
periodically made the rounds collecting and encouraging students to help us fill our Community launched Beit Issie
Tzedakah meter. Shapiro’s Cycle for Smiles
We raffled off homemade tie-dye t-shirts to 4 participating students and recognized the program in Israel. The kids met
classroom that contributed the most money. Students created lemonade stands, did chores after school and rode their bikes,
for grandparents and explained Beit Issie Shapiro to neighbors. Together we were able to far tricycles and scooters around Park
surpass our monetary goal and the students had an especially proud moment presenting Mrs. Chaverim to raise both awareness
Ovadia with our check. But most importantly we had gained a new friend in Israel. and much needed funding for
When one of our 3rd graders was fortunate enough to meet Yinon this past summer, while Beit Issie Shapiro’s
visiting Beit Issie Shapiro with her family, our Cycles for Smiles project came full circle. social inclusion program.
Seeing her photograph with Yinon and his beautiful, smiling face, I felt hopeful that this 3rd All 160 kids and their families
grade class of mensches had truly been able to experience their power to go out and create cycled many miles for so many
positive change in our world. This year’s incoming 3rd graders are already asking when we smiles…..
will begin… It was a very special day, not to
Thank you Amy and thank you Beit Issie Shapiro! be forgotten anytime soon.
Hadas Rave, Hebrew/Judaics Teacher/Contra Costa Jewish Day School
Milken Community High School (Los Angeles, CA)
Joining the CYCLE this Fall: Noah Greene volunteered this past summer….
Volunteering for two weeks at Beit Issie
Shapiro was an experience that I will
remember all my life. I volunteered in
North Shore Synagogue the Early Intervention Center which is a special school for
(Syosset, NY) Temple Aliyah children with developmental disabilities between the ages of
Sandra and Lawrence Bronson (Woodland Hills, CA) two and four years old. During the days I volunteered in the
Early Childhood Development Center Early Intervention Center I had the fun experience of playing
(Miami Beach, FL) with and taking care of the cute children. I also volunteered in
the Special Education Center which is a school for special needs
children up until the age of twelve. I was truly amazed by how
much fun the children were having while singing and dancing to
their favorite songs. One of the fondest memories I have from
RASG Hebrew Academy David Posnack Jewish
Community Center
my volunteering was the "Yom Maim" or water day in both the
(Miami Beach, FL)
(Davie, FL) Early Intervention Center and the Special Education Center. It
Michael-Ann Russell Jewish was a wonderful feeling seeing the children having so much fun
Community Center playing with the water. That is why it was such an amazing
(Miami Beach, FL) experience to volunteer in the Hydrotherapy Pool. I got to see
children who could not walk on their own outside the water
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp (Flushing, NY) practice walking and swimming in the pool. I had the
opportunity to witness and be involved in all that Beit Issie
Along with Rabbi Manes Kogan, raised $1000 for Shapiro has to offer for people with special needs. I have always
their special buddy, Neta. had a tremendous love for Israel and it was a
Together, with Ohr Chadash, they raised their money great experience coming to Israel to
through a “penny war” at camp. volunteer at Beit Issie Shapiro. After two
weeks of volunteering I know that I will feel
A LITTLE CHANGE MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE! a connection to Beit Issie Shapiro and the
children I volunteered with for the rest
of my life.
 30 Years of Global Impact on the World of Special Needs
www.afobis.org

Bonnie Vorspan B’nai Mitzvah Twinning

Cycles For Smiles Board Member Clayton Stone of Palm Beach, FL
Celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Beit Issie Shapiro with his
While I was a nursery school director, Amy Slater-Ovadia called and
special buddy, Eden!
talked to me about Beit Issie Shapiro. Our nursery school had a special
needs Sunday School program for preschoolers and BIS, our already
existing trike-a-thon and our Sunday School program were a perfect
match. When I retired from the directorship I wanted to continue to do Tzedakah
work for BIS, so talking to the other nursery school directors about incorporating
BIS into their Tzedakah programs was another perfect match. After visiting BIS in
Ra’anana, witnessing first hand the wonderful work that BIS does and wanting to
continue to promote the blessings this amazing organization provides to all of the
Israel….well, it continues to be a perfect match!

Temple Adat Elohim
(Thousand Oaks, CA)
Raised over $1,000 for
their buddy!
Marcy Goldberg was
excited to participate in
making a difference and
has already begun the
Cycle again……
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
CYCLES FOR SMILES
Margie Ipp, Founder
Lucienne Adams
Audrey Freedman Habush
Paula Hoffman
Sigalit Nechemia
Carole Perl
Mina Rush
Bonnie Vorspan
AMERICAN FRIENDS
OF BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
METRO NEW YORK CO-CHAIRS
Alvin & Aliza Broome
Temple Etz Chaim (Thousand Oaks, CA) Dear my friends at Beit Issie,
Thank you so much for a very special and memorable experience. I will
We thank the Early Childhood Center & never forget my joint bar-mitzvah with Eden. I hope to continue to
their families for making a difference regularly visit you guys in Israel and hope to stay in touch and help
in Oren’s life! out in the future. Thank you gain, helping Eden do his bar-mitzvah
was one of the greatest and most special moments in my life.
Hope to see you guys soon!
Thanks again – Clayton Stone
Stephen S. Wise Temple
The spirit of giving is here! Mitzvah Day 2009 is around the corner...what will you teach your child about mitzvot? At the ECC we're
talking a lot about Oriyan, our sponsor child attending Beit Issie Shapiro in Israel. Oriyan will be completing his program at Beit Issie
this year largely in part to the wonderful support and love our families have shown him over the past two years. In class, teachers share
photos of Oriyan and talk about differences. For young children this is an important first step in learning about tolerance, acceptance,
and compassion. And, we integrate discussions about mitzvot as we talk about Oriyan and his individual challenges. What we know for
sure is that you are your child's first model - they watch what you do and learn from you. If you participate in tzedakah, they will too.
And while we ask for your tzedakah and SOVA contributions every week, we will gather together as a community on Mitzvah Day,
November 1, at the ECC and share activities that are fun and family oriented, and that teach this commandment to your children. At
Mitzvah Day, your child will be able to ride in a RACE ACROSS ISRAEL in our Cycles for Smiles course. Your family can read
books about differences together, watch a video about Beit Issie, and create a page in our Oriyan Book. Your minimum donation of
$36 will go toward critical services Oriyan needs to build life skills. And, we believe it's so important to support him that we're having
a second opportunity to Cycle for Oriyan on Monday, November 2. Every class will have a 15 minute cycles time during our School
day to show their support by riding for children that cannot. Every child will participate, but, we ask for your show of support by
registering and sending in your minimum donation in advance. Complete a form in your classroom and return the form with your
donation to our office or to your teacher and we'll see you at Mitzvah Day. Don't forget to come early and eat pancakes, too! You may
be aware of the personalized Tzedakah box your child brought home last week. This is part of our efforts to
Oriyan
support Oriyan, too. We're having a contest to see which class can fill their boxes and raise the most money –
so please help your child fill up the box and then watch them dump the change into their class bucket on
Mitzvah Day and Cycles for Smiles. The winners will get a prize and we know how you love to win!
Thanksgiving will be here in a blink of an eye. This year I'm thankful for many things, including the work I do
as leader of our School program. Please join me on Mitzvah Day where we can be thankful for the gifts in our
lives and help others who need our support to fulfill the dreams they have of their own.
Dr. Sheryl Cohen, Director of ECC, Stephen S. Wise Temple

NATIONAL DIRECTOR
Ed Ward Beit Issie Shapiro Update
WEST COAST CO-CHAIRS
BIS LAUNCHES IT’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Errol Fine
Marty Spiegel West Coast Gala 2009
Please join us for what is planning to be an amazing evening at our 7th annual Gala dinner!
WEST COAST DIRECTOR
Yael Blasberg Honoring
SOUTH EAST CHAIR MR. AVI LERNER
John Bussel for his humanitarian efforts on behalf of Special Needs Children
SOUTH EAST DIRECTOR Special Guest Speaker
Steve Rose
MICHELE SHAPIRO, OTR PH.D.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO we are proud to recognize and pay tribute to our dear friends
Jean Judes DR. SHLOMO & ILANA MELMED and DENNIS & MYRA MONK
CEO INTERNATIONAL
who have partnered with us throughout these years
Naomi Stuchiner
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009 ~ 6:30 in the evening
NATIONAL MILESTONES Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel ~ 10500 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles
DIRECTOR
Amy Slater-Ovadia Gala generously underwritten by PAT AND ERROL FINE ~ Dietary Laws Observed - Business Attire - Valet Parking ~ Info: (323) 938-9851