exercising religious options

[Guest guest]

When we lived in Richmond, VA, the community had joined together (as in all

branches of Judaism) to fund a separate religious school class for those of

our kids who did not fit into any of the existing schools. This was

parental choice. there was no charge, it was held in a neutral building and

the class was run by a women with MANY years experience both in special ed

and as a religious school teacher. There were 5 kids of about the same age.

Four of them had their bar/bat mitzvah 7 years ago. Elie did not as he

could not handle the group activity then.

But the songs and stories that they learned, have really stuck with Elie.

I hope to at least have him included in regular worship when we move.

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Re: religious inclusion/Sara

>Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 15:17:37 -0800 (PST)

>

>Hi Sara,

> Zeb attended a Jewish preschool for three and half years. It was by far

>the best school experience he has ever had. The staff was wonderful and

>they still regularly inquire about Zeb. Zeb's first religious experience

>was in the Jewish faith. We had had a power outage one winter and I lit

>many candles. Zeb's first thing he said, " oh look the Menorah. " I still

>laugh when I think of it.

> Charlyne

> Mom to Zeb 12 DS/OCD/ASD?

>

>sara cohen wrote:

> We had several years of total inclusion in a very small synagogue . Elie

>was one of the few children there at that time. No one EVER made a comment

>unfavorably towards his behavior which at that time includied " dead

>roaching " in the aisles, turning on and off the memorial lights and/or

>going

>up to the ark and peering into the cabinet. HE also used to stand next to

>the service leader and echo page numbers!

>

>Now that we have been unable to go there since we moved so far away (almost

>2 hours in bad weather) I looked for a place closer to where we are. All of

>the places of our faith are mega big with all the societal rules that large

>places seem to need. And mortgages, and set " policies " . So we have the

>situation that I mentioned.

>

>Fortunately, In June we move to a tiny town in GA which has a synagogue

>which shares its place of worship with a Presbyterian church. I have spoken

>to the members and have been assured that Elie - behavior or not - will be

>welcome.

>

>I only shared the story of this " reaching out " because I am so very annoyed

>by it and the sanctimonious air of the people who have arranged this. The

>worst being the rabbi who has 2 family members with disabilities which she

>uses as her " understanding " to those of us who might otherwise be

>unimpressed by her attitude.

>

>

>

>Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>

>

>

>

>

> >From: ViPorier@...

> >Reply-To:

> >To:

> >Subject: Re: religious inclusion

> >Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:11:54 EST

> >

> >Hi everyone,

> >

> >I just wanted to share my experience with the Catholic church several

>years

> >ago, I was raised Catholic, I had all 3 of my children baptized in the

> >catholic church my daughters both made their first holy communion, every

> >year I

> >would go and sign the girls up for their CCD classes, this was in

> >Fairfield,

> >Connecticut, when was 4 and Tania was 9 and Tammy 12, I was there

> >again

> >signing them up, I asked mother superior, if when the time came she

>wanted

> >me to

> >sign up at 6 or 5, because he was going to start Kindergarten at 6,

> >her

> >response to me was " OH WE DON'T TAKE THOSE CHILDREN HERE. " I told her she

> >should be ashamed of herself, and that all of my children were children

>of

> >God,

> >and that I believed if Jesus himself were here he would not like what she

> >was

> >saying, I then pulled my daughters from CCD, telling her if my son was

>not

> >welcome, his sisters would not be coming either. needless to say they

> >never

> >made their confirmation, we now go to the united Methodist church/

> >Viola Mom to Tammy 21, Tania 18, and 13 ds and pdd(nos)

> >

> >

> >