Hudson Valley Resort

Summer Break Offers Development Opportunities for Campus Chabad Houses

Held at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, N.Y., the conference provided directors of more than 165 centers around the world the chance to perfect their efforts at empowering Jewish students to embrace their shared heritage, explained Chabad on Campus executive vice president Rabbi Yossy Gordon.

“We strive to provide an additional measure of excellence and this conference is all about that, about helping

This year’s conference had a dual focus of helping veteran emissaries – those who have been on campus for more than a decade – expand and improve on prior growth, and strengthening an ever-expanding crop of freshman emissaries. Participants left motivated by the shared experiences of more senior emissaries, many of whom told of directions they received firsthand from the , of righteous memory.

“It’s a tremendous inspiration, especially for those of today’s emissaries who never had the privilege of meeting the Rebbe,” said Gordon.

For Rabbi Yitzi Steiner, director of Chabad at the University of Minnesota, the conference was a chance to learn from others. A first-year attendee, he said he was inspired by the workshops and also the camaraderie. He enjoyed getting to hear about other emissaries’ experiences on campus, and being reminded that while no two places are alike, all the emissaries are doing the same thing.

“The best part of networking is trying to find the campus that is most similar to yours and doing what you are able to exchange ideas,” he explained.

Among the many pieces of advice he’ll hold on to when he returns to his 1,500-strong Jewish student base is to stay true to himself and to know his students.

“Don’t just try and mold yourself to be someone else,” he advised. “Take advantage of your gifts and your capabilities and execute them.”

Rabbi Mendy Lent, a returning emissary from the University of Nottingham in England, spoke of the brotherhood the event promotes. He said he appreciates knowing that “everybody’s in it together through thick and thin.” That goes for everything from reaching out to students and donors, as well as to making sure families living on campuses can maintain their values while living far from a Jewish infrastructure.

Yachad Family Shabbaton at Hudson Valley Resort - SPECIAL ...

The Law Offices of Adam Dayan represents parents of children with special needs in pursuing appropriate educational programs and services for their children. We represent children of all different ages who have a wide range of special education needs. It is never too early for a parent to seek help. We encourage parents to become informed early, and we provide guidance through all stages of the special education process. I was invited to speak at the 25th Annual Yachad Family Shabbaton this past weekend at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, New York.  Yachad is a national Jewish organization dedicated to addressing the needs of all individuals with disabilities and including them in the Jewish community.  The event, which this year attracted more guests than ever in the past, offered workshops on different topics with respect to individuals with special needs such as sensory integration, social skills deficits, parenting, residential programs, executive functioning skills, autism, Down Syndrome, and two sessions on special education law presented by this firm.  The weekend also offered parents opportunities to attend support groups with similarly situated parents and to participate in various other sessions and activities.  The purpose of this blog is to inform parents about developments in the world of education and special education, including current events, trends within the Department of Education, important cases at the administrative and federal levels, and relevant changes in federal and state law and regulations. The information you obtain here is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult with an attorney for advice about your specific circumstances.

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