Baltimore, MD - May 7, 2018 - In the weeks leading up to Shavuos, Klal Yisroel prepares to celebrate Kabolas Hatorah (the receiving of the Torah). We are taught that Kabolas Hatorah was only possible because of Klal Yisroel’s feeling of “one man with one heart.” The message is clear ­- remarkable goals are accomplished through unity and caring for one another.

The city of Baltimore is blessed to have many wonderful schools, each serving a vital niche. The Bais Yaakov School and Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim/Talmudical Academy are always looking out for the needs of the community.

JEWELS School, since its inception five years ago, strives to address the needs of children with developmental and cognitive disabilities. Seeking to provide an environment most conducive to their growth, JEWELS is designed with inclusive classrooms, in which children with special needs are educated alongside typically developing peers. The 60/40 ratio of typically developing children and children with challenges creates a setting for both to thrive in. However, as those peers grow older and transition into community schools, JEWELS is unable to maintain this critical inclusive setting.

To address these needs a novel idea was conceived – the JEWELS Satellite Initiative. Within this framework, it was envisioned that JEWELS students would attend local community schools, while having their educational and therapeutic needs met by JEWELS’s professionals. The JEWELS students would be mainstreamed according to their abilities and be able to benefit both academically and socially. This would be a dream come true for parents of children with special needs. The inclusive environment would also benefit the students in the host school, as seen with the 7G class at Bais Yaakov over the past few years.

In a true display of acceptance and achdus (unity), Bais Yaakov and Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim/Talmudical Academy have both enthusiastically welcomed JEWELS. The schools are currently partnering to create the JEWELS Satellite Initiative with a boys class in TA and a girls class in Bais Yaakov. JEWELS and the families that it serves are very appreciative of Bais Yaakov and TA’s leadership for their warm welcome and willingness to help make this initiative a reality. JEWELS also greatly appreciates the generosity of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and PNC Bank who have contributed funding for this program.

With Hashem’s continued help, and the dedication of the individuals who care deeply about ALL of Baltimore’s children, we look forward to continued success in this endeavor and other future opportunities.