JSDD News

Story By Jessica Goldstein Name: Yvette Lucas   Title: Manager of Pre-vocational Arts   How long have you been with JSDD? More than 9 years   Was this the position you started in? No, I started as program coordinator of WAE Beyond, an evening program with a series of workshops offered our members and to the general community. Later, I was asked to manage another program with prevocational classes called “Workability” which took place during the day. The vision for the program was to provide members with opportunities to learn pre-vocational skills in specialized art-based classes. The first offering was a painting class.  From there, it grew to include product design, printmaking, fiber arts, jewelry, weaving, and other classes.  As […]

Story by Jessica Goldstein Our Shabbat celebration began this week with Rachel chanting the blessing over the candles. Mark led the blessing over the grape juice and the challah. We continued to learn about Tu B’shevat, the birthday of the trees and how it is celebrated in Israel. We also talked about Martin Luther King, Jr. and listened to his inspiring, “I Have a Dream” speech on YouTube.  Stacy reminded everyone that the Jews must remember the Holocaust and also that we were slaves in Egypt. The torah portion this week, Beshalach starts with G-d telling Moses to have the Israelites camp at the Sea of Reeds. Once again, Pharoah changes his mind about giving the Israelites their freedom and […]

Story by Jessica Goldstein To welcome Shabbat this week, everyone shared their highlights from the week and the most popular was the first snow of 2022. Everyone loved waking up to see their yards covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. Kevin began with the blessing over the candles. Aaron performed the Kiddush, the blessing of the grape juice and the Hamotzi, the blessing over the challah. We learned about the upcoming holiday Tu B’shevat, the birthday of the trees. One might ask, why celebrate the trees in January when there is snow outside? Well, in Israel, it is now the end of the rainy season, the soil is drenched and fertile and it is a perfect time to plant […]

Writing Credit: Teddi Dolph, JSDD Board Member, November 2021 Every time I walk into the new JSDD/WAE Center building I am awe struck.  I can’t believe this gorgeous new space is where the staff and clients of JSDD and the WAE Center will now be able to go each day.  The space is filled with light, hope and inspiration; everyone coming through the doors feels it.             It is with these feelings that I started the task of hanging the artwork of the Wae artists throughout the building.  The artists of the Wae Center have been doing amazing work for years.  Finally, they have a place where their work can shine and get the recognition it deserves.  There is now […]

Story by Jessica Goldstein The participants were happy to welcome the Sabbath and New Years Eve over Zoom. Rachel said the blessings over the candles and Mark blessed the challah and the grape juice. The torah portion this week Vaera G-d tells Moses and Aaron to go to Pharoah and demand he free the Israelites.  Pharoah refuses and G-d begins to unleash plagues on the Egyptians. After each plague Pharaoh pleads for it to end and promises he will free the Israelites. As soon as the plague ends, Pharaoh changes his mind, which brings on another plague. The portion ends with Pharoah promising to set the Israelites free if the plague of hail ends. The hail stops and once again, […]