Preparation for the Future

The Darkaynu program for boys mirrors that of the girls in combining Torah study with the acquisition of both vocational and life skills.

A typical day begins with an hour of learning at the yeshiva, studying the laws of Shabbat, the weekly Torah portion, Mishna and other topics. Each participant then studies in the beit midrash with a different havruta study partner from the yeshiva.

In the afternoons, relates Goldscheider, the young men gain work experience through a variety of highly-supervised job placements in the Gush Etzion area. “Placements include a winery, a plant nursery, the kitchen of a yeshiva and local public libraries,” she says. “In addition, they are extremely involved in chessed activities, such as sorting and distributing clothing in a warehouse that provides clothing for the needy.”

The male Darkaynu participants, who hail from Chicago, Detroit, New York and New Jersey, are delighted with their first steps toward independence. “A number of them have told me how exciting it is that they can go to the neighborhood grocery store and shop by themselves, with their own money – in Israeli shekels,” relates Darkaynu counselor Shalom Ozarowski.

In addition to studying at the yeshiva, program participants join the rest of the overseas students on tiyulim across Israel and on Shabbat visits to other Israeli yeshivot. Recreational time in the local pool and gym are also an integral part of the program.

Each Darkaynu participant has been “adopted” by a local family and is welcomed into their home for dinner one night a week, for Shabbat meals or just to hang out. “This is the first time these boys have ever been away from home,” notes Ozarowski, “so knowing that surrogate parents, brothers and sisters are just around the corner or a phone call away helps ease the separation. They feel like true family members, helping with household projects or just with the clearing up after dinner, all of which provides them with a feeling of comfort and a tremendous confidence boost.”

The Next Steps

Fourteen young women are currently living and studying at Midreshet Lindenbaum within the framework of the Darkaynu program. “This year, for the first time, we have a girl from Belgium,” reports Elana Goldscheider. “And we also have an Israeli student who is participating in the Hebrew-language Lindenbaum program. This is our first step in addressing the needs of young Israeli women with developmental disabilities.”

Just four years after it was initiated, the program is already proving to have lasting results for its alumnae. “Next year, three young women from New York who all spent three years at Darkaynu will begin living together in an apartment in Brooklyn,” says Goldscheider. “They will have part-time supervision and work in the community. The living skills they gained and the strong friendships they developed during their time at Darkaynu have provided them with the foundation for a positive, independent future.” 

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