“These children are my generals,” the Rebbe told a mother of a baby with Down Syndrome in 1985. “You shouldn’t worry.”
This past Thursday, Friendship Circle of Los Angeles, working in partnership with MyShliach at Merkos 302 and Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe, created an engaging, moving and groundbreaking online farbrengen for Chabad families who have exceptional children. Ten families from across the country joined in two farbrengens – one for girls and women, and one for boys and men – as they celebrated Yud Shevat.
As word of the program spread, families who don’t usually attend virtual programs decided this was important to attend. The families were excited to partake in this new opportunity for their children to further develop their hiskashrus with the Rebbe. One mother wrote in an email right after the event, “Thank you so much for organizing the Farbrengen… R. was engaged and focused…..Hope we will have this kind of program again. Yasher Koach.” Parents reported that their child felt a deeper connection to the Rebbe – for the first time, they attended a farbrengen made for them! One participant was singing all of the songs, while another opened his own Rebbe videos throughout the farbrengen, and both felt connected and happy to be part of it.
The program was made possible with the combined resources of Farbengen in a Box by My Shliach, headed by Rabbi Mendy Shanowitz, Yaldei Shluchei HaRebbe, headed by Rabbis Sholly Weiser and Dovid Leib Shur, and the Friendship Circle of Los Angeles, headed by Rabbi Michy and Miriam Rav-Noy. The program was coordinated by Mrs. Doonie Mishulovin.
The online materials were specially designed to break down information, be interesting and interactive, while preserving the goals, flavor and toichen of a farbrengen. One shliach wrote, “I think the fast moving pace worked well for our kids since it kept them engaged. They enjoyed the game and the singing especially.” Each family received a package of farbrengen supplies from Farbrengen in a Box to allow for a fully interactive experience.
The new program was the brainchild of Mrs. Shifra Klein, Judaic teacher at Friendship Circle of Los Angeles. A mother of a teenage son with autism, Mrs. Klein envisioned a program she wanted for her own son Yaacov to attend – a farbrengen. Mrs. Klein felt that so many children and young adults are missing this opportunity to celebrate Chassidishe Yomim Tovim. Mrs. Klein wanted to dedicate the new program to Mrs. Mira Labkowsky A”H, known affectionately to all as Morah Mira. Morah Mira was Mrs. Klein’s mentor when she began teaching, throughout her career, and a tremendous influence on her style of teaching and parenting. She was a guide to many people in the community in matters of chinuch during her decades of teaching and leading in Los Angeles.
Plans are already beginning for a Yud Alef Nissan Farbrengen. For more information, email [email protected].
Wow Amazing! Yasher Koach!
Thanks for giving the Rebbe a lot of Nachas
Shepping Nachas! May Hashem give you the koach in good health to continue this special shluchas to include all of the Rebbes kinderlach. Love you, your mom!
Everyone is quick to agree that children (and adults) with special needs possess pure and holy neshamos, but very few of us do enough to engage and feed those neshamos in a truly chassidisheh, meaningful manner. Thank you to the organizers for doing just that. The neshama of each of the participants was nourished in a way heretofore unavailable to them. Brachos ad bli deye to all of you.