Jessica Goldstein

How long have you been with JSDD? Eighteen Months Was this the position you started in? Started as a receptionist for the WAE Center What is your first memory of JSDD? My first memory is meeting the staff during orientation. It was cool to meet people I would get to work with, bond with and share experiences with. What has most surprised you about working with JSDD? The members. I am new to the field. It has been interesting to get to know the members, understanding them. I have gotten to know their personalities. Seeing how independent and creative the members can be is amazing. What are 3 words to describe JSDD? Creative, Innovative and Welcoming What do you find […]

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Never ones to forgo a celebration the members of JSDD’s WAE Center gathered on November 16th to share a Thanksgiving feast. This annual ritual is always wonderful and important to the entire JSDD community. It is a time to come together and reflect on all that we are thankful for. WAE Center Director, Harry Klein, went around the room asking people what they felt moved to share – the common theme was being grateful for friends, family, and their opportunity to learn and be together at the WAE. Each member expressed their appreciation for a different staff member who is important in their daily life. This tradition started as a lunch in honor of the birthday of Scott Reich who […]

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Virtual Shabbat celebrations continue at many of the JSDD Group Homes. Residents, DSPs (Direct Support Professionals) and Managers look forward to gathering with their housemates and friends each week. Frequently, they are also joined by several members of the WAE Center. The weekly celebrations, led by JSDD Judaic Coordinator, Hagit are always fun and educational. Listening to Shabbat songs to start the celebration really does set the mood. Everyone has come to know the songs in both Hebrew and English and sings along. The prayers, though recited in Hebrew have become second nature to some and begin the formal portion of Shabbat. After the prayers have been said, Hagit discusses the weekly torah portion. The group then discusses the lessons […]

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  Name: Michelle Johnson Title: Senior Residential Manager- Millburn, Woodland and West Orange Group Homes How long have you been with JSDD? Friday November 25th marks two years Was this the position you started in? Started as a group home manager What is your first memory of JSDD? My first memory was receiving a phone call from Shila, my assistant, before I even started welcoming me to the Millburn home. Also, when I started going through the in-house training with Jen and Letticia I was in awe of how organized everything was from the medical to all aspects of homes. What has most surprised you about working with JSDD? How organized and supportive the team was here. Coming from other […]

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Sukkot, the seven-day holiday commanded in the Torah to celebrate the harvest and commemorate the 40 years in the desert after the Jews escaped slavery in Egypt began on Sunday October 9th. On Sukkot, many Jewish people build a Sukkah in their yards which is a hut with a roof that is thatched or made of branches. It is important that while the roof provide shelter from the sun, it also allows you to see through to the stars at night. Many people eat their meals in the Sukkah during the holiday and some even sleep out in their Sukkah!   Several residents of JSDD joined together in the Sukkah at the WAE Center last week to celebrate the holiday. […]

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