Texas Program Provides Jewish Outlet to Institutionalized Residents

For hundreds of Texas residents whose special needs preclude the possibility of independent living, state-supported residential facilities provide the care and support unavailable at home. And while they’re a distinct minority, Jewish residents – whose spiritual needs were, just a generation ago, frequently neglected by government agencies – can take part in a variety of programs offered by a decade-long partnership between caregivers and a Houston non-profit.

Back in 1999, Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, co-director of Chabad-Lubavitch of West Houston and associate director of Chabad Outreach of Houston, began visiting Jewish residents at the Richmond State Supported Living Center southwest of the city to coordinate Shabbat and holiday programs. The program grew and today comprises the adult division of Houston’s Friendship Circle, part of an international network of projects more commonly known for pairing teenage volunteers with children with special needs.

Similar initiatives provide Jewish programming three of Texas’ 13 state-supported facilities.

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“It has been so wonderful; the programs have really kept her Jewish,” said Abbie Gottlieb, referring to her 22-year-old daughter who has been a resident in Richmond for five years. “If there weren’t these Jewish programs, she wouldn’t have anything of her religion. She likes all of the activities and especially the kosher meals.”

Visits at Gottlieb’s residence include Shabbat observances – complete with the traditional bread known as challah, grape juice and a candle-lighting ceremony – prayer services, songs, storytelling and lessons about an upcoming holiday.

“Just because a person might have physical limitations doesn’t mean that his or soul is limited,” said Goldstein, who serves as the state facilities’ Jewish chaplain. “They deserve to have Jewish opportunities.”

The rabbi offered one example of the programs’ impact in the case of a resident who could barely communicate.

“One day, he said, ‘I want soup with matzah balls!’ All of the caretakers were surprised,” recalled Goldstein.

Ileene Robinson, who initiated the program with Goldstein with a Chanukah party, organizes many of the facilities’ large holiday events and coordinates the more-than 250 volunteers who visit the facilities regularly. Robinson personally prepares decorations and religious items for the holiday events, such as a model Passover Seder that is scheduled for March 22 at the Chabad-Lubavitch Outreach Center of Houston. At the kosher-catered event, residents and their families will get a hands-on demonstration of the Seder and will take home a holiday gift basket.

“There’s really some kind of spirituality that goes around at these events,” said Robinson, whose sister has lived in a state facility since 1970. “The residents realize that the holiday times are special. They dress up and they know when they come into the room that the atmosphere is different.”

Rabbi Dovid Goldstein

Something Spiritual

Dora Lee Robertson, whose son has lived in the Brenham State Supported Living Facility for more than 25 years, said that the programs have filled a void in residents’ Jewish education.

“My son had no Jewish education growing up because [of his condition],” said Roberston, who is visited by volunteers under the direction of Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, co-director of the Chabad Jewish Student Center serving Texas A&M University. “He just loves the programs and the rabbi, who really gets them all involved. I know that he must be getting a great deal out of it.

“Something spiritual happens when they’re there,” she continued. “It’s amazing how [the residents] clap their hands to the songs now and really pay attention.”

Lazaroff, whose wife Manya travels with college students once a month to Brenham, has been serving the facility for almost a year. Michelle Moe, a sophomore at A&M, has volunteered numerous times with the Lazaroffs.

“It’s a really good experience to help out other Jews who don’t have Shabbat accessible to them,” said Moe, who volunteered with four other students. “They really have fun and clap along to the songs. The volunteers have a great time too.”

Zachary Elewitz, a junior, affirmed Moe’s experiences.

“The first time I was there, I wondered if [the residents] could recognize what we were doing,” said Elewitz, who has visited Brenham about six times. “But week after week, you could see that they recognized us and remembered the programs. It really did have an influence on them.”

For Jon Weizenbaum, deputy commissioner for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, the programs serve an invaluable role in the state’s institutions.

“It’s important that all individuals in our community have the opportunity to practice their religion,” said Weizenbaum, who attended the model Passover Seder in 2006. “That includes people with [special needs] and those who live in an institution. These programs ensure that they have the opportunity to express their Judaism.”