When done right, the Passover Seder is the ultimate opportunity for experiential learning. Centered around our children, the Seder provides countless opportunities for the inclusion and engagement of children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

After many weeks of practice at school and at home, the stage is set for the youngest child at the Seder to sing Ma Nishtana, melodically musing “Why is tonight different from all other nights?” We encourage every child to contribute to the night’s discourse, to offer thoughts and insights at his or her own levels as to the reasoning behind the evening’s many unusual customs. And we sing tunes with inviting intonations so that everyone can join in and end on a high note with the nursery rhymes of Echad Mi Yodeah and Chad Gadya.

While there are so many ‘traditional’ avenues for education and engagement at the Seder, it’s the Haggadah’s description of the Four Sons that stands out to me as a crucial teachable moment.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel, explains that the word ‘echad’ (one) is used when introducing each of the Four Sons to show us that every single person around the table is equal to one. Every person, from the ‘wise son’ to the so-called ‘wicked son,’ are counted as peers. Every person, regardless of age, gender, background, education or abilities, are considered equal members of the family and the Jewish nation.

It’s this nod to disability inclusion, the notion that the child who does not know how to ask is also counted as one, that makes this segment of the Seder so meaningful to me. Working at ALEH, Israel’s network of care for children with severe complex disabilities, I have encountered hundreds of beautiful souls who, through no fault of their own, simply do not have the capacity to ask questions at the Seder like other children. It’s heartwarming to know that they, too, have an equal place at the table.

With these children, it is especially important to follow King Solomon’s brilliant pedagogical philosophy of “Educate each child according to their own way” (Proverbs 22:6). While this often means speaking to a child in his or her own language or providing age appropriate explanations and activities, for children with disabilities, it means planning ahead to make the Seder more accessible and focusing on the things they can do throughout the evening, rather than the things they can’t.

For starters, children with disabilities should be given a seat of distinction at the table, making it clear to all that they are equal participants in the Seder activities. When Urchatz, the first opportunity to wash our hands at the Seder, rolls around, children with disabilities should have their hands washed as well – a wonderful sensory experience that will make an impact on them. These young participants should also be assisted with the dipping of Karpas (the vegetable ‘appetizer’) in saltwater and taking drops of wine out of their goblets when counting the Ten Plagues.

There are also many puppets and props available for purchase that can be used to engage children with disabilities and tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt in a multisensory way. And children of all levels of ability should work together to hide and retrieve the Afikomen, a classic game of hide and seek that can be transformed into a wonderfully inclusive experience.

While the Haggadah speaks of Four Sons, many commentators highlight the existence of a ‘Fifth Son’: one who isn’t even at the Seder table. Through the generations, we have interpreted this as a directive to engage with those who feel detached or disillusioned and have decided to steer clear of the Seder. But it is important to realize that it can just as easily refer to those who cannot physically make it to the table themselves, and who may have been overlooked because they cannot participate in exactly the same ways.

In this and every generation, it is our obligation to “regard ourselves as if we had come out of Egypt.” It is likewise our responsibility to ensure that every person is given the opportunity to do the same by participating in the Seder. Our celebration of freedom can only be complete if there is a seat at the table for everyone, and we can only be truly free if we carry this message of inclusion over to every other day of the year.

Dov Hirth is the Coordinator of Marketing, Development and Special Projects for ALEH (www.ALEH.org), Israel’s network of care for individuals with severe complex disabilities and a global voice for disability inclusion and accessibility.

Historic Brooklyn neighborhood undergoing a Jewish renaissance

Having mezuzahs on her family’s doorposts has changed Anna Shur’s outlook on Judaism.

“It gives me a sense of who I am; it’s a reminder to be thankful to G d,” says Shur, who started lighting Shabbat candles regularly and enrolled her 7-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter in Hebrew school after mounting the parchment scrolls, which contain the Shema, the central tenet of Judaism, in plain sight.

The resident of Brooklyn, N.Y., put the mezuzahs up with the help of Rabbi Heshy Ceitlin, who moved to the area about four years ago as a Chabad-Lubavitch emissary with his wife, Rochel Chana, to join her parents, Rabbi Chaim and Rivkah Brikman, co-directors of Chabad by the Ocean. Shur and Rabbi Ceitlin met when she had Jewish questions she wanted answered after her grandmother died. The rabbi came by and introduced himself, and then mentioned a mezuzah project, which he has been running since the end of 2015. They set a date, made sure her children were home to see it and got started.

The mezuzah not only designates a home as Jewish, but is also a symbol of G d’s watchful care over the home. It gives her a sense of protection over their residence, says Shur, who didn’t have mezuzahs on her doors growing up.

“I never had the opportunity and wouldn’t have known how to go about it,” Shur tells Chabad.org, adding that being able to go to the store and buy a mezuzah isn’t the same for her as knowing how it’s supposed be affixed or the rules around it. “It’s great to have Rabbi Heshy and his wife because every time I have a question, I shoot them a text, and they always have answers,” she says.

The Ceitlins started a mezuzah campaign at a synagogue appreciation dinner in 2015. They gave out 200 cards for people in attendance to fill out, asking whether or not they had mezuzahs and when they were last checked. Fifty or sixty families signed up right away, and then there were more.

The rabbi went family to family, meeting people, checking and adding mezuzahs. Two years later, he had already put up more than 1,000, and his work continues, says Ceitlin. “Word gets around, and people just call me now instead of me reaching out to them,” he says. “But in the beginning, it started with cards they filled out and going family after family. I would go visit them and take care of their mezuzahs.”

The rabbi was there to put up mezuzahs for Igor Fridlin and his wife, Elaine, when the family—the couple, plus a 12-year-old and nine-year-old triplets—moved to a new house in October 2017. He came back just a few months ago to check that they were still kosher as, over time, letters can fade or the parchment can tear. “We’re all busy with our daily lives—work, kids, everything else—and this is an incredible convenience, to have someone literally at your arm’s reach who can do it, who can offer that to you,” says Fridlin.

Living in the community has also encouraged Fridlin to have mezuzahs on his doorposts, he notes, adding that he grew up in the former Soviet Union, where he was not accustomed to such practices. “If I wouldn’t be in Sea Gate, I probably wouldn’t have mezuzahs, but the rabbi’s teachings, his encouragement … he drew everybody in, teaches us about Judaism,” he says. “Every time he tells a story, it’s just amazing.”

            (Chabad.org)

Manhattan could become a walker’s paradise thanks to congestion pricing, according to some.

“A coming fee on vehicles entering Manhattan’s most congested streets won’t just reduce traffic while funding improvements to the subway. It could also lead to wider sidewalks, expanded bus and bike lanes, and new pedestrian plazas,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “At least that is the vision that New York City’s transportation chief has for Manhattan if the fee significantly reduces congestion.

“It certainly would open up a lot of pretty transformative possibilities,” Polly Trottenberg, New York City’s transportation chief, told the newspaper in an interview.

Legislators said yes to congestion fees earlier this year as part of the state’s budget. According to the City, under the plan:

* Electronic tolling devices would be installed on the perimeter of the Central Business District (CBD) defined as streets south of 61st St. in Manhattan.

* The FDR Drive will not be included in the Central Business District.

* The electronic tolling system will account for tolls previously paid by drivers entering Manhattan from designated crossings.

* The system will be installed and operated pursuant to an MOU between the City of New York and the MTA for the purposes of ensuring the timely completion of the installation of congestion infrastructure in order to effectuate a congestion pricing plan, and recognizing the expertise of the TBTA for purposes of running and operating cashless tolling systems and City agencies for purposes of the use and impact of infrastructure installation on City streets.

* Tolls will be variable providing discounts for off-peak hour travel.

* Emergency vehicles will be exempt from congestion pricing tolls.

* Other exemptions or discounts will be provided to a limited group of vehicles entering the CBD including vehicles operated by or transporting people with disabilities and individuals who have an identifiable hardship or limited ability to access medical facilities in the CBD.

Congestion pricing tolls will be supplemented with State and City revenue from a fixed amount of the new internet sales tax derived from sales in New York City, with a growth factor, and a percentage of the State and City revenue from the cannabis excise tax.

“Congestion pricing revenue and these two taxes will be placed in a ‘lockbox’ to provide a funding source necessary to ensure the capital needs of the MTA can be met, with priority given to the subway system, new signaling, new subway cars, track and car repair, accessibility, buses and bus system improvements and further investments in expanding transit availability to areas in the outer boroughs that have limited mass transit options,” according to de Blasio’s office.

Tolls will be set once the electronic infrastructure is in place and a Capital Plan is finalized but will in no event be set later than December 2020.

Bedell Cellars, a vineyard located in Cutchogue, Long Island, has been put on the market to the tune of $17.9 million.

Bedell has operated for 35 years. It sits on 75 acres and grows 10 varieties of grapes. The other stats are just as impressive: its total 95 acres includes a main residence built in 1710; a 10,000-square-foot facility with a tasting room, wine lab, barrel room, fermentation cellar, bottling line and offices; a 4,000-square-foot annex for events; an agricultural barn for machines and case storage; a tasting room and events building located at Corey Creek; and an 18th-century main house.

“The traditional, two-story, cedar-shingled home sits on 2.6 acres. At 1,825 square feet, it comes with four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a fireplace and the original stonewall basement,” reports the New York Post. “The outdoor space, by landscape architect Ed Hollander, includes a patio courtyard, a fountain, a 150-year-old maple tree and a working apple orchard.”

Bedell’s web site tells its story: “Kip & Susan Bedell planted their first grapevines here in 1980, with kip earning the moniker “Mr. Merlot” in Wine Spectator magazine. In 2000, Bedell cellars was sold to the Lynne family. Today, Bedell stands at the forefront of creativity and excellence in the modern American wine industry, and is widely regarded as the benchmark winery in the eastern US.”

Owner Michael Lynne passed away in 2019 after a lifetime of success in wine, food, theater, film, and art. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 1964 he founded an entertainment law firm, and in 1990 began a 28-year association with New Line Cinema, according to the web site. “He produced and distributed such films such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Austin Powers, Magnolia, Hairspray, Sex and the City, and Nightmare on Elm Street. During Michael’s tenure as CEO, New Line became the most successful independent film company in the world. Michael was also an esteemed contemporary art collector and Trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. His beloved wife Ninah continues his legacy as the current owner.”

Trent Preszler, who serves as CEO, has worked at Bedell since 2002, and under his leadership the business has established a preeminent role in the American wine industry. “Trent’s fingerprints are on every detail of Bedell’s success, from the vineyard and winery to sales, marketing and operations. Trent served for 11 years on the Board of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, and is currently Chairman of Wine America,” according to the site. “Previously, he worked at The White House Office of Science & Technology Policy during the Clinton years, and was a Rotary Scholar at the Royal Botanic Gardens U.K. Trent graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Iowa State University and now proudly serves on their Board of Directors. He holds two advanced degrees from Cornell University: an M.S. in Agricultural Economics and a Ph.D. in Viticulture.”

The Brooklyn-based health company whose stated mission is to use technology on behalf of low-income patients with complex medical conditions, was founded in 2017. Its initial location was in Crown Heights, and partnered with EmblemHealth’s AdvantageCare Physicians.

Cityblock calls itself a “tech-driven provider for communities with complex needs.” The startup “partners with community health organizations to deliver primary care, behavioral health and social services to Medicaid and low-income Medicare recipients,” notes impactalpha.com. “The backbone of its model is a software platform called Commons that links Cityblocks’ partners and care providers.”

The company is also doing business now in Waterbury, Conn., working in concert with EmblemHealth’s ConnectiCare. Executives plan to expand into North Carolina by the end of 2019 by working with Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

“The startup uses its technology platform, Commons, to facilitate communication among health team members who provide medical, behavioral and social services to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in underserved neighborhoods,” reported Crain’s New York Business. “Patients’ care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, mental health providers and community health workers trained in coaching and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.”

In an announcement made on the web site medium.com Iyah Romm, CEO and co-founder explained that he launched Cityblock a year and a half ago “with the aim of building the first tech-driven provider for communities with complex needs. Today we bring radically better care to neighborhoods where the healthcare system has let people down — delivering care for medical and behavioral health needs, and the social challenges people face day-to-day. We believed we could achieve this by bridging technology with trusting, person-to-person relationships, in a manner designed to support providers and empower people to have a role in their own care.”

“Existing care delivery models simply don’t work for many in lower-income communities. As a result, many people in these communities get stuck in a cycle of emergency room visits and hospital stays,” said Elliot Geidt of Redpoint, who is a member of the company’s Board of Directors about the decision to invest in Cityblock. “Iyah, Toyin, Bay, and the Cityblock team are building an entirely new way of providing care for this large and previously underserved population.”

Cityblock now has about 180 employees, including health care providers, engineers and data scientists, and said it serves thousands of members, Crain’s reports. “It was spun out of Sidewalk Labs, the urban-focused innovation arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet that is led by former Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff. Sidewalk Labs participated in the Series B round along with existing investors Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, Maverick Ventures, Town Hall Ventures and EmblemHealth.”