Sweet Sounds Speeches & Highlights

Arlene Remz with honorees Jennifer and Erik Bittner and Sue Schweber	Barry Shrage, CJP President, with Arlene Remz and Sweet Sounds Co-chairs Rachel Chafetz, Dena Rashes and Sharon Shapiro	The Bittner family	Noah Bittner with Arlene Remz

 

Opening Remarks: Arlene Remz, Executive Director Read Arlene's full speech.
"Jennifer, Erik and Sue, on behalf of all the children who now can walk proudly through those Gateways to a Jewish Education, we salute you. I also want to personally salute ­ -- and thank -- each and every one of you, as well as those who were unable to attend today---our wonderful supporters of Gateways.  Your vision and generosity not only keep the gates open, but swing them open even wider, inviting more children in more educational settings than ever before into the world of Jewish learning and life."

 

Co-Chair Welcome: Dena Rashes Read Dena's full speech.
"Each of you in this room has given the families served by Gateways the gift of joy; a joy that comes from knowing that our children’s participation at shul and in Jewish holiday observances at home is more meaningful.  All of our lives are enriched because we know our children will have the opportunity to be equal and successful participants in the Jewish community.   Because of your support of this remarkable organization all of our children can participate to their fullest potential and know the joy of learning about and celebrating our rich heritage."

 

Voices from the Gates in Recognition of Sue Schweber:
Elisa Denner-Agus
"Sue is a teacher’s teacher … an administrator’s teacher … a teacher for parents who are required to expand their notion of parenting to accommodate their child … Sue is nothing less than a champion. An advocate. A savior of a Jewish soul."

 

 

 

Lisa Wallack Read Lisa's full speech.
"Our daughter, who attends The Rashi School, works weekly with Ellen Forst, to clarify her speech and to learn to enunciate properly. Their meetings take place during the school day and in consultation with her teachers.  Not only is this arrangement convenient, but it is stress-free and efficient for our daughter and for me … we have been thrilled with both the high quality AND the convenience of the services offered."  

 

 

Debbie Ellenbogen Read Debbie's full speech.
"Let us be clear about this. Without the Gateways team and the willing partnership of the Striar Hebrew Academy, our son COULD NOT receive the Day School education that we as parents want for him."

 

 

Sue Schweber Read Sue's full speech.
"The amazing work of Gateways is much more than the efforts of one person. Gateways depends on many incredible people coming together to make our mission and vision a reality."

 

 

 

Voices from the Gates Honoring Erik and Jennifer Bittner:
Rachel Chafetz, Co-chair Read Rachel's full speech.
"Can you imagine a mother and father’s enormous joy and pride when a child they never thought would have the opportunity to celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah steps forward to read from the Torah?  Each of you can take deep satisfaction along with them knowing that you helped make the b’nei mitzvah program possible."

 

 

Brett Gershkowitz Read Brett's full speech.
"Volunteering at Gateways has a special meaning to me because I grew up with a brother with disabilities. Jake having a Jewish education is something my family could have only dreamed of in the past. Each week I see how excited he is to be part of the Gateways family.  He especially loves learning new songs and prayers, snack time and socializing with other kids in the program.  Although my brother is a man of few words, he recently greeted my mom after class by saying ‘Shalom Mommy. I love Gateways!’ That really says it all."

 

Cindy Kaplan Read Cindy's full speech.
"Gateways has helped Mira learn that Judaism belongs to her, each member of her family and the larger community….My feeling about Gateways being only for children with special needs has changed.  I have seen the children benefit from teachers who are trained to look at the classroom with an eye for each individual.  Rather than taking an existing curriculum and adapting it for the kids, the curriculum has been developed from the very start in a way that figures out how to provide access for each child in the program."

 

Noah Bittner
"When I was in middle school, I told my teachers that autistic kids were just like other kids, only they needed more help. At Gateways, when I have a problem, the teachers take care of it…. I learned about being Jewish from my Mom and Dad, and from Gateways."

 

 

 

Jennifer Bittner Read Jennifer's full speech.
"One of the most gratifying elements of Gateways is that parents know they are not alone.  We share each other’s struggles and joys, we see each other’s children grow from preschool to Bar Mitzvah, and beyond. When Etgar L’Noar began, the idea of a school for Jewish children with disabilities was new, now Gateways is something that every family can count on.  When I see parents dropping their children off on Sunday morning, or when students with learning challenges succeed in the Jewish day schools, I marvel at the progress we have made as an organization and as a Jewish community.  Gateways is here for these children and their families, they need never know the isolation that families felt before these services existed."

Erik Bittner Read Erik's full speech.
"What we were able to give you—the simple idea that every child deserves a Jewish education--will never be matched by what you have brought back to us—an incredibly dedicated organization which makes a huge difference in the lives of our children and their families."

 

Erik Bittner with Barry Shrage, CJP President

 

Closing Remarks: Alan Crane, Gateways Board President Read Alan's full speech.
 "I want to thank all of you for supporting Gateways. With your help, we have been able to continue to grow our offerings to more students, to more schools, and to more Jewish learning settings. We have become nationally recognized for our efforts, and other communities around the country have been turning to us for advice.  The value of including every person, especially those with a disability, is a fundamental Jewish value.  Thank you for embracing this value as a community and for being here today."