JSDD News

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 […]

The advisory committee of Heidi Gallery has been meeting since May of 2022. Their work has been focused on developing the first juried open exhibit held in this stunning new space.  Expanding upon the idea of displaying the artwork of artist members of JSDD’s WAE Center, the gallery’s goal is to cultivate a creative space for exhibits, education, collaboration, and performance to co-exist in a fully inclusive environment. The WAE Open welcomed over 200 people to the reception on October 20th. Committee Chair Teddi Dolph and Juror, Diedre Harris-Kelley welcomed and addressed the crowd.  Most all of the 33 artists who were accepted into the exhibition were present to share their work with the public. True to its stated mission […]

  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 […]

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. […]

By Howard Charish, JSDD Board Member When I entered graduate school to obtain a master’s degree in social work, the first paper that I had to write was on beginnings. It was a daunting assignment for new students who were filled with excitement, trepidation, unknown expectations and hopeful prospects. Here we were about to craft our professional future and needed to reflect on a topic that was so open ended and vague. Nevertheless, the characteristics of beginnings have been an underlying reflection for me whenever I embark on something new. It certainly comes into play as I think about Rosh Hashana and JSDD. September is filled with beginnings, Rosh Hashana being the foremost. It is a time when we as […]